Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, yesterday launched a manhunt for the abducted former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae.

This is even as his abductors have brought down the N100m ransom demanded for his freedom to N90m.

Falae, who was also a former finance minister, was on Monday abducted at his Ilado farm in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State by a group of suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Founder of OPC, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, while reacting to the abduction in Lagos, said he had ordered operatives of the congress to immediately launch a manhunt, combing all nooks and crannies of Ondo State and beyond, for the kidnapped politician.

Falae and Fasehun shared the same birthday, September 21.

The OPC leader described the kidnap as an assault and insult on the Yoruba people, and challenged security operatives and agencies to produce Falae within 48 hours.

He has also summoned all members in the country to attend an emergency meeting on Sunday.

“OPC is not interested in crisis but it was founded primarily for the protection of its own and for building bridges in Nigeria,” he said.

Warning of possible consequences, Fasehun pointed out that eyewitnesses account indicated that Falae was abducted by strangers.

His words: “At my turning 80, the entire world would expect me to be a bridge builder. And I have prepared myself to be just that. But if any missile is thrown at you, and it is likely to affect your eyeball, you must avoid it at all costs. This is my view of the insult now being unleashed, being flung at Nigeria by the enemies of Nigeria’s unity.”

Recalling that Falae had rendered “impeccable” service to the country as permanent secretary, minister of finance and SGF, Fasehun described the victim’s current ordeal as uncharitable.

“When we heard that Falae was kidnapped, we thought it was impossible, as kidnappers would not be mad enough to kidnap a man of peace, a man who has selflessly served Nigeria.

“Falae is by any standard a leader of the Yoruba people, a leader of Nigeria and a significant leader in Africa. He is a leader of Afenifere. He was a leader of NADECO. And any assault on him is an assault on Nigeria and Nigerians,” he added.

He also frowned at the fact that 24 hours after the kidnap, the Federal Government was yet to officially react to the incident.

He urged all traditional rulers in Nigeria to rise up for his release, saying that Falae, as the Olu of Oba-Ile, is the ruling monarch of his homestead.

According to the OPC president, the organisation felt concerned at Falae’s kidnap, which he described as an affront.

Fasehun feared that the kidnapping of the top-flight politician portended ill for his fellows.

South West farmers also yesterday demanded Falae’s unconditional release by his abductors or risk the wrath of its members across Yorubaland.

The farmers, under the aegis of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, South West geo-political zone, also issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the abductors within which to release him unhurt or face the wrath of its ‘Agbekoyas.’

AFAN SW zonal coordinator, who is also the Ogun State chairman of the association, Olusegun Dasaolu, who spoke with journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, explained the abduction was a big surprise to the entire farmers in the South West.

Dasaolu, who emphasised that AFAN was not unaware of the running battle between Falae and Fulani herdsmen in Akure, however, declared that his association was ready to mobilise all members to comb the entire region in search of the 77 years old man.

Dasaolu stated that whatever affected Chief Falae in his farm could also affect any farmer in the geo-political zone hence, the readiness of his association to mobilise its members to go all out in search of him.

He also appealed to Fulani herdsmen, who have been living peacefully with their host communities across the South West to join hands with AFAN in search of Chief Falae.

The coordinator of the South West farmers also called on security agencies to as a matter of urgency, live up to expectation and redeems their image by ensuring that Chief Falae is released unconditionally and unhurt.

Also in its reaction, Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, demanded his unconditional release.

IPAC, which described the abduction as sacrilegious in a statement issued by its chairman, Chief Peter Ameh, in Abuja, said hurting the eminent senior citizen is a tragedy for the nation.

Noting that it received the news of the kidnap with great shock, sadness and disappointment, IPAC, however called on security agencies to act fast to salvage the national pride by prompt rescue of the elder statesman.

Ameh said: “Chief Falae, a prominent elder statesman and revered member of IPAC, has served our country meritoriously in several capacities and deserves the greatest respect from every Nigerian because of his simple and exemplary life style and the huge contribution and sacrifice he has made to the development of our nation.

“That any one will even contemplate kidnapping or hurting this eminent senior citizen is a tragedy for our dear nation.

“While appeal to the kidnappers to release him unconditionally, we call in the security agencies to act fast to salvage our national pride and respectability by ensuring his immediate rescue.”

Meanwhile, the kidnappers have brought down the N100m ransom demanded for his freedom to N90m.

CEOAfrica correspondent gathered that family of the All Peoples Party, APP, presidential candidate in 1999, was still negotiating with his abductors.

Falae’s wife, Racheal, was prevented from talking to journalists when our correspondent visited his residence along Oba-Ile road.

State Commissioner of Police, Mike Ogbodu, was among the sympathisers at the elder statesman’s residence.

Ogbodu assured the family that everything would be done to rescue the former minister.

Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, described the abduction as shocking and sad.

A statement by the state chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, said: “APC condemns in entirety this rude and unimaginable act, which no doubt offends the psyche and pride of our people.

“It has become an insult too many for our people to bear, as these same set of people violates the farmstead of our people unchecked and even our highways without control.”

Kekemeke called on security agencies to end kidnapping in the state and find and prosecute Falae’s abductors without delay.

The chairman further urged the Federal Government to ensure that security agencies act with a sense of urgency in this matter.

“Ondo State government should regulate the activities of these itinerant herdsmen, just like it regulates citizens’ use of public utilities. These lawless herdsmen, if they must live in Ondo State cannot be law unto themselves.