Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State who lost at the Election Petition Tribunal to David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has appealed to his supporters and residents of the state to exercise restraint as the Court of Appeal hearing approaches.
The governor expressed apprehension about the increasing influx of unfamiliar individuals and escalating tension in the Keffi Local Government Area. Speaking during an expanded security meeting at the Government House on Monday, Governor Sule acknowledged the maturity displayed by the people of Nasarawa State and the tolerance exhibited by some politicians during and after the tribunal judgment. He urged for continued restraint, emphasizing the need for calmness during this period.
The meeting also addressed recurrent attacks on farmers by suspected herders in six local government areas: Nasarawa, Doma, Akwanga, Keana, Obi, and Awe. Governor Sule expressed his willingness to collaborate with traditional rulers to enhance grassroots security. He called on traditional rulers to re-engage local vigilante groups, emphasizing the positive results achieved in the past through such collaborations.
Governor Sule stated, “There is also, from what we have been able to gather, some level of influx of certain strangers that generate tension, especially around Keffi Local Government Area… Part of the reasons for this meeting is to appeal to traditional rulers to resume the engagement of the local vigilante groups as they did in the past, which has yielded positive results.”
During the meeting, the governor commended the security agencies for maintaining peace, law, and order, as well as their efforts in rescuing kidnapping victims.