Tinubu will not take sides in Benue crisis – APC National Secretary, Basiru

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has emphasised that President Bola Tinubu will not take sides in the ongoing crisis in Benue State, maintaining that the President’s priority remains national unity and peace, not regional or ethnic interests.

Speaking on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme on Friday, Basiru clarified that Tinubu’s approach to the Benue conflict is rooted in statesmanship and guided by a national outlook.

“As a statesman, you don’t expect the president to take sides in any conflict,” Basiru stated. “He is expected to evaluate the situation objectively and encourage state actors to respond responsibly to the challenges.”

Basiru, a former spokesperson of the Nigerian Senate, warned against politicising Tinubu’s June 18, 2025 visit to Benue State, where the President met with stakeholders in the aftermath of the Yelwata massacre, which claimed over 200 lives.

Describing the visit as “an avenue for inclusive dialogue,” Basiru noted that the President deliberately allowed traditional leaders to speak on behalf of their communities, pointing to the Tor Tiv’s speech as an example of voices that echoed the people’s concerns.

“The fact that the President allowed the Tor Tiv to address the gathering — and that his message resonated widely shows that the platform was open for multiple perspectives to be heard,” he said.

Responding to claims that the President’s visit may have favoured certain ethnic interests, Basiru dismissed the notion, stressing that Tinubu is committed to the unity of Nigeria.

“For those trying to stir division by suggesting the President favoured northern or southern groups, let it be clear: President Tinubu is a Nigerian first, a detribalised Nigerian,” he asserted.

Basiru reaffirmed that Tinubu’s concern is the protection of lives and property, particularly in regions like Benue that continue to suffer from armed herdsmen attacks, mass displacement, and food insecurity.

“In the President’s view, the lives of the people are more valuable than any property, including the livestock involved in these violent clashes,” he added.