OYO NDC GUBER CANDIDATE AKIM YUSUF DEMANDS SWIFT RESCUE OF ABDUCTED PUPILS, BACKS STATE POLICE

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The governorship candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in Oyo State, Akim Adebola Yusuf, has called for the immediate rescue of abducted schoolchildren and their teachers, describing the growing wave of kidnappings across the country as a national emergency.

Speaking during an interview on political programme, The Podium, Yusuf expressed concern over the continued captivity of the victims, saying government at all levels must respond with urgency and determination.

According to him, the increasing trend of kidnapping has turned citizens into commodities, a development he described as both shameful and unacceptable.

“It is a very unfortunate situation. Government at all levels must react with anger because what is happening is a national shame. Citizens are now being treated as commodities to be bought and sold,” he said.

The NDC candidate urged federal and state authorities to deploy every available resource to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers, stressing that their continued captivity was deeply disturbing.

Yusuf said addressing insecurity would require a combination of technology-driven surveillance, environmental intelligence gathering, stronger community participation, and enhanced operational capacity for security agencies.

He advocated improved intelligence gathering and increased firepower for security personnel, arguing that security agencies must be adequately equipped to comb forests and other hideouts used by criminal elements.

On the ongoing debate over state police, Yusuf threw his weight behind the proposal, describing it as a necessary step toward strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

He noted that the current policing structure lacks sufficient manpower to effectively tackle security challenges across the country and maintained that state police could help bridge the gap if properly regulated.

“State police will be a very positive addition to our security architecture, provided there are constitutional safeguards against abuse,” he said.

The governorship hopeful also called for the integration of local security outfits and vigilante groups into a coordinated structure capable of supporting conventional security agencies across communities.

Addressing concerns over funding, Yusuf insisted that Oyo State possesses the financial capacity to sustain a state policing system if government priorities are properly aligned.

“The first responsibility of government is security. If people are not safe, then other developmental projects lose their meaning. We have the resources, but we must prioritise correctly,” he stated.

The NDC candidate further defended his party’s internal democratic processes amid criticism from political observers, insisting that the party remains committed to transparency, accountability and institutional reforms.

He dismissed claims that the NDC was merely a political vehicle for prominent figures, arguing that the party possesses a clear ideology and long-term vision aimed at transforming Nigeria’s democratic culture.

Yusuf also highlighted the party’s plans to introduce electronic voting in future internal elections, describing it as part of efforts to strengthen internal democracy and reduce disputes during primary contests.

On party supremacy, he maintained that elected officials should remain accountable to the political platforms that sponsored them, while stressing that party leadership should not interfere directly in governance.

According to him, the NDC seeks to establish a clear distinction between governance and party administration, ensuring that public office holders focus on delivering good governance while party leaders concentrate on managing party affairs.

Yusuf is among the contenders seeking to govern Oyo State in the 2027 elections under the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress.