The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has said political leaders from across party lines in Benue State are supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly its efforts to tackle insecurity in the state and across Nigeria.
Akume gave the assurance on Sunday, when the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party caucus and leaders from Kwande/Ushongo local government areas paid him a solidarity visit at his official residence in Abuja.
Akume argued that the current security situation in Nigeria had significantly improved, compared to what the Tinubu administration inherited in May 2023.
“The security situation in the country is not as bad as it used to be by the time we took over,” the SGF said.
“This government has done so much to address this major challenge, and results are there for everyone to see,” he added.
Sunday’s meeting comes just weeks after a series of deadly attacks in Yelewata, 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, President 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 solidarity visit was a follow-up to those efforts and signalled 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 Yelewata 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 explained.
Akume said he had already submitted to the President concerning the proposed composition of the panel, adding that the governor 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 are the owners of the mandate, to interact with government officials in a very meaningful and purposeful manner,” he emphasised.
He disclosed that more security personnel had been deployed in Benue State, alongside other federal interventions.
“Just about a week ago, the wife of the President, 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 N1bn,” he said.
Akume also noted other government actions, including a security assessment led by Prof Nentawe 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.
“All of us as citizens of this country must be fully engaged in supporting security forces to provide maximum security,” Akume urged.
“It is not just an issue that can be tackled only by governmental security agencies alone. All of us have a stake in it,” he added.
Also speaking during the visit, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Terseer Ugbor, said the delegation, which included members of the APC, PDP, Labour Party, African Democratic Congress 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 insecurity, 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.
According to Ugbor, “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.”
