The Nasarawa State Government has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to probe what it described as “ignoble acts” by some irate youths during Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s visit to the state on Wednesday.
In a statement, Shuaibu Labaran, secretary to the state
government, said Shettima paid a courtesy call on the emir of Lafia and
chairman of the Nasarawa state council of chiefs as part of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally ahead of the 2027
general election.
The government said it “regrettably observed” that the
traditional homage, which Shettima deemed appropriate out of respect for
tradition, “was marred by ignoble acts perpetrated by some irate youth”.
Labaran said the youths were suspected to be linked to some
high-profile personalities, including Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, former governor of
the state, and Muhammad Adamu, former inspector-general of police.
He alleged that the acts were meant to smear the image of
the government and the people of the state.
“This act of recklessness, deliberately carried out to show
disregard for constituted authorities and to the exalted office of the Vice
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is not only condemnable but not
acceptable,” the statement reads.
“Accordingly, the Department of State Security Service is
hereby directed to immediately institute full investigation to unravel the
causes of the incident, the perpetrators and sponsors of the condemnable act
and bring them to book in order to face the full wrath of the law.”
The government urged residents to remain law-abiding while
carrying out their daily activities.
AL-MAKURA’S ALLY REJECTS ALLEGATION
However, in a statement, Danjuma Joseph, an ally of
Al-Makura, dismissed the allegation, describing it as a reckless, mischievous
and a desperate attempt to divert attention from the conduct of Abdullahi Sule,
the state governor, and the internal crisis in the party.
“The rally was meant to mobilise support for President Bola
Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election. Instead, Governor Sule turned it into an avenue to
promote his personal agenda, repeatedly chanting ‘Wadada for Governor!’ and
pushing the governorship ambition of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada,” he said.
“An APC presidential rally is not the Governor’s personal
platform. It was convened to campaign for President Tinubu, not to stage a
premature coronation for his preferred successor.”
Joseph said the incident stemmed from broader grievances
within the Nasarawa APC, dating back to the party’s governorship primary in
May, which he claimed many members consider unfair.
“Many feel marginalised, disenfranchised, and short-changed
by the process that produced Senator Wadada,” he said.
“It is dishonest for the Governor to pretend these
grievances do not exist while blaming a respected former Governor who has
always stood for fairness, equity, and internal democracy.
“We reject the attempt by the Secretary to the State
Government, Dr. Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, SAN, to drag Senator Al-Makura’s name
into this incident without any credible, verifiable evidence.”
He said if the government had evidence against anyone, it
should hand it to the police and allow the law to take its course, rather than
malign opponents through press statements.
Joseph said the police had already arrested seven suspects
in connection with the incident and urged them to investigate professionally,
without political interference or persecution.
Al-Makura and Sule have been on a warpath. In May, Sule
accused Al-Makura of plotting to choose his successor.
Sule’s constitutionally permissible two terms of eight years
would elapse in 2027.
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