Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Media and Communications Community of the Presidential Campaign, has attributed the North-Central’s inability to produce Nigeria elected president to disunity and poor understanding of the country’s political dynamics.
Showunmi stated this while briefing newsmen in Makurdi, stressing the need for unity of purpose, peaceful political engagement and sustained commitment to development.
He said the region needed to mobilise substantial votes to strengthen its bargaining power and advance its presidential aspiration.
According to him, Benue, with 3.05 million registered voters, has the potential to make a significant contribution to the region’s political ambitions if its electorate is effectively mobilised.
“What has always been the challenge is, one, lack of unity among the people of North-Central; two, their inability to read the political arithmetic of power,” he said.
Showunmi, who is also the National Convener of the Alternative Movement, argued that political power in a democracy was secured through votes and strategic negotiations rather than military intervention.
“If you have 3.05 million votes and you bring about three million or 2.5 million votes, what would then be the reason why they will sidestep you?” he asked.
He urged the people of Benue to close ranks, avoid unnecessary political disagreements and work together to strengthen the state’s influence in national affairs.
Showunmi said the international community had increasingly focused attention on Benue because of the security challenges and humanitarian conditions affecting the state.
He urged the region to use the attention to demonstrate its capacity for unity, effective leadership and constructive engagement.
On the national economy, Showunmi defended the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, saying they were designed to address structural weaknesses in public finance.
He acknowledged that the reforms had imposed hardship on citizens but argued that increased revenue available to the federal, state and local governments could stimulate economic activities.
On security, he acknowledged the challenges confronting Benue and other parts of the country, noting that insurgency and other security threats required sustained intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination and operational capacity.
He said the Tinubu administration had expanded military formations, increased recruitment opportunities and strengthened collaboration among security agencies.
Showunmi added that the proposed establishment of state police could complement existing security structures through improved intelligence gathering and faster responses to threats, provided it was backed by an appropriate legal framework.
He said state police would enable states to recruit and train personnel familiar with their communities while maintaining coordination with national policing structures.
He also cited Nigeria’s security collaboration with international partners, including the United States, Britain, France, Turkey and Germany, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security capabilities.
Showunmi urged Benue residents to shun internal divisions, warning that communal disagreements could undermine efforts to address the state’s security challenges.
“The most important thing that Benue needs now is that Benue must be careful not to be the one instigating itself against itself,” he said.
