Senator Ajibola Basiru, National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has defended President Bola Tinubu against accusations of bias in addressing the Benue State crisis, declaring him a “detribalised leader” who cannot take sides.
Speaking during a press briefing in Makurdi on Wednesday, June 18, following Tinubu’s visit to victims of the Yelewata massacre, Basiru emphasized the president’s commitment to uniting Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups amid escalating herder-farmer violence.
The Yelewata attack on June 13, which killed over 100 people in Guma Local Government Area, sparked allegations from some Tiv leaders that the federal government favored Fulani herders. Basiru countered, “President Tinubu’s actions, from visiting injured victims to deploying security, show he prioritizes peace over tribalism.” Tinubu’s visit included a town hall with the Tor Tiv, James Ayatse, and pledges for a permanent military base in Guma. Basiru highlighted Tinubu’s diverse cabinet, including Igbo and Yoruba appointees, as evidence of his inclusivity.
The National Emergency Management Agency reported 3,000 displaced and 20 deaths among the 46 injured. Analysts note that Benue’s crisis, with 1,043 deaths from May 2023 to May 2025, requires systemic solutions like grazing reserves. Basiru’s defense aims to quell ethnic tensions, but skeptics demand concrete policy outcomes before the 2027 elections.
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