Veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Reuben Abati, has voiced his support for Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s request for a United Nations probe into the kidnapping crisis in Orire. Appearing on the Arise Television Morning Show, Abati refuted arguments that the UN holds no jurisdiction over such domestic security matters, pointing to historical precedents.
Abati highlighted that the UN previously intervened during the Chibok schoolgirl abductions and the Kankara student kidnappings to address humanitarian concerns. He suggested that critics only label these requests as politicization when they involve opposition figures taking local grievances to the global stage.
Reflecting on his time serving under President Goodluck Jonathan, Abati noted that prominent members of the current administration previously utilized international scrutiny to attack the government. Specifically, he recalled that Lai Mohammed, then-spokesman for the Action Congress of Nigeria, demanded that the International Criminal Court prosecute Jonathan regarding the Baga incident. Furthermore, Abati pointed out that Bola Tinubu, who was the Governor of Lagos State at the time, frequently labeled the Jonathan administration a failure concerning national security.
Abati argued that the current backlash against Governor Makinde is hypocritical, given that those now in power adopted identical tactics when they were in the opposition. He concluded that the protection of human lives should remain the primary priority, far outweighing the petty political maneuverings of current power players.
