From Abel Abogonye, Lafia
The Opposition People’s Democratic party (PDP) in Nasarawa state has called on the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, to face the challenges of developing the state as the time for politics is over.
The party also urged the governor to leave president Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, out of the politics of the state and face his political travails.
The state chairman of the party, chief Francis Orogu Enokela gave the advice while addressing journalists on Saturday in Lafia.
Chief Orogu indicated that the party has observed with grave concern the governor’s inability to settle down like his counterparts in other states to make impact after his four years and three months in office.
“We have observed that after four years and three month in office governor Abdullahi Sule is yet to commission a single remarkable project in the state because of his weak leadership ability to manage the huge state resources.
“It is disturbing that the APC governor in Nasarawa is only hiding under the guise of collaborating with the former governor of River State who has just been appointed FCT minister to discuss infrastructure development and security between Nasarawa and the FCT when even his homestead is the headquarters for kidnappers.
“We strongly advise Mr. Wike to enquire from Gov. Sule, why Nasarawa state has become hide out for terrorists operating in the FCT.
“Mr. Wike should further note that the crises in Benue is mainly at the border with Nasarawa as well as those from Taraba, Plateau, Kogi, and Southern Kaduna, among others.
“In recent times even gun runners arrested in Enugu and Zamfara state claimed to have taken off from Lafia, the State Capital.
“Under Sule, an APC state chairman, Mr. Philip Tatari was killed in Lafia metropolis, and nothing had happened. A former federal commissioner National population commission, Alh. Zakari Umaru, a classmate and close door neighbour in Gudi of Governor Sule, was murdered in his house after struggling for four hours seeking help before he was murdered by the terrorists.
“This is just a part of the litany of several others, including emirs, chiefs, farmers, and civilians, who were either killed or kidnapped. Prof Onje Gye wado, former Deputy Governor, was kidnapped, former minister of information Labaran Maku was attacked twice.
“Sadly and only recently, two army generals were kidnapped. It is worthy to note that all the hills in Nasarawa state are currently occupied by fundamentalist Fulani terrorists of foreign descent.
“Substantial number of terror groups from all over West Africa are being camped in Nasarawa terrorizing everywhere up to Northern Anambra and Enugu states.
“We believe that a conscious commitment to governance by Mr. Sule could have reduce or eliminated these security challenges. It is the non performance and insecurity ravaging the state that led to the rejection of Gov. Sule in the last election.
“We therefore call on the Federal Government to closely look into the competence of the present state government to handle the affairs of the state with a view to providing additional support to the Army operation brigade in Doma and a mobile police training centre located in one of the most vulnerable areas of the state.
“We want to use this ample opportunity once again to draw the attention of the Nasarawa state governor to the fact that the time for politics is over, as such the governor should not use the time meant to develop the state to drag president Tinubu and Wike into the politics of the state.
“The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa state hereby call on well meaning citizens of the state and other Nigerians including the president, Minister Nyisom Wike to kindly assist the the state by drawing the attention of the governor to the development of the state rather than canvassing for support and seeking help everywhere to influence the tribunal to give judgement in his favour.
“The PDP in the state is aware of all the antics Mr. Sule is deploying to influence the decision of the awaited judgement of the governorship petition tribunal. While the party believes in the integrity of the judiciary, all attempt to interfer with justice will only destroy the democracy we all agreed to practice.