Benue, Nasarawa govs agree to sustain peaceful coexistence

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue and Nasarawa state governments have resolved to sustain the peace existing between the two States.
Both Governors Samuel Ortom and Engr. Abdullahi Sule made the resolve yesterday during a solidarity visit by his Nasarawa counterpart on him held at the Government House, Makurdi, noted that the unity of Benue and Nasarawa States is nonnegotiable.
Engr. Sule stressed the need for both governors to renew their commitment towards strengthening the Benue-Plateau bonds that had existed in the past.
Engr. Sule said that since he came on board, there has been a lot of improvement in the area of security which informed his decision to visit the governor.
“There can be no better time to pay this visit having witness this relative peace in both states. Before now, we all belong to Benue-Plateau and so we have high population of both Tiv, Idoma and Igala that lived in Nasarawa state, also in Benue state, therefore we must protect them.
“We are one people and the most important resources is the people, therefore our total interest is to protect the people. This is what inform my visit to Benue.
“We must work together as one because it is only when there is peace that there will be development. We are going to industrialize Nasarawa state. We have allocated 68,000 hectare of lands to Dangote group of company for the building of sugar factory in Awe local government area that would produce 450,000 metrics tonnes of sugar per day and the people living around the areas are predominantly tiv people who have volunteered to give out their land for the project.
“It is very unfortunate that political interest is bringing two brothers to fight. Benue is still part of northern region and Nasarawa State is not left out. Therefore we must renew our commitment to strengthen the old bond”, Sule stated.
Responding, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom thanked the Nasarawa State governor for the visit describing it as first of its kind.
He maintained that it is a welcome development that governor Sule is taking proactive step to ensure that Benue and Nasarawa States enjoy relative peace.
Governor Ortom however, expressed gratitude to the Nasarawa government for providing shelter for IDPs from Benue state and pledged his readiness to collaborate with the governor of Nasarawa State to put an end to insecurity in both states.
He called on IDPs to go back to their respective homes, stressing that Peace have returned to their homes.