Engineer Sule condemns recent killings involving farmers/herders, says government on top of situation
Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has condemned in totality recent skirmishes in some parts of the state, involving farmers and herders, which resulted in the lost of lives.
Engineer Sule made the condemnation when he interacted with both members of the state chapters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Correspondents’ chapel, at the NUJ Press Centre, on Monday.
The Governor, who had to cut short his trip to Kano to return to the state in the wake of the recent crisis, condemned the skirmishes that occurred in Keana and Doma Local Government Areas, where unspecified numbers of both farmers and herders loss their lives.
He disclosed that already, government has beefed up security in such troublespots including Toto and Nasarawa LGAs, as part of measures to curb the resurfacing of such conflicts.
“I want to, with all sense of respect, condemn the things that are happening between the farmers and herders. I condemn it in totality. Tivs were killed in Keana and Doma. I also condemned the killing of herders in the same area,” the Governor said.
Engineer Sule said a security council meeting is scheduled to hold tomorrow to further take steps address the security threat occassioned by the farmer/herders conflict.
Commenting on the purpose of his visit, the Governor said he was at the press centre to inform both the NUJ and the correspondents’ chapel about his decision to seek another term in office.
While appreciating the media for the support accorded his administration, he however urged them not to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians to cause confusion in the state, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He particularly appreciated the correspondents chapel for showing maturity in its activities in the state, assuring that the media will be carried along as a partner in progress.
“There are certain events that require the imput of every member of the media. We try as much as possible to promote the state. Because it’s only through the promotion of the state that we will get the desired development either in the form of investment or partnership,” he stated.
He however appealed to journalists in the state to stick to the ethics of their profession and to avoid acts capable of causing confusion in the state.
“I urge you also to remain within the ethics of the journalism profession. Not to allow either myself or any politician to use you for anything negative. I assure you I will not use you for anything negative,” the Governor assured.
Speaking on the coming elections, Engineer Sule called on politicians in the state to focus more on issue based campaign rather than dwell on campaigns of calumny.
He assured that, like he did in 2018/19, his campaign will focus on issues and not personalities.
“When I contest against any other person, I prefer to say who I am and what I am going to do. I don’t care to mention about the other person. Let the other person sell himself. There are other politicians whose stock in trade is to condemn their opponents, thinking that is the only way they can succeed.
The Governor announced a donation of N20m to the NUJ towards the renovation of the press centre. He also presented a bus to the members of the correspondents chapel.
In their separate remarks, both the Nasarawa State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Salihu Mohammed Alkali and Chairman, Correspondents chapel, Mr. Isaac Okpoju, thanked the Governor for his continued support to the media.
They assured the Governor of their support, in line with the laid down ethics of the journalism profession.
