Chief Martin Onovo, the 2015 presidential candidate of the Na­tional Conscience Party (NCP), has taken a hard look at the kill­ings in the Middle Belt Region, and came to a conclusion that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should be blamed for the massacre of Nigerian citizens there, especially in Benue and Plateau states.

Onovo, who spoke to Sunday Independent on Saturday, also maintained that the recent visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinu­bu to Benue State did not achieve any meaningful result as it was a mere propaganda tour meant to continue the ruling party’s politicking towards the 2027 elections.

Onovo, currently the Head, Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC) and an oil sector stakeholder, main­tained that it had become clear that the President Tinubu-led Federal Government did not care about the mass killing of citizens in the Middle Belt region.

He stated: “The ruling party is the direct sponsor of insecuri­ty and terrorism in Nigeria. So, they have not and may not take any significant action against terrorism in Nigeria.

“One of the founding leaders of the ruling party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, confessed that the ruling party imported the Fulani mili­tias from Senegal and Mali for election purposes

“It is clear that the Federal Government does not care about the mass killing of citizens in the Middle Belt region.

“The ad hoc Tinubu regime has not taken any significant action since it seized power two years ago.

“After each massacre, it sim­ply announces its condolence to the affected community and restates its meaningless order to security agencies to go after the killers.”

Onovo added: “His presence in Benue State over the massa­cres there showed he did not completely abandon the people.