Benue, Nasarawa governors meet, commit to peace, unity, security

Benue and Nasarawa states have made a pledge to keep the peace and unity between both states in the face of obvious threats to their security, unity and brotherliness.

This was the consensus yesterday when Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State visited his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom at Government House, Makurdi.

Sule maintained that the unity of Benue and Nasarawa states was non-negotiable, noting that the relative peace both states had enjoyed in the recent past should be sustained.

The Nasarawa Governor, who stated this when he led a delegation from Lafia on a solidarity visit to Benue State, maintained that there was the need to renew their commitment towards strengthening the Benue-Nasarawa- Plateau ties that existed in the past.

Sule stated that since he became governor, security has improved in the state, its environs and neighbouring states, which informed his decision to visit Governor Ortom.

“There can be no better time for this visit having witnessed relative peace in both states. Before now, we all belonged to Benue-Plateau and so we have a high population of Tiv, Idoma and Igala in Nasarawa and Benue states, therefore, we must protect them.

“We are one people and the most important resources is our people, therefore, our interest is to protect the people. This is what informed my visit to Benue. We must work together as one, because it is only when there is peace that there can be development.

“We will industrialise Nasarawa State. We have allocated 68,000 hectares of land to Dangote Group for the building of sugar factory in Awe Local Government Area,” he stated.

Responding, Ortom thanked Sule for the visit describing it as first of its kind just as he maintained that it was a welcome development that Governor Sule was taking proactive steps to ensure that Benue and Nasarawa remain peaceful.

Ortom also commended the Nasarawa government for providing shelter for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Benue, adding that he was ready to collaborate with him to end insecurity in both states.

But fielding questions from journalists on his assessment of the security situation in both states and their borders, Governor Sule said, “We are strengthening security at the borders. We are meeting more people and posting security to volatile areas to ensure that they maintain peace in those areas.”