Read How PDP Replied To APC's Doubts Over Maku's Involvement In Nasarawa
After the All Progressive Congress (APC) said the newly appointed acting Minister of Defence, Labaran Maku, might be involved in the current Nasarawa violent clashes, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came up with a response to the opposition.
On Thursday, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, issued an indicting statement calling into question the integrity of Maku regarding the civil disturbances in the state. The party also asked President Goodluck Jonathan to remove Maku from his new position.
In response, however, the Nasarawa State PDP Chairman, Yunana Iliya, issued a statement in which the party blamed the APC government in Nasarawa State for the on-going violence.
Defending Maku, Iliya said the Minister - considering the fact that he is Eggon - had been for a long time involved in an open campaign on radio, television, churches, and mosques against the emergence of the Ombatse group. He recalled hat Maku's records in peace promotion in Nasarawa dated back to his days as the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports, and later as Deputy Governor of the State.
At the same time, however, “Governor (Tanko) Al-Makura was hand-in-glove with Ombatse, even defending the group as a cultural association,” Iliya said.
Nasarawa PDP Chairman went on highlighting the role of the Minister in resolving the current crisis. He said most residents were aware of Maku’s part in the prompt intervention by the FG, when it had deployed troops to the state on Wednesday to constrain violent clashes between Eggon and Alago youths.
“It took the intervention of Mr. Maku and some traditional rulers to deal with the latest violence as the Governor (Al-Makura) was as usual out of the country,” Iliya said.
Iliya advised Mohammed that his latest attempt at propaganda on behalf of the state’s APC government could not discharge it from involvement in the crises.
Nasarawa PDP Chairman used the opportunity to remind the APC government in Nasarawa that the communities in the state that had lived in peace, were now at war under the APC Government.
Iliya recalled other wars in the State under Al-Makura’s include Tiv-Fulani clashes in Awe; Fulani-Migili and Eggon clashes in Duduguru, Agyaragu and Yelwa; Tiv-Fulani and Agatu war at Ekye Development Area of Doma Local Government; the Fulani-Eggon-Gwandara strife at Mburumburum, Iggah, Barkin Abdullahi and Kwandere.
It will be recalled, that a communal clash between the Ombatse and Alago tribes of Nasarawa state began on September 13, 2013. The crisis started with the resistance by Ombatse militia to the arrest of their member caught with weapons through a tipoff by Alago youths, and has consumed the entire town of Assakio in Lafia east and part of Obi local government area. Governor Al-Makura on Thursday confirmed 31 people were killed and 1,300 houses burnt during the clashes.
Source: Legit.ng
