Senate President Godswill Akpabio has alleged that some political opponents of President Bola Tinubu are fueling insecurity across Nigeria by sponsoring acts of unrest and recruiting young people to create disturbances in different parts of the country.
Akpabio made the remarks during the commissioning of roads in the Federal Capital Territory, where he argued that critics of the current administration had exhausted issues they could use to fault the government because of what he described as its achievements in office.
According to him, those opposed to the administration have found it increasingly difficult to challenge the government’s record in areas such as infrastructure development, legislative efforts and reforms within the petroleum sector. He claimed that this had pushed some individuals toward encouraging instability as a means of undermining public confidence in the government.
He stated that when critics can no longer point to shortcomings in projects, performance, laws or developments in the oil industry, they begin seeking alternative ways to discredit the administration. Akpabio alleged that this includes paying and recruiting young people to cause chaos and unrest in different parts of the country.
The Senate President further claimed that cases of kidnapping were, in some instances, being orchestrated to spread fear among citizens and create the impression that Nigeria is unsafe. He urged Nigerians to remain alert and cautious, especially in the face of growing security concerns.
Akpabio advised members of the public to be vigilant against criminal activities, including kidnapping for ransom. According to him, such acts are sometimes intended to serve as distractions and weaken public trust in the nation’s security situation.
Despite the challenges, he praised the efforts of security personnel across the country, saying they had recorded significant successes in the fight against insecurity, even though many of their achievements often go unnoticed by the public.
He expressed confidence that the security agencies would continue to overcome those behind the acts of violence and criminality, maintaining that the country would eventually prevail against those seeking to destabilise it.
The Senate President also appealed to Nigerians not to allow political differences arising from electoral contests to divide the nation. He stressed that elections are temporary events in the life of any democracy, while national unity and peaceful coexistence should remain a collective priority.
Akpabio noted that elections would come and go, but should never be allowed to threaten the existence and stability of the country. He urged citizens to place the interest of Nigeria above political affiliations and work together toward sustaining peace and progress.
