2025

Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, has blamed Nigeria’s escalating security crisis on the collapse of leadership and governance at the Local Government level. He called for urgent reforms to empower grassroots authorities and restore security across affected regions. Dickson made the remarks on Monday following a phone call with Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, where over the weekend, dozens of residents were reportedly killed in fresh attacks. “I condoled with him, the government, and the good people of Benue State, as well as the families and loved ones of those who died in this dastardly massacre,” the senator stated in a Facebook post. Read Also: 2027: North-Central APC Forum Condemns Gombe Disruption, Backs Ganduje’s Leadership He described the killings as “almost at a genocidal proportion,” warning that the country is becoming dangerously numb to bloodshed. “We cannot be a nation where hundreds of our citizens are killed routinely on a daily basis,” he said. “We are gradually becoming so used to the bloodletting that it no longer makes news. This is abnormal. It is turning us into a nation of brutes and lawlessness, a failed state.” Dickson welcomed the federal deployment of security personnel to Benue, which Governor Alia confirmed during their conversation. He urged the state government to support security operations and engage the public in peace building efforts. Local Government collapse linked to insecurity The former Bayelsa governor emphasized that the weakness of the local government system remains a major factor in Nigeria’s security challenges. “At the base of our nation’s political system the Local Government areas, there is a lacuna: a gap in leadership and capacity to function, which is also affecting our national security,” he said. Dickson urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure full implementation of the Supreme Court ruling that mandates direct funding of Local Government Councils. He argued that empowering Council chairpersons to collaborate directly with Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and local security agents is crucial to effective governance and community safety. “The cooperation and understanding of governors must be obtained to ensure full autonomy, so council chairmen can take responsibility alongside DPOs and local officers who are familiar with the communities and their challenges,” he said. Citing his experience as governor from 2012 to 2020, Dickson said decentralizing security structures was key to managing conflict in Bayelsa and urged other states to adopt similar approaches. He also restated his support for state policing and stressed the importance of bipartisan cooperation in tackling insecurity. “As I have always maintained, issues of national security, the economy, and the protection of our national values and democracy know no political colour,” he said.

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has strongly condemned the recent disruption of the APC North-East stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe State, where President Bola Tinubu was endorsed for a second term in 2027. In a statement issued Monday by the Forum’s Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, the group described the chaos allegedly triggered by the omission of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s name during the endorsement as “regrettable and unwarranted,” stressing that internal party disagreements should not lead to public disorder. The Forum expressed concern over the treatment of the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who was reportedly whisked away under tight security due to the incident. It defended Ganduje’s neutrality, stating that the selection of a running mate remains the exclusive prerogative of the President, not the party chairman. Related: After Gombe Incident, Ganduje Reasserts Call for Political Decorum It further called on Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, to investigate the alleged involvement of non-state actors in the protest, warning that such precedents could undermine party unity and discipline. Citing figures from the 2023 elections, the Forum challenged claims of marginalisation by the North-East, noting that the North-Central delivered over 1.76 million votes for President Tinubu more than the North-East’s 933,000 votes. It urged the party to consider electoral performance in future political decisions. The group clarified that its position was not intended to ignite regional rivalry but to promote fairness and strategic thinking within the party. On the question of ticket configuration for 2027, the Forum said the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted in 2023 was a strategic move and may not apply again. Read Also: Photos: Tinubu Inaugurates Greater Abuja Water Project to Expand Clean Water Access Reaffirming its full support for President Tinubu’s re-election and Ganduje’s leadership, the Forum pledged to mobilize at least six million votes from the North-Central region in 2027. “We urge members to rise above personal grievances and focus on unity, discipline, and progress. Now is the time to build bridges, not burn them,” the statement read.