joshuaWe’ll adopt dialogue to end Alago/ Tiv conflict- Gov Sule
From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Governor Abdullahi Sule administration in Nasarawa State is to adopt dialogue as a measure to end the persistent Alago and Tiv communal conflict in Nasarawa State.
Governor Sule said the decision is informed by his belief that dialogue remains the best means of resolving conflicts.
The Nigerian Post reports that not fewer than 11 persons have been killed in the recent communal conflict between the indigenous people of Alago and Tiv people of Keana in Keana Local Government Area of the State following a dispute over land between the two ethnic groups at the Benue/Nasarawa border.
Sule made the commitment through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Hon. Peter Ahemba on Tuesday while interacting with members of the Correspondents Chapel in Lafia.
He said his administration will continue to promote peaceful co-existence among communities in the state.
According to him, government was aware of the recent crisis between Alago and Tiv communities in Keana and Obi LGAs of the state and was working towards a peaceful resolution.
The Governor said one of the challenges of the people who are predominantly farmers was population explosion, explaining that, the situation has resulted to high demand hence the conflict.
He said government has been on top of the situation, adding that leaders of both communities have started dialoguing with government to address the issue.
“Government believes that whatever happens dialogue should be the best means of resolving conflicts of whatever kind and that is what is being applied in the issue of the conflict between Alago and Tiv farmers in the affected areas.
“The state government is already working in collaboration with the Benue State counterpart because we understand that one of those factors that are causing conflict in that area is as a result of land encroachment on the boundaries between Nasarawa and Benue States.
” We are sure that very soon a meeting of the two states will be convened with the view to seeing how the boundary, with the support of the national boundary commission, can clearly be demarcated so that Nasarawa will know its bounds and of course Benue will also know its limits and that way the conflicts will be naturally resolved .
On the new minimum wage, Sule, said his administration would pay the approved N70,000 new Minimum Wage to workers in the state.
He said his administration has no excuse not to implement the new wage following the signing into Law of the Bill by President Bola Tinubu.
” Government is already willing to pay the new minimum wage and modalities are already being worked out to commence the implementation, ” he added.
In his assessment, his administration has done well with people-oriented initiatives all over the State, which, he said explains why the protest against bad governance in the country was ineffective in the state.
According to him, youths in the State choose to dialogue with government rather than taking to the streets in protest.
Sule, therefore, thanked members of the State Correspondents Chapel for their fair publications on government’s policies and programmes in his administration.
He therefore assured that the State Government will continue to create a conducive environment for Journalists to carry out their constitutional duties.
