‘Leave Rescued Pupils Out Of Dirty Politics’ — Femi Branch Faults Makinde’s Remark On Abduction

Femi Branch, the Nigerian actor, has called on public office holders to refrain from politicising the recent rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo.

The hostages were freed on Friday, following a joint military, police, and Department of State Services (DSS) operation.

They had been abducted on May 15 from three schools in Oriire LGA, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School, Ogbomoso.

In an Instagram video posted after the release, Branch addressed comments made by Seyi Makinde, Oyo governor, who noted that the abduction occurred hours after he declared his presidential ambition.

The actor pleaded with leaders to keep children out of political disputes.

The 56-year-old filmmaker emphasised that both state and federal authorities should prioritise the children’s wellbeing over political narratives, adding that Nigeria’s education system and child welfare are already under severe strain.

“I just want to beg us in this country. I am not directing this to everyone. I am begging all of us. Whatever dirty politics we are all playing,” he said.

“Whatever dirty games we are playing in this country, can we just leave this innocent children our of it. The children in this country are suffering enough. The quality of education is crap.

“For 55 days, innocent children were in the bush. Those kids must be attended to because those kids must be traumatised by now. They need to be taken good care of.

“The governor came out and said he declared to be president at 4pm and by 9am the next morning is when they packed the children and the teachers away, thereby insinuating that it was a political game.

“Can we just leave these poor children out of our dirty politics? Please I’m not attacking or calling out anybody, I’m just appealing to us to leave the innocent children out of our madness, please.”

Source: The Cable

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