Speaking during an interview on Trust TV on May 12, 2026, Aliyu reflected on what he described as a lenient approach adopted by the government toward the group despite growing concerns over public unrest and allegations of violent activities in Lagos and other parts of the southwest during that period.
According to the analyst, the handling of the OPC remains a controversial issue in discussions about national security and the state’s relationship with non-state actors.
He argued that authorities at the time failed to apply strict punitive measures against actions allegedly linked to members of the organization, even as incidents of violence and destruction attracted public attention.
During the interview, Aliyu stated, “I was talking about the misbehavior of OPC then in Lagos where they will throw egg to a building and boom it catches fire like bomb and yet, there was no any punitive action taking against them but rather, Obasanjo gave presidential jet to Gani Adams to come and wine and dine with him in Abuja here.”
The security analyst used the example to support his argument that the federal government adopted what he viewed as a conciliatory strategy toward the OPC rather than enforcing stronger legal consequences.
According to him, incidents attributed to the group at the time involved destructive attacks that raised serious security concerns within Lagos State and surrounding areas.
The Oodua People’s Congress emerged in the late 1990s as a socio-cultural organization advocating Yoruba interests.
Over time, the group became influential in parts of southwestern Nigeria and was at various times associated with vigilante operations, community clashes, and confrontations with security agencies.
Aliyu argued that governments must maintain consistency in enforcing the law regardless of the organization or political considerations involved.
He stressed that failure to respond firmly to acts of violence or illegality could encourage further instability and weaken public confidence in state institutions.
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