By correspondent in Minna.
Mr.Jonathan Vatsa.
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action against rising insecurity, warning that failure to do so could jeopardize his chances for a second term in 2027.
Vatsa, a former Publicity Secretary of the APC in Niger and a past Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, described the worsening security crisis as politically motivated.
He accused certain individuals, whom he labeled as “political merchants,” of deliberately fueling unrest to discredit Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking with journalists in Minna on Wednesday, Vatsa compared the current situation to the pre-2015 political climate during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.
He alleged that the same group of individuals who undermined Jonathan’s government, through orchestrated insecurity,are now plotting against Tinubu.
“Every day, we hear of killings either by bandits or other groups. This is not mere coincidence. It’s a calculated effort by people who feel sidelined from power,” Vatsa said.
He warned that these actors, aim to stir division and weaken public confidence in the government, as was done in 2014 when the same group manipulated religious sentiments and insecurity to sabotage Jonathan’s presidency.
“They funded Boko Haram, carried out bombings, and orchestrated the Chibok girls’ abduction,all to tarnish the image of the Jonathan administration.
“Today, they are using similar tactics to target Tinubu,”he claimed.
Vatsa specifically pointed to the recent killings in Plateau and Benue states as part of a larger agenda to create chaos and set the stage for political upheaval ahead of the 2027 elections.
“These political merchants believe they own Nigeria. When they are not in power, they resort to violence. The President must act fast to expose and neutralize them,” he said.
Currently serving as a Special Adviser to Niger State Governor Umar Bago, Vatsa stressed that Tinubu must assert firm leadership and restore order, pointing out that the escalating violence in the country appears to be directed at undermining his administration.
He further urged the President to demonstrate strength and not allow the nation’s enemies to exploit insecurity as a political weapon.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
