President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the recent surge in terrorist attacks across the country is part of a coordinated effort to distract President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from his reform agenda.
Akpabio made the assertion during his goodwill message at the inauguration of the Nigeria Revenue Service headquarters in Abuja.
He said, “Believe me, Mr President, two weeks after you win the elections (2027), 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.”
His remarks came shortly after the President held closed-door talks with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and a French military official at the Presidential Villa.
Sources described the meeting as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen international collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
The engagement followed Tinubu’s recent disclosure that France had agreed to provide military equipment and training to Nigerian forces battling insurgency in the North-East.
Akpabio’s comments also come amid growing security concerns nationwide, including a controversial airstrike in the North-East that reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, as well as a recent advisory by the United States authorising the voluntary departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Abuja.
Nigeria continues to face multiple security threats, including Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency in the North-East, as well as banditry and kidnapping in the North-West and North-Central regions.
The Senate President also addressed allegations of bias against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, following a resurfaced social media post.
Akpabio dismissed claims that the post indicated political alignment, stating that the comment attributed to the INEC chairman was neutral and made before he assumed office.
“And the man said that it’s manipulated. Nobody wants to hear. But for me, whether it is manipulated or not, he said victory is sure. He was not the chairman of INEC. He was just a mere lecturer. Anybody can support anybody whom he wishes to,” he said.
He, however, emphasised that public officials must remain impartial once in office, noting that national interest must take precedence over personal or political affiliations.
