The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has berated Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for allegedly playing politics with the abduction of teachers and schoolchildren in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
Akume, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Yomi Odunuga, described President Bola Tinubu as a leader who backs his promises with decisive action. He commended the President’s strategic leadership, which he said culminated in the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
Speaking while receiving members of the Global Association of Christian and Muslim Youth for Peace and Development, led by its President, Peter Asuquo Bassey, on Tuesday in Abuja, Akume said the successful rescue operation underscored the Tinubu administration’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians through well-coordinated security operations rather than public grandstanding.
Referring to Governor Makinde’s complaint that he had yet to receive a phone call from the President, the SGF said what was before the President was far more important than making a telephone call, as such a call would not have resolved the situation.
Akume noted that the President had consistently demonstrated that effective leadership is measured by tangible results.
He 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 in ensuring the release of our dear ones who were held captive by these crooks. Why would anyone hold people in captivity, including young children, if not for self-seeking opportunism? They are looking for money.
“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 situation? Would those held captive have been released? No. It is the strategy being used to ensure the safety of those held in captivity that should be paramount. We should be interested in the release of these children and others. We should not be interested in a telephone call.
“This is why I tell people that Asiwaju (the President) is a doer. He is not a talker. He is like the centurion of the old Roman Empire whose service was rendered in deeds and 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 emphasised that the Federal Government had adopted a deliberate and intelligence-driven approach to combating insecurity, stressing that terrorism and kidnapping require carefully planned security operations 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 association for bringing together Christian and Muslim youths under one umbrella to promote peace, unity and national cohesion, describing the initiative as timely and commendable.
“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.”
Source: New Telegraph
