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Muraina Taiwo, a member of Lagos State’s Governance Advisory Council (GAC), has stated that President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s apparent feud has been resolved.
Taiwo, who spoke with Punch over the phone on Sunday, said the misunderstanding had been resolved.
“God has already resolved everything they are saying. The father (Tinubu) has dragged his son (Sanwo-Olu) closer, and the son has hugged his father; we are now together in Lagos.

“It only looked like that, but currently, we are in the meeting, and God has done it,” he told us.

Olusegun Osoba, former Ogun State Governor and APC chieftain, also weighed in, saying party leaders were actively attempting to repair the schism between the two leaders.

“You don’t expect an elder like myself to reveal what we’re doing. But know that we will not remain silent and let the situation spiral out of hand.

After all, I’m involved in the Lagos and Rivers crises. “We are assuring the nation that everything will be fine,” added Osoba.

The reconciliation comes after widespread speculation about the President’s icy attitude toward Sanwo-Olu during his recent trip to Lagos.

On May 31, at the inauguration of the 30km portion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, videos leaked on social media showed Tinubu allegedly ignoring Sanwo-Olu’s greeting.

The governor was also absent from the two-day-old commissioning of the 27-kilometer Lekki Deep Seaport Road, adding to fears about deteriorating relations.

Sanwo-Olu’s deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, attended the ceremony but did not speak on behalf of the state, which is unusual for official state ceremonies.

To add to the uneasiness, Sanwo-Olu was not in Lagos for the President’s Sallah celebrations, instead went to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to bring Governor Umo Eno into the APC.

Meanwhile, images of Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa prostrating before Tinubu in Lagos went viral on Saturday, implying a deepening split.

However, on Sunday, the President’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, shared a group photo of Tinubu with Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, Obasa, and GAC members on X, implying a restoration to normalcy.

According to sources close to the Lagos political structure, the schism predates the current Lagos Assembly crisis, which resulted in Obasa being briefly removed as speaker before his reinstatement.

According to Punch, Tinubu’s rage was fueled by reports that Sanwo-Olu supported Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign, which both the Presidency and Atiku’s camp have firmly denied.

According to the source, “it is proven that there is a gap (between the President and the governor). According to what I gathered, it was because Sanwo-Olu was reported to have provided Atiku money during his campaign.

“Recall that at one point, Sanwo-Olu sought the court to seek an injunction against the EFCC from investigating him. “The following day, Sanwo-Olu denied it.”

He said that the governor’s decision was the result of a deteriorated relationship.

“The Obasa’s issue is just the last straw that broke the camel’s back,” said one insider.

While allegations of financial ties between Sanwo-Olu and Atiku gained momentum in certain stories, the Presidency, Atiku, and the EFCC all denied them.

Atiku, via his media adviser, Paul Ibe, described it as a “baseless smear campaign.”

In 2024, news appeared that Sanwo-Olu had launched a lawsuit against the EFCC to avoid a possible post-tenure detention. The Lagos State administration, through its Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), disputed the claim.

The EFCC further denied that its ongoing case against Aisha Achimugu, a socialite who has been proclaimed sought for alleged money laundering, has anything to do with Atiku or Sanwo Olu.

Read Also: Peter Obi Criticizes Tinubu: Coastal Road Can’t Outweigh Security Needs

Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate for the Labour Party, has called the current coastal highway project being carried out by President Bola Tinubu’s administration an inappropriate priority.
According to the former governor of Anambra State, the current administration must address more urgent problems including the difficulties posed by insecurity and a faltering economy.
He asked why such massive infrastructure projects are being prioritized above initiatives that directly impact residents’ lives.

In a Monday interview with Arise Television, Obi questioned the project’s timing and justification for the Lagos-Calabar coastal route.

He said it is dubious to spend a lot of money on a number of infrastructure projects that will “lead nowhere when we have crisis.”

He questioned, “Are you saying that securing Nigeria is less important than the coastal road?”

According to reports, the former governor maintained that before starting such large-scale initiatives as the coastal highway project, the problems of insecurity and economic stabilization must be resolved.

Read Also: Political Feud Between Akume and Alia Deepens Insecurity in Benue

“The roads we have across the nation are no longer durable,” he remarked. You secure your nation by using your resources and repairing those roads first. Roads are significantly less important than security. If you couldn’t drive to your village, would you rather have a road? Let’s continue what we are doing if you would like. Therefore, let’s address those issues if you claim that our problem is power, our problem is insecurity, or they are unable to travel to the farm.

