Political leaders from across party lines in Benue State are backing President Bola Tinubu’s security agenda, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said on Sunday.
Akume made this known when leaders from the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party in Kwande and Ushongo LGAs visited him at his residence in Abuja.
Speaking at the gathering, Akume argued that the current security situation in Nigeria has significantly improved compared to what the Tinubu administration met in May 2023.
He said, “The security situation in the country is not as bad as it used to be by the time we took over.
“This government has done so much to address this major, major challenge, and results are there for everyone to see.”
Sunday’s meeting comes just weeks after a series of deadly attacks in Yelwata, a border community between Benue and Nasarawa states, where dozens were reportedly killed and thousands displaced.
The violence reignited public outcry over insecurity in the state, especially in rural farming communities repeatedly targeted by armed groups.
In response, Tinubu visited Benue in June, where he met with local leaders, assessed the humanitarian situation, and announced the constitution of a peace panel to investigate the root causes of the crisis and recommend lasting solutions.
Akume said the latest solidarity visit is a follow-up to those efforts and signals a growing consensus among Benue stakeholders to end the bloodshed.
He recalled how the President shifted a scheduled visit to Kaduna and chose instead to personally assess the situation in Benue after the Yelwata killings.
According to Akume, that decision underscored the President’s patriotism and deep concern for the plight of the people.
“He was there. He saw things for himself, and he advised me and the governor. He also decided that it was high time we set up a panel to look at the root causes of this crisis and to proffer solutions,” the former Benue governor stated.
He said he had already made a submission to the President concerning the proposed composition of the panel, adding that the governor of Benue is expected to be involved in the process once available.
Akume also commended Tinubu’s wider strategy of citizen engagement through recent interactive sessions in Kaduna and other parts of the North.
“Council meetings are intended to allow the citizenry, who really are the owners of the mandate, to interact with government officials in a very meaningful and purposeful manner,” he said.
He disclosed that more security personnel have been deployed to Benue State, alongside other federal interventions.
“Just about a week ago, the wife of the President, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was in Benue State to also evaluate what has taken place so far since the visit of the President, including a handsome donation of N1billion,” he said.
Akume also noted other government actions including a security assessment led by Prof. Yilwatda, and recent federal approvals for road infrastructure such as the reconstruction of the Makurdi–Yandev–Katsina-Ala road and ongoing work on the Makurdi–Aliade–Otukpo road.
Akume added, “All of us as citizens of this country must be fully engaged in supporting security forces to provide maximum security.
“It is not just an issue that can be tackled only by governmental security agencies alone. All of us have a stake in it.”
Also speaking during the visit, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Hon. Terseer Ugbor, said the delegation—which included members of the APC, PDP, Labour Party, ADC and other parties—had come to reaffirm unity behind the SGF and the Tinubu administration.
“They have collapsed their structures and ambitions to follow the SGF any way he shall lead,” Ugbor said.
He noted that Kwande, one of the hardest-hit areas in terms of security, has seen improvement under the current administration.
“We have seen the results and we’re happy to report that there has been a great improvement in the security situation so far,” he added.
Ugbor said, “Every right-thinking leader of Benue, and every citizen of the state, is united to end insecurity. As you know, Benue is an agrarian state.
“We are farmers, and when there’s insecurity, food security becomes a problem. We are committed to ensuring that in the next few months, we will completely and permanently end the issue of insecurity in Benue State.”
