News Editor
By David Odama
The Nasarawa state governor, Eng. Abdullah A Sule said on Wednesday that he would not be left with no options than to Institute a legal action against the former Chancellor/Chairman Council, Benue State University Makurdi, professor Zacha Anger Gundu
It would be recalled that professor Gundu had accused the Nasarawa state government of harbouring killers in Benue state.
Addressing Journalists in Lafia Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ibrahim Adra accused Prof. Zacha Anger-Gundu, a former Pro Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Benue State University, Makurdi, of smearing the hard reputation of Sule in his efforts to bring peace to the two states.
He said the desperation and instigation of crisis associating him with the recent killings in the neighbouring Benue State was not only an attempt to rope the governor and the entire people of Nasarawa state whose concerns have been on how peace can return to Benue state.
This comes on the heels of varying waves of allegation by some Tiv indigenes including Prof. Gundu on the wake of incessant massacre in the nation’s food basket.
Recently, Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia had alleged that marauding killers of Yelwata community were harbored in Nasarawa State, a comment that triggered public outrage.
The governor challenged Gundu to prove his allegations with substantiative evidence, maintaining that the O nly that failure to do so will leave the governor with no option but a legal action against the former Pro-Chancellor.
” We are constrained to respond to a series of allegations against the person of Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule and Government of the State by some prominent sons and daughters of Benue state in the wake of the unfortunate killings in that state.
“In particular, the attention of Governor Sule who doubles as the Chairman of North-Central Governors Forum has been drawn to a malicious statement against his person and the Government of Nasarawa state by one Prof. Zacha Anger Gundu, a prominent son of Benue and former Pro
“In a viral video circulating on some social media platforms, the said Prof. Gundu was heard making unguarded statements and directly accusing Governor Abdulla A. Sule of “masking the killings in Benue state” and “forcefully taking over farmlands belonging to the Tiv people of Nasarawa state and handing over same to Fulani herdsmen” among other allegations.
“We are dismayed that Prof. Gundu could condicend so low and throw caution to the wind by making such unsubstantiated and baseless allegations against the Governor.
“Let it be known that Governor Abdullahi Sule, the Government and people of Nasarawa state are pained by the killings in Benue State but highly disappointed the series of false allegations coming from a supposed statesman and ot prominent sons and daughters of Benue state.
“It is on record that Governor Sule, in the spirit of brotherhood and good neighborliness has continued to demonstrate serious concern and empathy over unfortunate killings in Benue and other parts of the North-Central region.
“It is sad to note that stakeholders, who should be working to assist government overcome the current security challenges have instead chosen to ignite passions by making inflammatory statements, raising grievous and unsubstantiated allegations capable of jeopardizing efforts being made to restore peace in the states.
“We challenge Prof. Gundu to: prove his allegations with evidence, detailing where the said killer herdsmen are being camped in Nasarawa State and the involvement of the Governor in such”. The government declarsd.
” We, therefore urged professor Gundu and his cohurts to brings forward, concrete evidence to substantiate the grievous allegations of land seized and handed over to herdsmen or any other persons for that matter.
“We want to stats categorically that Failure to prove these allegations leaves Prof. Gundu with only option…retract his malicious statements against Governor Sule and tender an unreserved apology to the Governor and the Government of Nasarawa state.
“It is the honourable thing in the face of these spurious allegations. If this demand is not met, Governor Abdullahi Sule will institute legal actions against the former Pro-Chancellor and his co-travellers.
“we wish to make it categorically clear to Prof. Gundu and his cohorts that, no Fulani man has ever approached the state Government for land, neither has the Governor as a person or state government forcefully taken over land from citizens not to talk of handing it over to anyone or group of persons.
“These desperate and deliberate instigation and calculated attempt to associate the Governor with land grabbing and the killings in Benue State in order to drag his hard-earned reputation in the mud has failed in the face of verifiable facts.
“We wish to advise that Prof. Gundu and his co-travellers should channel information if any on the identity of the killers and their locations to relevant security agencies as is expected of citizens for necessary action instead playing to the gallery through baseless accusations.
“Such attitude is a disservice to himself, the good neighbours, the people of Benue which he seeks to impress with his shameful outing.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Engr. Sule-led administration has delivered quite well on its mandate of safeguarding and securing the lives and property of the citizens of Nasarawa State through proactive measures and partneship with neighboring States, including Benue to enhance boarder security and peaceful coexistence.
Adra said government will continue to put all measures in place towards ensuring that peace is restored in all troubled areas in the region and the country as a whole.
“The relative peace in Nasarawa State under Governor Abdullahi Sule as acknowledged by many within and outside the state is achieved through effective partnership and support to security agencies, consistent dialogue with leaders of the various ethnic groups, including Tiv, Alago, Fulani, among other stakeholders.
“We call on the good people of Benue and Nasarawa States and indeed, members of the general public to beware of mischief makers and join the Governors of Nasarawa and Benue to resolve these sad situation once and for all.
