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From Abel Leonard
The Nasarawa State Government has called on security agencies to investigate the incident involving some youths during Vice President Kashim Shettima’s courtesy visit to the Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (retd), on Wednesday.
The government also alleged that the youths involved in the incident were suspected to be linked to some prominent personalities, including former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Labaran Magaji, made the allegations in a press statement issued in Lafia on Wednesday.
Shettima was in the state to represent President Bola Tinubu at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the statement, the Vice-President, out of respect for the traditional institution, paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Lafia, who is also the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs.
However, the government regretted that the traditional homage was allegedly marred by what it described as ignoble acts perpetrated by some irate youths.
The statement alleged that the incident was intended to smear the image of the state government and the people of Nasarawa State.
“This act of recklessness deliberately carried out to show disregard to constituted authorities and to the exalted office of the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not only condemnable but not acceptable,” Magaji stated.
The government consequently requested security agencies to immediately institute a full investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify the perpetrators and establish their alleged sponsors.
It urged the security agencies to ensure that those found responsible were brought to book to face the full wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, the Personal Assistant on Social Media to Governor Abdullahi Sule, Emmanuel Innocent Akwe, also condemned an alleged attack on the governor during the APC presidential campaign rally at Lafia Square.
Akwe alleged that some aggrieved party members pelted the governor with substances suspected to be stones, blaming loyalists of former Governor Al-Makura for the incident.
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He claimed that the alleged action followed the denial of access to Al-Makura to join Vice-President Shettima on the podium to deliver a speech on behalf of the President.
“The APC in Nasarawa State belongs to all of us, not to one man. Nobody is bigger than the party and nobody is bigger than the governor,” Akwe stated.
He described Governor Sule as a man of peace who had endured provocations in the interest of party unity.
In a separate interview with our correspondent, a supporter of President Tinubu, who requested anonymity, described the incidents as a deliberate attempt to embarrass Governor Sule, linking them to disagreements arising from the recent APC governorship primary election.
He alleged that the incidents were an act of retaliation against the governor following his open support for Ahmed Aliyu Wadada during the party’s governorship primary.
According to him, the alleged attacks were intended to settle political scores with Sule over his position during the exercise.
The supporter also described the reported disruption of the Vice-President’s visit as an affront to President Tinubu, arguing that any attack on Shettima and members of his entourage amounted to an attack on the President they represented.
He expressed concern over the development, saying Nasarawa State had not witnessed such an atmosphere of tension and confrontation in the build-up to an election in its 30 years of existence.
He further lamented that the situation had reached a point where lives could be lost and the office of the President embarrassed during an official political engagement.
The state government, however, appealed to residents to remain law-abiding while carrying out their daily activities.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Al-Makura nor former IGP Adamu had publicly responded to the allegations, while security agencies had yet to announce any findings from an investigation into the incidents.
