Nasarawa women stage rally in support of gov Al-makaura

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

Thousands of Nasarawa state women, who are supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the weekend in Lafia, the state capital, turned out to stage a peaceful rally in support of the state governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-makura’s administration.

The APC women supporters from across the state rallied round the Lafia City Centre before finally berthing at the state Assembly Complex where they declared their solidarity for the governor over the renewed bid by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dominated Assembly members to impeach Al-makura.

Receiving the women at the APC party secretariat on behalf of the state government, the Secretary to the State Government, Hajiya Zainab Abdulmuni, told them that they voted for the right man.

According to her, the development currently being witnessed across the state today is an indication that Taal is the only prime candidate for 2015 and the emancipator of the state.

The SSG enumerated the achievements so far recorded by the present administration led by Governor Al-makura in three years to include: free education, road, electricity, water supply and healthcare delivery across the thirteen (13) local government and development areas of the state.

According to her, “Taal’s projects are pragmatic, on the ground as they can be seen, touched and felt.” She stressed that the women should be firm and supportive to the present administration as well as vote Taal again come 2015.

At the Assembly complex, the rally however took a different dimension as the women were deliberately prevented by the security operatives from entering the complex; saying that it was an order from above not to allow them access to the complex.

Tanko Tunga, an APC state lawmaker who was on ground while the rally lasted told journalists at the gate that the action by the security operatives was undemocratic and a breach of the constitution.

According to him, “we are all members just like those from the PDP because we were voted by our electorates in the same way.”

“Why should the PDP House members on Thursday allow their PDP supporters to gain access to the Assembly complex while our own supporters today have been blocked by the security operatives on an order from above?” Tunga queried.

The lawmaker further decried the manner in which the APC women supporters were deprived from exercising their rights.

He noted that the women were there on a peaceful demonstration in support of the APC administration and not to cause havoc while at the same time pleading with the women to remain calm and peaceful.

Following a stiff insistence of  the APC women supporters to enter the Assembly premises, the policemen at the gates were left with no choice than to allow them access where the women, who all along carried brooms, swept away what they termed “Ebola” from the Assembly.