Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio said on Saturday that restoring peace in Plateau State and other conflict-hit regions depends on Nigerians themselves, not foreign intervention.
Speaking at the Jos Polo Field during an event to welcome defectors into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Akpabio — who represented President Bola Tinubu — said the government was committed to ending violence in Plateau and stabilising affected communities.
“It is not outsiders who will come and give you peace. It is we, Nigerians, who must bring peace,” he told the crowd. “We must learn to live together. Without peace, there can be no progress.”
Akpabio became emotional as he spoke about ongoing attacks in parts of the state. “I cry whenever I hear that a human being, whether a child or an adult, has been killed,” he said, adding that the reports were painful for him and for Tinubu.
He said the Plateau crisis long predates the current administration, noting that many of the incidents being referenced in international reports occurred more than a decade ago. “Some of the reports people quote today are from 2010. I was a governor then and witnessed similar tragedies,” he said.
Akpabio acknowledged the heavy toll of the years-long conflict, including deaths, displacement and destruction of property, but said the federal government would intensify efforts to restore stability.
He urged residents to support Tinubu and the APC, saying sustained cooperation would help drive development and improve security in the region.