A single Yoruba phrase uttered at an opposition summit this weekend has reignited memories of one of Nigeria’s bloodiest political crises and drawn fierce condemnation from the ruling party.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, while addressing opposition leaders in Ibadan on Saturday, invoked “Operation Wetie” as he warned against what he described as dangerous consolidation of legislative power under one party.
“For those that are carrying on as if there’s no tomorrow. They should remember that ‘Operation Wetie’ started from here. This is the same Wild Wild West,” Makinde told the gathering, which included Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi.
By Sunday, the All Progressives Congress had branded the comment a reckless incitement to violence. National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said Makinde had “showed himself to be unworthy of the high office of Governor that he occupies” and called on security agencies to act.
What Was Operation Wetie
Literally meaning “wet him” in Yoruba, Operation Wetie refers to the wave of political violence that consumed Nigeria’s Western Region between late 1965 and early 1966.
The crisis was triggered by the disputed 1965 regional elections. Chief S.L. Akintola’s Nigerian National Democratic Party, backed by the federal government, claimed victory over Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group/UPGA coalition. Allegations of massive rigging sparked outrage.
Protesters responded by dousing political opponents, their homes, vehicles and property with petrol before setting them ablaze. The violence spread through Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oshogbo and other towns. Hundreds were killed and thousands of properties destroyed. Foreign media dubbed the region the “Wild Wild West.
Historians cite Operation Wetie as a direct factor in the January 15, 1966 military coup led by Maj. Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. The coup plotters pointed to the electoral fraud and unrest as evidence that civilian rule had failed. The First Republic collapsed, setting the stage for Nigeria’s civil war a year later.
Why It Matters Now
Makinde’s reference comes as opposition figures test alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Ibadan summit drew a broad coalition of political heavyweights, with discussions centered on emerging alignments and national issues.
But the APC argues that invoking Wetie crosses a line. “Constitutional immunity from prosecution is not immunity from accountability for threats or acts against national security,” Morka said in a statement issued Sunday.
Political analysts note that “Operation Wetie” has become shorthand in Nigerian politics — used as both a warning against electoral malpractice and an accusation of incitement. For many in the South-West, the phrase recalls a period when political rivalry escalated into neighborhood arson and targeted killings.
As parties position for 2027, the clash over a 60-year-old crisis underscores how Nigeria’s past continues to shape its political language.
