Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who is also the presidential candidate for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has stated that governors are constitutionally restricted from issuing orders to federal security personnel. Despite holding the title of chief security officer, Makinde argued that his ability to manage state security is severely curtailed by federal oversight. Speaking in Bauchi after a meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed, he explained that orders to the police, the military, or the Department of State Services must always go through national-level superiors.
Makinde highlighted the discrepancy between the expectations placed on governors and their actual legal reach. While state leaders can implement measures like curfews, they must weigh the economic impact, as they lack control over the primary security forces operating within their borders. He noted that the recent abduction of students in Oyo State was an outlier in his administration, which had maintained order for years. The governor emphasized that the current Nigerian security structure is flawed because it assigns responsibility without providing the necessary executive authority to enforce change.
Contrasting current criticism with past political eras, Makinde noted the unfairness of blaming state executives for security crises while federal forces hold the reins of power. Regarding his 2027 presidential bid, he confirmed that deliberations on a running mate remain ongoing and will be finalized before the official INEC deadline. Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed welcomed the visit as a vital exercise in peer review and collaboration, predicting that the APM would serve as a formidable opposition force in upcoming elections.
