Makinde: Tinubu Did Not Call Me During 56-Day Oriire Abduction

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said President Bola Tinubu did not contact him throughout the 56 days that schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of the state spent in captivity.

Makinde made the disclosure on Friday during an interview with Arise Television, saying he had expected the President to reach out following the abduction.

“I tried to see President Tinubu when the Oriire schoolchildren and teachers were abducted in Oyo State, but President Tinubu didn’t call me during their 56-day captivity. I expected him to call me,” he said.

The governor, who is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, in the 2027 election, also said he attempted to contact the State House through the Chief of Protocol but received no response.

“I even made an attempt to call the State House Chief of Protocol, but he didn’t pick up my calls,” Makinde added.

He described the lack of communication from the Presidency during the period as painful, particularly as his administration worked to secure the release of the abducted victims.

The abduction of the schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire triggered concern among parents, residents and other stakeholders, who called for urgent intervention by the state and federal governments.

The victims were eventually released after spending 56 days in captivity.