President Tinubu Can’t Take Sides in Benue Crises, Says APC National Secretary

The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has stated that President Bola Tinubu cannot take sides in the ongoing crisis in Benue State, one of Nigeria’s major food-producing states.

In an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Friday, Basiru emphasized that as a statesman, President Tinubu is expected to remain impartial and address the challenges facing the state without bias.

“As a statesman, you don’t expect the president to be taking sides with anybody in the conflict,” Basiru said. “He is supposed to have a dispassionate consideration of the issue and then be able to charge the various state actors to address the various challenges.”

The APC chieftain was reacting to criticisms that the president’s visit to Benue on Wednesday was biased towards one side of the conflict.

However, Basiru argued that the president’s visit provided a platform for the Tor Tiv V, James Ayatse, a high-ranking traditional ruler in Benue, to voice the concerns of the people.

Basiru also dismissed claims that the president is pandering to northern or southern interests in the Benue situation, stating that President Tinubu is a “detribalised Nigerian” who is focused on finding solutions to the challenges facing the state.

The crisis in Benue has been ongoing for years, with suspected herdsmen attacking communities and killing hundreds of residents.

The latest attack occurred last Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 59 people and the displacement of over 3,000 persons.

The killings have attracted national outrage and global attention, with Pope Leo XIV condemning the “terrible massacre” and calling for an end to the violence.

President Tinubu has charged the service chiefs to end the bloodletting in the state and arrest the perpetrators.

Basiru’s comments come as the APC and the federal government face criticism for their handling of the crisis.

The opposition has accused the government of not doing enough to address the root causes of the conflict and protect the lives and property of Benue residents.

The APC secretary’s statement is seen as an attempt to reassure Nigerians that the president is committed to finding a solution to the crisis and is not taking sides.

However, the opposition and critics of the government remain skeptical, calling for more concrete actions to address the crisis and bring perpetrators to justice.