Security and intelligence analyst Dr. Sani Aliyu has revisited Nigeria’s security challenges in the early 2000s, focusing particularly on the activities of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and the federal government’s response under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV on May 12, 2026, Aliyu reflected on what he described as a controversial and unusually soft approach adopted by the federal government toward the group at a time when concerns were rising over violent clashes, public disorder, and alleged criminal activities in parts of southwestern Nigeria, especially Lagos and its surrounding states.
He noted that the period was marked by heightened tension between ethnic militia groups and security agencies, with the OPC emerging as one of the most influential and controversial organisations in the region. According to him, the federal government’s engagement strategy at the time raised questions among security observers and intelligence analysts.
Aliyu argued that rather than adopting a strictly confrontational security posture, the administration of President Obasanjo was more inclined toward negotiation and informal engagement with some of the group’s leaders in an attempt to stabilize the region.
He further suggested that such an approach created mixed reactions within security circles, with some viewing it as pragmatic conflict management, while others considered it a sign of weak enforcement of law and order.
Recounting specific incidents from that era, Aliyu made a striking claim about the level of engagement between the federal government and OPC leadership, particularly involving Gani Adams, who later became a prominent figure within the group.
According to his words, “2001: Obasanjo Gave Presidential Jet To Gani Adams To Come And ‘Wine And Dine’ With Him In Abuja-Aliyu”
The statement was made while he was discussing what he described as unconventional political and security decisions taken during crisis moments in Nigeria’s democratic transition period.
Aliyu used the example to illustrate what he believes was the government’s willingness at the time to blend political dialogue with security management, especially in situations involving influential non-state actors.
He explained that the OPC, which initially started as a socio-cultural movement advocating for Yoruba interests, gradually became involved in security-related confrontations, leading to its classification by some authorities as a destabilizing force in certain contexts.
The analyst said the federal government faced the difficult task of balancing national security concerns with the need to prevent further escalation of violence in the southwest.
According to him, the approach adopted during that period reflected a broader strategy of engagement rather than outright suppression, which he believes shaped how similar groups were handled in subsequent years.
Aliyu also noted that Nigeria’s security architecture at the time was still evolving following the country’s return to civilian rule in 1999, and institutions were undergoing restructuring to adapt to new democratic realities.
He argued that some of the decisions made during that period should be understood within the context of a young democracy trying to manage internal instability while maintaining political cohesion.
The analyst further stated that historical reflection on such events is important for understanding how government responses to internal security threats have evolved over time.
He emphasized that lessons from the early 2000s continue to influence current debates on how Nigeria should engage with non-state actors and manage regional tensions…….See More
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