₦airaland Forum

‘Operation Wetie started from Ibadan’ — Seyi Makinde warns against one-party domination

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, has invoked the violent political history of “Operation Wetie” to caution against moves towards one-party domination in Nigeria.

“Operation Wetie” was a campaign of intense political violence that rocked Nigeria’s western region, with its epicentre in Ibadan, in the mid-1960s.


The term, derived from the Yoruba phrase meaning “wet him” or “soak it,” described the practice of dousing political opponents, their homes and vehicles with petrol before setting them ablaze.

It erupted after the highly disputed 1965 western region elections, which were widely alleged to have been rigged in favour of the ruling faction, effectively sidelining the opposition

Speaking at the national summit of All Opposition Political Party Leaders in Ibadan, Makinde raised concerns over growing efforts to consolidate legislative control under one party while opposition parties grapple with internal crises and legal battles.

“For those that are carrying on as if there’s no tomorrow. They should remember that “operation wetie” started from here. This is the same Wild Wild West,” Makinde said.

“Back in 1950, this city hosted a conversation that helped shape Nigeria’s constitutional future. Those discussions were not perfect but necessary. They were driven by a recognition that the structure of the nation was a deliberately built, protected and well necessary debated. In many ways, this gathering carries the same responsibility.

“There are open efforts to consolidate legislative control under one party. At the same time, opposition parties are increasingly entangled in internal crises and legal battles that raise serious questions about their ability to function effectively.”

He cautioned that such developments should not be treated lightly, adding that it’s not the time for opposition leaders to be disengaged from politics.

“This is not something that we should treat lightly. I don’t want to think saboteurs are here. Because democracy is not destroyed overnight, it is weakened step by step until people begin to feel it no longer works for them,” he said.

“When opposition becomes ineffective, democracy itself loses meaning. Democracy is not defined by the success of one party, it is defined by the existence of real alternatives. By the ability of citizens to choose.”


Makinde said the summit was not motivated by personal ambitions or vendettas.

“This meeting is not a gang up against one man. And it’s not about individual ambition to be president; it is about the collective ambition of the Nigerian people to have a democracy that is properly defined,” he said.

“No matter how strong a party becomes or how popular any government may appear, the presence of credible opposition is not a threat to democracy.”

https://www.thecable.ng/operation-wetie-started-from-ibadan-seyi-makinde-warns-against-one-party-domination/Hello 👋

We know sir. Good luck on your endeavors. I’m pretty sure Waziri is convinced more than ever to pick you as his running mate. But I think you’ll do better in 2031 instead really

Even I pass my neighbor generator engineer is even talking about national politics. Mr WIKE please over to you sir

When Tinubu wanted to start this shenegian of wanting to be the only one on the ballot. I told people here and offline that it can't work. Because they always seem to forget what happened in the past.

Even S'eyi seems to have forgotten that before wetie e, Awolowo and others had been clamped in jail on trumped up charges of treason. And the 1965 election went even further with massive rigging.

Mama HID Awolowo in conjunction with Michael Okpara established UPGA. while rigged results were being broadcasted by Western Nigeria TV which had the Akintola's in charge, UPGA was broadcasting the real results at Awo's Oke Bola House in Ibadan.

The following year,A bitter coup happened which lead to the Nigerian civil War

Tinubu should try and continue,I want to see something. He should try it make we see.

Anyone who doesn't mean well for this country will get wet and soaked in 2027.

The foolish man in Aso rock want to be the only candidate in 2027 elections

You need mental and psychiatrist evaluation to have said seyi makinde na generator engineer

yarimo:
Even I pass my neighbor generator engineer is even talking about national politics. Mr WIKE please over to you sir

happney65:
When Tinubu wanted to start this shenegian of wanting to be the only one on the ballot. I told people here and offline that it can't work. Because they always seem to forget what happened in the past.

Even S'eyi seems to have forgotten that before wetie e, Awolowo and others had been clamped in jail on trumped up charges of treason. And the 1965 election went even further with massive rigging.

Mama HID Awolowo in conjunction with Michael Okpara established UPGA. while rigged results were being broadcasted by Western Nigeria TV which had the Akintola's in charge, UPGA was broadcasting the real results at Awo's Oke Bola House in Ibadan.

The following year,A bitter coup happened which lead to the Nigerian civil War

Tinubu should try and continue,I want to see something. He should try it make we see.

Those who never learn from history are condemned to repeat it. Already, we can see similar patterns manifesting with the incarceration without bail of respected Northern figures and opposition voices. The only reason most Nigerians are calm is because they are hoping they can legally make their voices heard by speaking through their ballots. Attempting to deny Nigerians of that opportunity may set up a wave of chain reactions that no one can predict.

If there will be a wetie in 2027, it will be from the north
The anger against Tinubu from the north is presently worse than that of Jonathan
The reason it's not obvious is because of the large retinue of political leaders he has on his side. But among the masses, they blame him for everything including strong winds before rainfall
This shouldn't be unexpected. In Nigeria's fractured political system. The incumbent usually gets accused of bad performance by the other region especially when he's going for second term.
That's why I believe this rotation of power is a bad idea when coupled with second term option. The two cannot go together. Rotational presidency should be with single term or non-rotational presidency with dual term option

Don’t remind us how una bathed each other acid on the streets

yarimo:
Even I pass my neighbor generator engineer is even talking about national politics. Mr WIKE please over to you sir

How convenient it is for you to throw your fellow yoruba man with verifiable family history under the bus for a drug baron whose family root has no trace and even calling a drunk to deal with him.

