Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has called on the residents in the state to seek peace and live in harmony with one another, saying it is the only way the state can develop.
In a live broadcast to the people of the state, the governor said it was pertinent that he appealed to the collective conscience of the people and to take a critical look at the perilous situation in which the crisis has placed the young, but promising state.
“It has become necessary to address you once more on the recurrent ethnic crisis and militia activities in some parts of our state and no doubt, being aware of the outbreak of yet another round of bloodletting in some parts of the southern and northern senatorial zones within the past few weeks. Consequently, a number of lives have been lost while properties of inestimable value have also been destroyed. Added to this, thousands of innocent citizens of the state have been displaced from their home and made destitute over night. This is unacceptable.”
He lamented that the situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are taking refuge in various camps, public buildings and neighbouring communities, was deplorable, especially as they are in dire need of shelter, food and healthcare.
The governor said: “It is against this backdrop that I use this solemn moment to sue for peace and restraint among all communities and ethnic groups. At this critical period of our history, our state deserves stability in all ramifications. We cannot, therefore, afford to raise our arms against one another no matter the circumstance.”
He disclosed that he had called a security meeting of stakeholders in the state to deliberate on how to return peace to the state.
Meanwhile, a member of the state House of Assembly, Baba Ibaku, has said members of the assembly would boycott the peace meeting called by the state governor.
He told journalists that the state government was not serious about its action, adding that the assembly does not believe in the action of the governor.
Lamido Kicks against Jonathan’s Presidential Endorsement
As the meeting of the North-west caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ended in Kaduna State with the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 presidential election, the Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and the state chapter of the PDP have kicked against the endorsement.
The state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud, who made this known yesterday while addressing journalists in Dutse, said the government and people of the state were not in any way in support of the content of the communique read after the Kaduna PDP North-west zonal meeting in Kaduna where they announced the endorsements of President Jonathan to contest the presidential election on the party’s platform in 2015.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mahmud said: “We are not part of the decision, we didn’t know the content of the communique read after (Sunday) PDP North-west zonal meeting at Kaduna.
“The government of Jigawa State and the people remain loyal to the party and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are still members and remained loyal to the party and country.”
The deputy governor, who represented Lamido, maintained that the government and the members of the party in the state remained loyal to the party.
He further stated that “everyone known the role that Governor Lamido and Jigawa State Government played and canvassed supports and votes to President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, but to our greatest dismay Jonathan never fulfills any of the promises made to the people in the state.”
