By Engr. Olusina Olapoju, MSc, MNSE, MNIEE, MNICE, MNIPET, MNISAFETY.E, R.COREN

A political debate has erupted over Governor Seyi Makinde’s criticism of the Federal Government’s expansion of the Nigerian Army, with an engineer and political commentator, Engr. Olusina Olapoju, accusing the Oyo State governor of opposing a security initiative that could benefit the people of the state.

Olapoju, in a statement titled “Seyi Makinde: The Governor Who Opposes What Benefits His Own People,” said the governor’s position on the Army expansion was difficult to reconcile with the security challenges recently experienced in Oyo State.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in July announced the creation of four additional Nigerian Army divisions, increasing the number from eight to 12, saying the move was aimed at enabling the military to respond more rapidly to insecurity across the country.

The development came after the May abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The victims were eventually rescued in July following a prolonged intelligence-led military operation involving several security agencies.

According to Olapoju, the continued presence of the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division Headquarters in Ibadan makes Oyo State an important beneficiary of strengthened military operations in the South-West.

He, however, took exception to comments attributed to Makinde during an Allied Peoples Movement (APM) North-Central Town Hall Meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, where the governor questioned the funding and planning behind the Army expansion.

Makinde, who is also the APM presidential candidate, said he had examined the 2026 budget but could not identify an item specifically relating to the expansion of the Army divisions.

“I was looking at the budget for 2026. I was looking for the item in that budget relating to the expansion of those Army divisions. I did not see it,” Makinde said, challenging the Federal Government to produce the relevant budgetary provision.

The governor also argued that expanding military formations required adequate financial and operational planning rather than policy announcements alone.

Reacting, Olapoju argued that Makinde, as an engineer, should understand the principle of project phasing and implementation, insisting that security operations could not always be treated like conventional infrastructure projects.

He said the Federal Government had already demonstrated its commitment to increased security spending, noting that the 2026 budget allocated ₦5.41 trillion to defence and security and provided for the modernisation and increased fighting capability of the Armed Forces.

Olapoju further argued that the Army expansion could have wider security implications for Oyo State, particularly communities facing threats of kidnapping and other criminal activities.

He questioned why, in his view, a governor whose state had recently experienced the abduction of schoolchildren would publicly challenge the funding structure of an expanded military presence rather than focus solely on how the initiative could strengthen security.

“ You oppose what benefits Oyo,” Olapoju argued, maintaining that a stronger military presence could translate into increased security capacity and economic activity around military formations.

He also linked Makinde’s comments to the 2027 presidential race, noting that the governor spoke at an APM political gathering in Lafia after emerging as the party’s presidential candidate. However, he did not provide evidence that Makinde’s position on Army expansion was motivated by his presidential ambition.

The Oriire abduction remains a significant part of the debate. On May 15, gunmen attacked schools in the area and abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers. President Tinubu condemned the incident and directed intensified efforts to rescue the victims.

The Nigerian Army subsequently announced that the victims were rescued on July 10 through an intelligence-led operation involving the military, police, intelligence agencies and local security actors.

Olapoju said the experience should reinforce the importance of strengthening security formations in and around Oyo State, arguing that political differences should not overshadow measures aimed at protecting residents.

He therefore challenged Makinde to explain how questioning the Federal Government’s Army expansion would serve the immediate security interests of Oyo residents, particularly communities that have experienced attacks and kidnappings.

“ If Makinde cannot support an Army Division sitting in Ibadan, how will he support the whole Nigerian Army from Aso Rock?” Olapoju asked.

The comments have added a political dimension to an already significant national debate over the funding, structure and operational readiness of the Federal Government’s decision to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions.