Former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has said that the frequent attacks and displacement of citizens in Nasarawa state could be attributed to politics and lack of political will to solve the problem.
Maku, who came second in the last governorship election behind the current governor Tanko Al-Makura, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take a special interest in the ongoing violence and displacement of people, as he (President) visits the state.
Addressing a news conference Tuesday in Abuja, Maku, a chieftain of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said that the only gift President Buhari could give as he visits was to ensure there is peace in the state.
While saying that all the citizens ought to be welcoming the president to Nasarawa, Maku said this will not be possible because “several communities have been sacked as a result of unabated gun attacks.
“Today, I believe that all of Nasarawa state ought to be celebrating the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari but unfortunately, as the president visit my state today several communities will not be part of the visit, several communities have been sacked from their habitations, they will not be in Lafia today (Tuesday) to celebrate the coming of the president because they are no longer in their communities.
“In Nasarawa state, we have stayed in peace for centuries. The current development is highly unusual, it is highly artificial. As one of the leaders from that state, there is a lot of politics connected to it. People discuss it openly, why do we have these disruptions and attacks every time close to elections?”
Maku noted that the ongoing attacks in Nasarawa was about politics of 2019, saying the current developments require urgent attention because “all what the people of Nasarawa are asking for is peace. What I’m saying today is what Gov Al-makura won’t tell him (President) as he visits the state.
“Nasawara state is made up of peace loving communities but everyday now, communities are burying people under Gov. Al-Makura’s administration. There is nothing the President will give us today that is greater than peace,” Maku stated.