As a government, we are. We need to take immediate action to protect our people.

He urged the administration to provide the security forces the authority to respond forcefully to any criminal danger.

“We would proclaim a state of war if we were engaged in combat. I would do everything it took to protect the nation,” Obi declared.

Benue State continues to grapple with violent farmer-herder clashes and widespread insecurity. While both former Governor Samuel Ortom and current Governor Hyacinth Alia inherited deeply rooted crises, their approaches to resolving these issues have been markedly different. Ortom is remembered for bold, confrontational policies aimed at defending his people, whereas Alia’s tenure has been characterized by cautious rhetoric and minimal innovation. This report evaluates their leadership styles, policies, and outcomes, revealing why Ortom’s tenure is seen as more effective in the fight against insecurity.

1. Security Philosophy: Transparency vs. Denial

Ortom: Direct and Confrontational
Governor Ortom adopted an unyielding stance on insecurity, openly condemning herder attacks and challenging the federal government’s perceived complicity. He frequently addressed the public during crises, even inviting media coverage of mass burials to highlight the severity of the violence. This transparency built public trust and mobilized support for state-led interventions.

Alia: Ambiguous and Evasive
Governor Alia, on the other hand, projects an image of “relative peace,” often downplaying ongoing violence. His administration has been accused of suppressing information about killings, particularly after declaring peace in troubled areas like Gwer East, where attacks have continued. Farmers and local leaders see this as a denial of reality and a betrayal of their suffering.

2. Policy Implementation: Institutional Innovation vs. Cosmetic Changes

Ortom’s Legislative and Structural Framework
Ortom’s government enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017, a decisive legal step to restrict herders’ movements and prosecute offenders. He also established the Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards, both aimed at localized intelligence gathering and law enforcement.

Alia’s Minimal Adjustments
Alia has retained Ortom’s laws without introducing significant new legislation or enforcement strategies. His main contribution has been the rebranding of Ortom’s security outfits into “Operation Anyam Nyor,” a move critics say is superficial. No substantial institutional reforms have accompanied this change, and operational efficiency remains stagnant.

3. Federal Engagement: Defiance vs. Compliance

Ortom: Confronting the Centre
Ortom boldly criticized the Buhari administration for failing to protect Benue, often accusing it of enabling attacks. While this confrontational approach strained federal relations, it rallied local support and drew national attention to Benue’s plight.

Alia: Silence and Submission
In contrast, Alia avoids criticizing the federal government under President Tinubu, choosing instead to praise federal support despite the persistence of violence. This deference is viewed as political expediency rather than genuine leadership.

4. Operational Outcomes: Measurable Action vs. Rhetoric

Ortom: Localized Security Response
Under Ortom, security forces trained and deployed across rural areas responded rapidly to attacks. The Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards were active in enforcing the anti-grazing law, leading to arrests and deterrence.

Alia: Equipment without Effectiveness
Although Alia has distributed motorcycles and Hilux vehicles to security agencies, he has admitted that no terrorists have been apprehended. His security initiatives have yielded no measurable success, and even his supporters question the effectiveness of these efforts.

5. Humanitarian Response: Empathy vs. Optics

Ortom: Focused on IDP Protection
Ortom maintained IDP camps and acknowledged the displacement of over four million people, attracting local and international support. His administration prioritized safety over public relations.

Alia: Forced Returns Amid Ongoing Violence
Alia has claimed that IDPs have reduced to under one million and has reopened markets in some areas. However, reports indicate that many of these “returns” are premature, with attacks still occurring in local governments like Agatu and Gwer West. Survivors have accused the government of coercing returns to create a false image of peace.

6. Leadership and Accountability: Courage vs. Excuses

Ortom: Political Courage
Ortom survived an assassination attempt and refused to repeal the anti-grazing law despite federal pressure. He stood firmly with Benue farmers, earning widespread respect for his resolve.

Alia: Deflecting Responsibility
Alia continues to blame Ortom for the insecurity he inherited, even though Ortom faced similar challenges from his own predecessors. His aides accuse Ortom of “envy” rather than addressing the current realities. Residents in places like Gwer East describe a growing sense of abandonment and fear.

Leadership Matters

Ortom’s tenure, though not without flaws, was marked by three defining traits that are glaringly absent in Alia’s administration:

• Transparency: Willingness to expose the harsh realities to mobilize help and demand justice.

• Accountability: Creation and enforcement of legal frameworks to protect lives.

• Courage: Readiness to confront political powers to defend Benue’s interests.