How convenient!

This one sef dey threaten people.....
Make everybody calm down
Nothing go happen
The losers will cry as usual
The winnerr will rejoice for another four years

yarimo:
Even I pass my neighbor generator engineer is even talking about national politics. Mr WIKE please over to you sir

Licking Wike nyansh after all the abuse, epe and curses you heaped on him prior 2023, you guys are really people of particular concern.

Whoever is threatening the country with political violence should also remember that they themselves were also eliminated in the so called “wetie”
You cannot threaten anyone with violence,
no one has said you can’t field your candidate,
if you don’t have any reliable candidate whose fault is that?
So Tinubu should pick a candidate for you because you are opposition.
Ok
I think DSS should pick this guy for incitement

gigabyte13:
This one sef dey threaten people.....
Make everybody calm down
Nothing go happen
The losers will cry as usual
The winnerr will rejoice for another four years

But you applaud when Sunday igboho and the other touts threaten. Nobody has monopoly of violence actually.

Oyo has been the Origin and headquarters of political opposition. To rebel na seconds, everywhere go burst 🤷🏿.
President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari remain the most democratic leaders. Nobody was compelled to join their party. Having virtually all legislators and executives in APC is a bad sign🤷🏿

He thinks the khaki boys have been silenced completely by the failed coup? They're still observing the situation.

happney65:
When Tinubu wanted to start this shenegian of wanting to be the only one on the ballot. I told people here and offline that it can't work. Because they always seem to forget what happened in the past.

Even S'eyi seems to have forgotten that before wetie e, Awolowo and others had been clamped in jail on trumped up charges of treason. And the 1965 election went even further with massive rigging.

Mama HID Awolowo in conjunction with Michael Okpara established UPGA. while rigged results were being broadcasted by Western Nigeria TV which had the Akintola's in charge, UPGA was broadcasting the real results at Awo's Oke Bola House in Ibadan.

The following year,A bitter coup happened which lead to the Nigerian civil War

Tinubu should try and continue,I want to see something. He should try it make we see.

yarimo:
Even I pass my neighbor generator engineer is even talking about national politics. Mr WIKE please over to you sir

THeir is dignity in Labour, ... Tinubu and Wike had no penchant for " Dignity" becos they never had verifiable labour

One is rich by Drugs proceed and the other steals rivers fund for a living

Gbam! His fall will be so fatal and epic.

Food4Thought:
Anyone who doesn't mean well for this country will get wet and soaked in 2027.

The wet e will consume you first with your eyes like that of shrimps.

Elections have not started, losers had already started making baseless threats. If at this point you people have not had a specific direction, it’s obvious you are doomed so stop assigning your failure to others.

Even APC security agents won't be able to manage the revolution that'll follow.

AMINDA:
Those who never learn from history are condemned to repeat it. Already, we can see similar patterns manifesting with the incarceration without bail of respected Northern figures and opposition voices. The only reason most Nigerians are calm is because they are hoping they can legally make their voices heard by speaking through their ballots. Attempting to deny Nigerians of that opportunity may set up a wave of chain reactions that no one can predict.

It will be nice for these opposition politicians to start telling Nigerians how they will move Nigeria forward. Will they bring back fuel subsidy, will they cancel nelfund, will they peg the naira, etc....? Can they start giving Nigerians real hope?

Tetrahedron:
Whoever is threatening the country with political violence should also remember that they themselves were also eliminated in the so called “wetie”
You cannot threaten anyone with violence,
no one has said you can’t field your candidate,
if you don’t have any reliable candidate whose fault is that?
So Tinubu should pick a candidate for you because you are opposition.
Ok
I think DSS should pick this guy for incitement

Predictable... I am only surprised that it is one like because your comrades haven't noticed or have not being mobilised.

Makinde has enough money to buy petrol for his children and family members to start the operation,if anyone likes he should let politicians insight him.he was governor for 8years and he didn’t remember wetie but his tenure has finished,VP is not sure for him and his political career is looking bleak,now he wants to buy fuel

Laple0541:
The wet e will consume you first with your eyes like that of shrimps.

Elections have not started, losers had already started making baseless threats. If at this point you people have not had a specific direction, it’s obvious you are doomed so stop assigning your failure to others.

Don't mind them.

This was how Ameachi said APC were going to form a parallel government if they failed to win in 2015.

Same playbook, same outcome?

Kukutente23:
If there will be a wetie in 2027, it will be from the north
The anger against Tinubu from the north is presently worse than that of Jonathan
The reason it's not obvious is because of the large retinue of political leaders he has on his side. But among the masses, they blame him for everything including strong winds before rainfall
This shouldn't be unexpected. In Nigeria's fractured political system. The incumbent usually gets accused of bad performance by the other region especially when he's going for second term.
That's why I believe this rotation of power is a bad idea when coupled with second term option. The two cannot go together. Rotational presidency should be with single term or non-rotational presidency with dual term option

how does rotational forestall replacing bad leaders or changes

It is the south turn and if the country feels he is not doing well we can replace him with another southerner and same goes for the north if its there turn

infact, the most viable contender against Tinubu is to present a southerner .. All that tribalism n religious effect will be watered down

This guy has kuku snatched VP ticket in ADC.

Anyway, overtaking is allowed.

It will consume you first nah. Ladoke Akinola gang backed that the semi literate Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa federal forces, we all know how it ended. It consumed them while the man they wanted to erase lived about 20 years after their humiliating death. So, read and understand the story very well

A bad child will grow up to be a bad adult and bad old man. Age does not change a thief. Eg Tilumbu.