EFCC And The Freezing Of Osun State Accounts: Tinubu Killed Makinde, Other Opposition’s Joy | By Sola Abegunde
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sure knows when and how to withdraw the carpet from under the feet of his detractors at the point of ecstasy.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had frozen the accounts of the Osun state Government.
Trust Governor Seyi Makinde, he saw another opportunity to get into the news, to become an accidental activist and freedom fighter, as he often does.
He rushed to his Twitter account and began sermonizing about the Federal Government, deploying Federal Institutions to undermine opposition – controlled States.
He did not forget to point at his last Newsletter where he accused president Tinubu of sending the EFCC after him, hours after he declared that he was qualified to contest for the presidency of Nigeria.
Unfortunately for Governor Seyi Makinde and others who rose in arms against President Tinubu, the president had other ideas and when he responded, his response was one sucker punch.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came out publicly on Thursday and through a very strong statement, he called on the EFCC to immediately vacate the Court order which gave it powers to freeze the accounts of Osun state.
The president declared that it is not within his powers and of course, not in his practice to interfere with the activities of the Anti-corruption Agency, however, he was embarrassed by the timing of the actions taken by the EFCC, just days before the Governorship election in Osun state.
Not only that, it was reported that the president personally put a phone call through to the Governor of Osun state, Ademola Adeleke on Thursday.
That action by president Tinubu was unthinkable. A Nigerian president, intervening in that manner, even when his intervention gave a lifeline to Governor Adeleke, an opposition Governor!
Whether you like it or not, you have to give credits to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In the president’s shoes, would Governor Seyi Makinde had done the same? I think not.
If truly, the EFCC sought and got a court order before freezing the accounts of the Osun state Government, Its actions are legally in order and for the president to have ordered the Anti-graft Agency to vacate that order on moral grounds, you have to give him credits.
Yes, his detractors would change the story. They would say that the president bulged under pressure.
The question is, if the EFCC took every steps prescribed by Law, before doing what it did, could president Tinubu still be under any pressure? Knowing fully well that the Law permitted the EFCC to freeze suspected accounts, once certain conditions were fulfilled?
If the EFCC didn’t obtain a court order before freezing the accounts of the Osun state Government, it would have been legally wrong.
However, even, under such conditions, president Tinubu could have hidden under the excuse that he could not interfere in the activities of the EFCC.
So, there is no way you would look at the actions of the president and you won’t agree that he deserves kudos. That is, if you are objective.
Those in positions of authority don’t always find it easy to do what president Tinubu did in the case of Osun state.
For example, residents of the Circular Road have cried, they have protested. They have begged Governor Seyi Makinde to reverse the 500m corridor at the Circular Road. Did he listen to them? Did he hearken to their voices?
As I write this piece, it is being reported that demolition exercise are being carried out on a daily basis on the Circular Road.
What does Governor Makinde have to say to that? Unfortunately, he would always be amongst the first people to take the president on at every given opportunity.
I am not surprised that he likened his own case to the situation in Osun state. That is his stock in trade. Mischief.
What exactly is Governor Makinde trying to tell us?
Is he saying that, once you declare to contest for the presidency under an opposition political party, as a sitting Governor, regardless of the petitions against you, the EFCC should not do their job?
They should leave you alone to continue looting the resources of your state?
Is that the kind of country Seyi Makinde will build as a president?
For the avoidance of doubts, Governor Makinde’s predicaments with the EFCC started since 2025, long before he declared to contest for the presidency, but he would want to confuse Nigerians to believe that the EFCC is after him just because he declared to run for the presidency of Nigeria!
It gladdens my heart that the president chose to kill the joy of Governor Seyi Makinde and other detractors on this matter.
If they could not give credits to the president for the Fatherly role he played in Osun, they will at least shut their mouths up.
Sola Abegunde.