Alia’s leadership so far has relied on inherited policies, minimal reform, and public relations narratives. Without concrete results, his claims of peace appear hollow. Until Governor Alia adopts a bolder and more transparent strategy, Benue’s security situation risks further decline.

Final Verdict:
Samuel Ortom stood with the people in their darkest moments, confronting attackers and calling out federal failures. Hyacinth Alia, by contrast, appears more concerned with avoiding controversy and maintaining political alliances. The difference is clear: Ortom fought for Benue’s future; Alia merely manages its perception.

The governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has been charged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with playing a blame game over the state’s murders.
In a Channels Television interview, Alia reportedly charged that prominent politicians in Abuja and the National Assembly were behind the killings, harboring, and feeding those behind the state’s crisis.
The PDP’s Benue chapter responded on Saturday with a statement signed by Tim Nyor, its publicity secretary, characterizing the governor’s accusations as an attempt at political escapism that is not only reckless but also dangerously diverts attention from the urgent and significant steps that must be taken to address the situation.

Without resorting to careless blame-shifting, the PDP claimed that past administrations acknowledged the issue and referred to it as “attacks by armed herdsmen.”
It is concerning, the opposition party said, that the Alia administration’s attitude to insecurity appears to lack rationale and logic.

The PDP urged Alia to stop using flimsy propaganda and instead submit thorough security reports to the right authorities for appropriate action.

Read Also: He Who Comes to Equity Must Come with Clean Hands: Seyi Ipinlaye Has No Moral Standing

Although the governor may be immune from punishment, the party added, he must remember that the Abuja politicians he disparages do not have the same protection.

It is crucial to remember that Benue’s security issues are not unique to Nigeria, the statement says. Threats to neighboring states like Plateau and Taraba are comparable, but their governments have taken a more responsible stance by recognizing the security situation and acting to resolve it.

On the other hand, rather than addressing the underlying reasons of insecurity, Governor Alia has alternated between blaming foreign invaders, Abuja politicians, and other scapegoats.

We need to know if the attacks in Plateau, Enugu, Taraba, or other places are exclusively the fault of Abuja officials. Or is Benue being unfairly singled out in a witch hunt for political reasons?

As with the administrations of Governors Samuel Ortom and Gabriel Suswam, the attacks by herdsmen in Benue still occurred when Governor Alia took office.

Distractions, unfounded allegations, and propaganda taint the governor’s speech rather than tackling the core problems.

“It is not acceptable to disregard or compromise Benue’s security issues for political reasons.

In addition to being careless, it is risky to misdiagnose the issue by implying or outright asserting that representatives of Abuja are funding herdsmen terrorism.

If he truly believes what he is saying, he should stop using flimsy propaganda and instead submit thorough security reports to the appropriate authorities for appropriate action.

Governor Alia is urged by the PDP to put an end to the blame-game and concentrate on responsible, inclusive, and tangible security measures instead. Since a leader who simultaneously carries the moral burden of a Reverend must possess honesty, accountability, and a unifying spirit, these attributes are essential for genuine leadership at this crucial period.

It is imperative to remind the good people of Amuwo Odofin LGA that Mr. Seyi Ipinlaye has a well-documented history of irresponsibility and betrayal of public trust. From the moment he was appointed Secretary to the Local Government, he conducted himself in a manner unbecoming of a public servant. He was found to have leaked official documents for personal gain and engaged in anti-party activities, which ultimately led to his dismissal by the very administration that appointed him as Special Adviser

The height of his misconduct was when it was discovered that Mr. Ipinlaye was simultaneously working for two different government offices — drawing a salary as a Special Adviser at the local government level while also serving as a Senior Legislative Aide to Hon. George Adegeye, the Member representing Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. This is not just a violation of public service ethics but a clear case of fraud and financial misconduct.

It is both ironic and outrageous that someone with such a tainted record now seeks to position himself as a watchdog of accountability. Mr. Ipinlaye has no moral authority to question the judicious use of local government funds when he himself should be answering questions about embezzlement and abuse of office.

We, the concerned residents of Amuwo Odofin LGA, categorically reject any attempt by Seyi Ipinlaye to masquerade as a whistleblower or moral crusader. His actions speak louder than his words — actions that have demonstrated corruption, dishonesty, and criminal tendencies.
We are using this medium to call on LASIEC to disqualify this incompetent Labour Party Candidate whose records are questionable.

We call for his immediate prosecution and demand that all public funds fraudulently collected by him be returned to the local government.

Signed,
Concerned Residents of Amuwo Odofin LGA