By Punch Editorial Board, Tuesday April 22, 2025
President Bola Tinubu has not shown much zest in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges. Following the recent barbaric killings in Plateau State, the President urged the State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to summon the necessary political will to resolve the crisis and establish enduring peace. This is an exercise in an unnecessary blame game.
Tinubu blamed the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for the recent pipeline vandalism in Rivers. He said Fubara did not take any action to curtail the incidents. Hence, he declared a state of emergency in the state last month. He suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all the state House of Assembly.
Incidentally, Rivers and Plateau States belong to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Similar attacks have occurred in States belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Yet, the President did not take any action against the Governors of these States. Thus, it is uncharitable and unkind to blame Rivers and Plateau Governors for the failure of the federal authorities.
In Nigeria, the Federal Government controls all the security apparatuses. The Police Commissioners report to the Inspector-General of Police in Abuja. Governors do not have control over them.
Besides, the President appoints the Service Chiefs. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and has the power to deal with any crisis in any part of the country. So, it is wrong to miss the ball and put the blame on somebody else.
Tinubu is expected to take absolute charge of security in Nigeria without fishing for excuses.
He travelled to France on April 2, supposedly on a working visit. He should have rushed back home to end the carnage in Plateau, Benue and elsewhere in the country.
Within two weeks, over 100 lives were wasted in Plateau. In early April, gunmen on motorcycles invaded some communities in the Bokkos LGA, killing 52 people and burning 300 houses. Over 1,800 people were displaced.
A week after this barbarism, the gunmen invaded Zike-kimakpa community, Kwall District of Bassa LGA. At the end of their attacks, 54 people lay dead.
The curious thing about these latest attacks is that they happened very close to Rukuba Barracks, which houses the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army. Ironically, the soldiers did not resist the attackers.
Something is wrong with Nigeria’s security architecture. Tinubu should sit with the Service Chiefs and map out strategies to deal with this situation, rather than transferring his responsibility to the Governors.
He should act as a statesman. A statesman does things that are right, equitable and just to everybody.
Part of the problem is that Nigeria runs a weird federal system, where the President is invested with too much power. In the United States, the Governors would have challenged him.
Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom sued President Donald Trump over his tariffs that have affected global trade.
The crisis in Plateau revolves around land control. Fulani herdsmen try to seize territories for their cattle. The government should confine the belligerents to specific zones. There should also be ranching territories.
Nevertheless, there is no justification for not halting the senseless attacks on defenceless citizens. Governors can only take part of the blame for insecurity if the Federal Government heeds the clamour for State Police. For now, communities should form vigilance groups to defend themselves.
Tinubu should realise that positions are transient. But legacy lives forever. He should leave legacies that should outlive him.
History will not be kind to him if he does not make the right decisions on the Plateau. He should do something that puts the State on the path of justice and peace.