NASARAWA State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has accused the former Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku for instigating former President Goodluck Jonathan against the North, stressing that Maku’s divisive attitude along ethnic and religious lines helped fuel the recurrent crisis in Nasarawa State.

The accusation against Maku is coming on the heels of a press briefing he addressed in Abuja, which he alleged that innocent citizens are being killed daily by gunmen as a result of what he described as the “insensitivity” in handling the security situation in the state by Governor Al Makura.

In a swift reaction, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ahmed Tukur, said it was rather unfortunate that Mr. Maku who had ignored invitations extended to him and other stakeholders on several occasions to brainstorm towards finding lasting solution to the communal crisis in recent past could make unguarded utterances when the state government has succeeded in overcoming the situation.

He alleged that the insecurity in the state in recent past became worst as there was an increase in the proliferation of arms and ammunition when Mr. Maku held sway as the supervising minister of defence, insisting that the former minister should rather commend the governor for the relative peace the state is enjoying.

“It is on record that Nasarawa state had a very poor representation at the National Executive Council under Mr. Maku as minister from the state. Rather than represent the state, Mr. Maku was rather setting former President Jonathan against the state and the entire northern region,” he regretted.

He disclosed that the former minister, who also contested the governorship under the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, prevented most of the projects that would have been carried out in the state and other parts of northern Nigeria because of his selfishness.
He then advised Maku that instead of the blackmail he should come back home and join hands with the state government in the interest of the citizenry.