Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has called on his supporters and the people of the state to exercise restraint ahead of the Court of Appeal hearing on his appeal against the judgment of the gubernatorial election petition tribunal.
The tribunal had ruled in favour of David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Sule, at an expanded security meeting at the Government House on Monday, appreciated the people of the state for their tolerance and maturity during and after the tribunal judgment but urged them to show more restraint ahead of the Appeal Court hearing.
He also raised the alarm over the influx of strange faces into the state, particularly around Keffi Local Government Area, saying this was generating tension.
He said, “Let me also use the opportunity to commend the good people of Nasarawa State and the tolerance of several politicians, especially during and after the tribunal judgement. I want to thank you sincerely for the maturity some have shown during that period.
“I want to also use the opportunity to call on the good people of Nasarawa State and also our leaders, in particular, security agencies to continue to show that wisdom, especially with the hearing that is coming on the 15th and the subsequent judgement that would follow at the Appeal Court.”
Sule said part of the reasons for convening the expanded security meeting was to deliberate on the unfolding regular attacks on farmers by suspected herders. He said such assaults had been recorded in six local government areas: Nasarawa, Doma, Akwanga, Keana, Obi, and Awe.
The governor also said that there was information about criminal hideouts at the riverside in Karu Local Government Area, as well as the lodging of some suspected drug peddlers in certain hotels and the presence of sleeper cells in Nasarawa, Taraba, and Kaduna states created by terrorist gangs.
He said that the state government would fall back on the working relationship with traditional rulers towards ensuring security at the grassroots.
