A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa has posited that the violence in Plateau and Benue states is politically motivated.
Vatsa alleged that some forces were sponsoring the attack to discredit the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
He said this in a statement in Minna where he argues that the same tactics were used against the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2014, which ultimately led to the downfall of the PDP.
He alleged that some individuals are funding violence and insecurity to make the Tinubu-led government unpopular and pave the way for their preferred candidates in 2027.
Vatsa, who is also the Special Adviser on Public-Private Partnership to Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago of Niger State, urged President Tinubu to take swift action in tackling the security challenges confronting the nation, warning that failure to do so could lead to his removal from power.
According to him, “In 2014, the same people set both Christians and Muslims against the Jonathan administration, using insecurity as a weapon to poison and deceive Nigerians and turn them against the government.
“These same people are back on the drawing board again. The killings in Plateau and Benue are all part of the game plan; it is all about 2027. The government should know this by now.”
However, the Niger State APC chieftain expressed confidence that the current security challenges would not hinder President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing the example of the previous administration’s eight-year tenure despite numerous challenges.
He also lamented that the government knows the perpetrators and sponsors of the violence but is afraid to take action against them, highlighting the need for decisive leadership to tackle the security issues.
Vatsa further claimed, “They are political merchants; if they are not in any government, then that government must not succeed. They will unleash insecurity and violence against the government.”
