Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday, condemned what he described as “organised and orchestrated insecurity” in Nigeria, claiming that nameless enemies were purposefully torturing the country through terrorism, banditry, and insurgency.
Akpabio addressed the 14th National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
He asked party officials to accept defectors and new members, cautioning against prejudice as the APC grows.
Akpabio reminded President Bola Tinubu and other party officials that the deteriorating security situation had left many states in mourning, and that the party leadership needed to work together to overcome the issues.
“We are very sad that people have decided to torment Nigeria with very serious, organized, and orchestrated insecurity.
“So as we grow there will be envy, there will be jealousy, and with jealousy comes hatred, and with hatred come challenges.
“So Mr. President, our role in this caucus today is to assure you that we are not only with you, we are also praying for you, praying for you to overcome the challenges of the day, and also praying for Nigeria,” said Akpabio.
The Senate President stated that the caucus supported states mourning the loss of lives in assaults while commending Tinubu for securing the release of over 100 recently kidnapped children.
He called for the other children to be rescued and reunited with their families.
Akpabio said, “We align ourselves with states that are mourning as a result of the loss of lives occasioned by terrorists, by bandits, and by insurgents.
“We thank the President for the release of over 100 children who were kidnapped very recently, and we pray to God to give him the ability and the enablement to release the remaining children to rejoin their families.
“We condole with members of the families who have lost their loved ones, including the armed forces, who lost their lives in the course of trying to protect not just those children, but also lives and properties in the country. May their souls rest in perfect peace.”
Akpabio praised Tinubu for intervening in the Benin Republic to stabilize democracy and urged continued regional engagement.
He also revealed that the Senate has taken “bold decisions” to deter criminality, including legislation to classify kidnapping alongside terrorism. If Tinubu signs the bill, kidnappers will face the death penalty.
Akpabio also urged governors to implement laws against capital offenses such as banditry, stating that failing to sign execution warrants could inspire criminals who might subsequently escape and return to crime.
The Senate President also commended the APC’s growing political reach, stating that the party had continued to attract significant political leaders “steadily” and “without firing a shot,” citing the National Working Committee led by party head Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
He urged party officials across states to create possibilities for new members, adding the APC must not exclude individuals who come from other parties.
“Let me appeal to all our leaders that all the political stakeholders coming in from other political parties must be given equal opportunities to thrive.
“There must not be any discrimination,” he appealed.
Akpabio said that the opposition in the Senate had diminished drastically, with only “five or four” senators remaining outside the APC, and stated that several had secretly expressed interest in joining the ruling party.
He stated that he did not want a Senate without opposition and that he had enabled certain senators who had declared for the APC in their states but had not formally done so in the chamber to continue operating inside the minority caucus, ensuring that the minority benches were not vacant.
Akpabio welcomed incoming governors to the caucus, advocated smooth integration across states, and predicted that party unity will translate into votes and victory for the APC by 2027.
The APC National Caucus is a high-level strategy meeting for the party’s top leadership.
It normally brings together the president, vice president, national chairman, members of the National Working Committee, APC governors, and other key players to coordinate on political and organizational matters prior to the NEC’s larger deliberations.
Notably, six governors elected on the Peoples Democratic Party platform who recently defected to the APC attended the caucus meeting, including Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, and Taraba Governor Agbu Kefas.
