Senate President Godswill Akpabio has claimed that the recent surge in terrorist attacks across Nigeria is part of a coordinated effort to distract President Bola Tinubu from his reform agenda.
Akpabio made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja during his goodwill message at the inauguration of the Nigeria Revenue Service headquarters.
According to him, the attacks are politically motivated and may subside after the next general election cycle.
Believe me, Mr President, two weeks after you win the elections, the bomb blasts will stop. People are sponsoring it to distract you from your work. You’re doing so well despite the gang-up on your administration,” he said.
The Senate President’s comments came shortly after Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, and a senior French military official at the Presidential Villa.
Sources indicated that the meeting was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security cooperation, particularly in response to worsening insurgency in parts of the country.
It also followed Nigeria’s recent agreement with France for the supply of military equipment and training to support counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
Akpabio’s remarks come amid heightened insecurity nationwide, including a controversial airstrike that reportedly killed over 100 civilians and a recent advisory by the United States authorising the voluntary departure of non-essential embassy staff from Abuja.
Nigeria continues to grapple with multiple security challenges, including insurgency by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province in the North-East, as well as banditry and kidnapping in the North-West and North-Central regions.
Akpabio also addressed allegations of political bias against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan.
The controversy stemmed from a resurfaced social media post interpreted by some as indicating partisan alignment.
However, Akpabio dismissed the claims, insisting the statement was neutral and taken out of context.
He did not say victory is sure for any political party. He only said victory is sure,” Akpabio stated, adding that the comment was made before the individual assumed office.
He emphasised that public officials must maintain neutrality once entrusted with national responsibilities.
When you are in a seat, you have to think of the entire country and all the populace,” he added.
