Right Of Reply: Security Is Too Serious For Inexperienced And Childish Politics || ▪︎ By Dr Peter Akande 

September 14th,2026

By Dr Peter Akande

I have read with considerable attention the latest statement from the Oyo State APC questioning the ₦7.7 billion spent by the Oyo State Government on two surveillance aircraft following the unfortunate attack on an Operation Burst base in Oke-Ogun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let me state clearly: the attack is unfortunate and condemnable. Every life and every security facility in Oyo State must be protected, and every security breach deserves a thorough investigation.

 

However, the point raised by the APC is not a political campaign issue; it is an indication of inexperienced and childish reasoning about security matters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is nothing wrong with asking questions about ₦7.7 billion of public money. Indeed, every government must be accountable. But to suggest that because criminals have attacked a security facility, the state’s investment in surveillance aircraft has automatically become a scam is an argument that does not demonstrate a proper understanding of how modern security operations work.

 

The aircraft were acquired for surveillance, intelligence gathering and rapid response. They were not presented as fighter jets capable of preventing every criminal attack. They are only one component of a wider security architecture involving the Police, Army, Amotekun, Operation Burst and other security agencies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the APC’s argument is that the occurrence of a criminal attack automatically proves that money spent on security has failed, then APC should apply the same standard to its own government at the federal level.

 

The APC-led Federal Government has spent enormous sums on defence and national security. The 2026 Federal Budget alone allocated ₦5.41 trillion to defence and security.

Despite these huge expenditures, have Nigerians stopped experiencing kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, killings and other forms of insecurity?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What then is the result?

 

Should Nigerians conclude that because criminals continue to operate despite these enormous federal expenditures, the entire federal security budget is a scam?

 

Certainly not.

 

That would equally be an inexperienced and childish conclusion.

 

Security expenditure does not mean that criminals will suddenly disappear. What matters is whether the resources are properly deployed, whether intelligence is being effectively utilised, whether there are operational weaknesses and whether those responsible for failures are held accountable.

 

Therefore, APC cannot demand one standard for Oyo State and another standard for the Federal Government.

 

If ₦7.7 billion spent by Oyo State deserves scrutiny, then the trillions of naira spent by the APC-led Federal Government on defence and security also deserve scrutiny.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If APC has evidence that the ₦7.7 billion was stolen, misappropriated or fraudulently spent, let the evidence be presented to the appropriate authorities. Social media statements and political press releases are not courts of law.

 

But if the only evidence is that criminals attacked an Operation Burst facility, then that is not sufficient evidence to conclude that the aircraft are useless.

 

There is also another question APC must answer.

 

Since Governor Seyi Makinde declared his presidential ambition, we have witnessed disturbing security incidents in different parts of Oyo State. Should we now ask APC whether the Governor’s declaration of interest has anything whatsoever to do with the activities of bandits?

 

Of course, I do not believe that Governor Makinde’s presidential ambition caused banditry. Criminals do not become criminals because a politician declares an ambition.

 

But if APC wants to connect the timing of security incidents to the Governor’s political activities, then it must be prepared to explain the logic behind such an argument.

 

Is APC seriously suggesting that Governor Makinde’s presidential declaration caused banditry?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the answer is no, then why should the occurrence of a criminal attack be used as evidence that the Governor’s security investment is a failure?

 

This is where political maturity is required.

 

Criticism is part of democracy. Accountability is essential. Opposition parties have every right to scrutinise government expenditure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But there is a difference between constructive scrutiny and childish political argument.

 

A mature opposition would ask:

How many surveillance operations have the aircraft conducted?

 

What intelligence have they generated?

 

How effectively are they being integrated with ground forces?

 

What has been the response time?

 

What operational improvements are required?

 

Are there procurement or maintenance concerns?

 

Those are intelligent questions.

 

Simply saying, “You spent ₦7.7 billion and criminals still attacked, therefore the aircraft are a scam” is not serious security analysis.

 

Let APC also tell Oyo people what it would do differently.

 

Would it reject aerial surveillance?

 

Would it stop funding Amotekun?

 

Would it dismantle Operation Burst?

 

Would it rely entirely on conventional policing?

 

Or does APC agree that modern surveillance technology is necessary but believes the deployment should be improved?

 

Let us hear the alternative.

 

The people of Oyo State deserve responsible opposition, not opposition for opposition’s sake.

And let us be honest: a security breach should unite responsible leaders in finding solutions rather than provide an opportunity for political grandstanding.

Criminals do not ask whether their victims belong to APC, PDP, APM or any other political party. They attack communities regardless of political affiliation.

Therefore, security must be above partisan politics.

 

Governor Makinde should be held accountable where necessary. The APC-led Federal Government should equally be held accountable for its own security record.

 

There must be no double standard.

 

The question is not simply who spent the money.

 

The question is what was the money spent on, how effectively was it deployed, and what value did the people receive?

 

That is genuine accountability.

 

Oyo State needs stronger intelligence, better coordination, improved operational capacity and effective utilisation of every security asset available to it.

 

What Oyo does not need is an opposition that mistakes every security incident for an opportunity to make an inexperienced and childish political argument.

 

Security is too serious to be reduced to political propaganda.