Former Edo State governor and APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has praised President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to address insecurity in Nigeria, saying progress has been made compared to the situation before the APC came to power in 2015.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Oshiomhole noted that while challenges remain, the government has achieved significant milestones, including the conviction of several perpetrators of terrorism.
“Nobody is pretending that it’s all over, but let no one deny that progress has been made,” he said. “We were in a situation where national elections had to be postponed because Boko Haram had taken control of about 81 local government areas in the northeast. Today, we are seeing convictions, even if the sentences sometimes raise questions.”
Oshiomhole expressed concern over judicial rulings in terrorism cases, questioning why some convicts received lesser sentences than prescribed by law. He emphasized that the power to grant clemency lies solely with the President.
The former governor credited the Office of the National Security Adviser and effective intelligence gathering for many of the administration’s security achievements. He also highlighted recent measures by President Tinubu, including the replacement of service chiefs, expansion of police recruitment by 30,000 officers, and proposals to recruit an additional 100,000 personnel following the Kebbi schoolgirls’ abduction.
“Everyone recognizes the need to act differently, especially given our population growth relative to the size of our armed forces,” Oshiomhole said. “There is no overnight solution, but the President cares, is taking steps, and we are seeing arrests and convictions. The problem has not disappeared, but progress is evident.”
