I  Will Institute Legal Action Against Professor  Gundu Over Allegations Of Camping Fulani Herders, Land Grabbing-Gov Sule

Rabiu Omaku

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has urged Professor to write a rejoinder over his allegation accusing the State Governor of land grabbing as well  camping of Fulani herders as mercenaries or face legal battle.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdullahi Sule, Ibrahim Addra clear the air during a press briefing at the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists along Makurdi road my

We are constrained to respond to series of allegation against the person of Governor Abdullahi Sule and the Government of Nasarawa State in the wake of the unfortunate maiming and gruesome killings in Benue State.

The attention of Governor Abdullahi Sule who doubles as the Chairman of the North -Central Governor’s Forum has been drawn to a malicious statement made against him by one Professor . Zachary Anger Gundu,a Prominent  son of Benue State and former Pro- Chancellor/Chairman of Council Benue State University Makurdi.Who in a viral video circulating on some social media platforms.

The said Professor Gundu was heard making unguarded statements and directly accusing Governor Abdullahi Sule of masking the killings in Benue State and forcefully taking over farmlands belonging to the Tiv  people of Nasarawa State and handling over same to Fulani herders  among other allegations.

“We are dismayed that Professor Gundu could stop so low and throw caution to the wind by making such unsubstantiated and baseless allegations against Governor Abdullahi Sule.

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 by  series of false allegations coming from a supposed stateman.

It is on record that Governor Sule, in the spirit of brotherhood and good neighborliness has continued to demonstrate concern and empathy over the 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 the Government overcome the current security challenges have instead chosen to ignite skirmishes by making inflammatory statements raising grievous and unsubstantiated allegations capable of jeopardizing efforts made to restore peace.

We challenge Professor Gundu  to prove his allegations with empirical evidence detailing where he said killer hersdmen are being camped in Nasarawa State and the involvement of the Governor in such.

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 and failure to prove these allegations leaves Professor Gundu with an option to retract his malicious statements against the Governor and the Government of Nasarawa State.

We wish to make it categorically clear to Professor Gundu and his cohorts that no Fulani man has ever approached him for any land.

These desperate and deliberate instigations and calculated attempts to associate the Governor with land grabbing and the killings in Benue State to drag his hard-earned reputation in the mud have 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 an attitude is a disservice to himself, the good neighbours, and the people of Benue, whom 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 partnership with neighboring States, including Benue to enhance border security and peaceful coexistence.

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 this sad situation once and for all.

In closing, let me be clear, Governor Sule, who remains committed to building peace and unity among the people cannot turn around to influence or encourage anybody to engage in criminal activities under whatever guise.