Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, on Tuesday criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for allegedly politicising the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained focused on securing the victims’ safe release rather than engaging in political optics.
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Akume said the President’s handling of the 56-day hostage crisis demonstrated strategic leadership and a results-driven approach, arguing that public complaints about the absence of a telephone call from the President were misplaced while security agencies worked to free the captives.
Speaking in Abuja while receiving members of the Global Association of Christian and Muslim Youth for Peace and Development, led by its President, Peter Asuquo Bassey, the SGF said the successful rescue operation reflected the Tinubu administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity through intelligence-led operations rather than “public grandstanding.”
Referring to Makinde’s earlier complaint that President Tinubu did not telephone him during the crisis, Akume questioned the relevance of such concerns while security efforts were underway.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, Akume said, “We live in a society where everything is politicised. Yes, we inherited difficult situations, but we are improving by the day. I just had a meeting with the Italian Ambassador this afternoon, and I told him that terror has no boundaries. It is everywhere.”
“I also assured him that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken the fight against insecurity very seriously. You could see the political sagacity and strategy of the president by ensuring the release of our dear ones who were held captives by these crooks”, Akume added.
He said the focus should have been on rescuing the victims rather than on whether the President made a telephone call.
“When the noise was rife that the President didn’t place a phone call to someone, it didn’t make sense. Would a telephone call to that person have resolved the case? Would those held in captivity have been released? No. The strategy used to ensure the safety of those held in captivity should be paramount. We should be interested in the release of these children and others. We should not be interested in a telephone call”, he said.
Describing Tinubu as a leader who delivers through action, Akume likened the President to the Roman centurion whose service was defined by deeds rather than words.
“This is why I tell people that Asiwaju is a doer. He is not a talker. He is like the Centurion of the old Roman Empire, whose service was rendered in deeds, not in words. His leadership is defined by action and results. Nigerians wanted to see the safe return of those innocent children, and today they have been rescued through the strategic efforts of our security agencies under the President’s leadership. That is what matters”, he stated.
The SGF maintained that the Federal Government had adopted a deliberate, intelligence-driven strategy against terrorism and kidnapping, stressing that complex security operations require careful planning rather than political rhetoric.
“The President has taken the fight against insecurity very seriously. His administration remains focused on restoring peace across the country, protecting lives and creating an environment where Nigerians can live and pursue their legitimate aspirations without fear,” he said.
Akume also commended the visiting Global Association of Christian and Muslim Youth for Peace and Development for promoting religious harmony and national cohesion.
He praised the group’s decision to unite Christian and Muslim youths under a single platform, saying that peaceful coexistence remained essential to Nigeria’s progress.
“I am particularly impressed that you have chosen unity over division. Whether one is a Christian or a Muslim is not the issue; what matters is that we are Nigerians united by a common destiny. Your association demonstrates that peaceful coexistence is not only possible but essential for national progress,” he said.
Earlier, the association’s president, Peter Asuquo Bassey, said the visit was informed by Akume’s record in public service and the group’s desire to build a closer relationship with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
He said the association would continue mobilising young Nigerians across religious and ethnic divides to promote peaceful coexistence and factual information about government policies, and announced plans to host a National Peace Summit in September to deepen tolerance and national unity.
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