- Â distributes relief materials to IDPs in Giza, Kadarko
Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has appealed to youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians to cause problems, especially as the country inches towards the 2023 general elections.
Engineer Sule made the call when he visited internally displaced persons’ camps in Giza, Kadarko and Agyaragu, in Keana and Obi Local GovernmentAreas respectively, where Tiv IDPs were taking refuge, on Friday.
According to the Governor, it has become necessary to call the youths, particularly the Tiv youths, not to allow themselves to be used by unpatriotic elements, who may want to disrupt the smooth conduct of the 2023 election because of their selfish interest.
Engineer Sule assured the youths that, as Governor of the state, he will never call on any youth from the Tiv community in order to cause problems in the state, urging them not to allow anyone to use them for sinister purposes.
“This is a period of politics. I am calling on especially the youths, who probably are being used by other politicians that don’t want peace, to be causing these problems for the youths in particular.
“At the end of the day, if you allow yourselves to be used, it’s your people that are suffering. If you are truly a lover and admirer and a true son of the Tiv land, you cannot allow your people to be suffering because of the pittance they are giving you.
“I will not as a Governor bring any youth from the Tiv community in order to cause problems in Nasarawa State. And I urge you not to allow anyone to use you for that same purpose. It’s only when Hou do that, that our people will live in peace with one another,” he stated.
The Governor assured the IDPs that his administration is taking measures to ensure they return to their homes next week, even as he disclosed that he will meet with his Benue State counterpart, as well as the Tor Tiv, in order to fathom lasting solutions to the farmer/herder skirmishes along border communities.
He said, he has already met with security agencies and community leaders, with a view to understanding how best to assist the IDPs.
Engineer Sule said he already discussed with the Fulani community where he emphasized on the need for peaceful co-existence with the Tivs and other ethnic nationalities.
He however regretted that, most of the conflicts are caused by both Fulanis and Tivs that are non natives but who cross into the state to ignite conflicts.
“Unfortunately, some other people mostly from outside the state, are causing problems between the Tivs and Fulani in Nasarawa State. We have taken some steps, apart from addressing the Fulani, I also intend to go to Benue State and see the Tor Tiv and also the Governor, so that we can put heads together and prevent this unfortunate situations,” he said.
Earlier, in a welcome address, Keana Local Government Area Chairman, Hon. Adamu Adi, said the people of the area cannot thank the Governor enough for what he has been doing to make Nasarawa State a better place for all.
On his part, President, Tiv Development Association (TIDA), Comrade Peter Ahemba, expressed appreciation on the Governor’s visit, on behalf of the Tiv nation in Nasarawa State, especially the IDPs.
Comrade Ahemba said by the visit, Engineer Sule has further demonstrated his love for not only the Tiv people but every ethnic nationality in the state.
He explained that, the IDPs in Kadarko were Tivs affected by the recent crisis from Kwara District, in Keana LGA, some of them from Gidan Sule, from the villages from Kadarko down to the border with Benue.
“We want to thank you sincerely and with the hope that, as you promised, we have no doubt, based on what you are doing, in less than one week, our people will be able to return to their homes.
“I want to thank the security agencies for their sleeplessness in ensuring they are promoting peace. I want to thank the Kadarko community for receiving our people in this manner,” the TIDA president added.
