President Bola Tinubu will not take sides in the current Benue State issue, according to Ajibola Basiru, National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who has emphasized that the president’s top goal is still national unity and peace rather than regional or ethnic interests.
In an interview with Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, Basiru explained that Tinubu’s strategy for handling the Benue issue is based on statesmanship and informed by a national perspective.
“You don’t expect the president to take sides in any conflict as a statesman,” Basiru said. “He is supposed to assess the situation impartially and motivate state actors to address the issues in a responsible manner.”
In the wake of the Yelwata massacre, which cost more than 200 lives, Tinubu visited with stakeholders in Benue State on June 18, 2025. Former Nigerian Senate spokesperson Basiru cautioned against politicizing the visit.
Using the statement by Tor Tiv as an example of voices that echoed the people’s concerns, Basiru described the visit as “an avenue for inclusive dialogue” and pointed out that the President purposefully permitted traditional leaders to speak on behalf of their communities.
“The fact that the President gave Tor Tiv permission to speak at the event and that his message was well received demonstrates that the platform was open to hearing different points of view,” 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.
“Let it be clear: President Tinubu is a Nigerian first and foremost, a detribalized Nigerian,” he said, in response to those attempting to sow discord by implying that the president preferred northern or southern groupings.
Basiru reiterated that protecting people and property is Tinubu’s top priority, especially in areas like Benue that still experience food insecurity, mass displacement, and attacks by armed herdsmen.
“The lives of the people, including the livestock involved in these violent clashes, are more valuable than any property,” he continued.
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