The Nasarawa governor says cooperation among political leaders is essential to tackling insecurity and building sustainable peace across the region.
By Wapcodehub9ja LIVE News Desk: Correspondent Reporting Live From Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has called on political leaders across the North Central region to separate governance responsibilities from partisan differences, arguing that greater cooperation is necessary to address insecurity and achieve lasting peace.
Sule made the call at the 2026 North Central Regional Security Summit held at the New Banquet Hall of the Benue State Government House in Makurdi. The summit brought together key stakeholders to examine the security challenges confronting the region and consider coordinated approaches to improving stability.
The governor said the politicisation of security challenges could undermine efforts to find lasting solutions. According to him, leaders must be prepared to work together despite political differences when the safety and welfare of citizens are at stake.
Sule recalled his experience in 2019, when he reached out to the then governor of Benue State despite differences between their political camps. He said the relationship helped strengthen cooperation between Nasarawa and Benue and contributed to efforts to contain security problems affecting the two states.
He warned that disagreements among political leaders could create opportunities for criminal elements to exploit divisions within the region. For that reason, he urged governors and other influential political figures to resolve their differences and concentrate on measures capable of protecting communities.
The governor also stressed the importance of mutual respect between political leaders, traditional authorities and other stakeholders. He said building trust across state boundaries would be critical to developing coordinated responses to insecurity.
The summit, organised by the Federal Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, focused on a collaborative approach to strengthening security and regional stability.
Other speakers at the gathering also emphasised cooperation as a key element in confronting the region’s security difficulties. Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia highlighted trust, while Defence Minister Christopher Musa said security agencies and the armed forces could not resolve the challenges alone without broader cooperation from stakeholders.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented at the summit by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, called for practical recommendations from the meeting. He directed that the summit’s outcomes be submitted to him, alongside information on how the recommendations would be implemented.
The summit brought together governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, civil society organisations, private-sector representatives, women and youth groups. The broad participation reflected the need for security responses that involve both government institutions and communities.
Sule’s appeal places political cooperation at the centre of the North Central’s search for security and stability. As the region continues to contend with violent attacks and other criminal activities, the governor’s position is that sustained collaboration among leaders and institutions will be necessary to translate security discussions into practical and lasting results.
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