Kashim Shettima, Nigeria’s vice president, has called for a collective fight against poverty, destitution and backwardness in the North, saying there is no reason for the fighting and killing, instead of tacking issues threatening development in the region.
The vice president, who frowned at the killings on the eve of Christmas in Jos, Plateau State, urged Nigerians to resist any acts that would plunge the country into anarchy.
He noted that, the North was far lagging behind, hence the need for the peopl to embrace and tolerate each other for peace and development.
Shettima, who was in Masaka in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, on Thursday, to inaugurate 5km Masaka-Luvu Road, said peace is the only thing that would fast track development in all parts of the country.
“There can never be peace without development and there can never be development without peace. I was in Plateau State on Wednesday to sympathise with the people of Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas over the sad tragedy that befell us on Christmas-eve.
“As Martin Luther King rightly said, ‘we either learn to live together as brothers or we perish together as fools. It is inconsiderable for any community to be an island unto itself.
“We have to learn to embrace each other, to tolerate one another, and for us in Northern Nigeria, we are all united by our heritage of poverty and destitution.
“I see no reason why we should be fighting each other instead of collectively fighting poverty, destitution and backwardness in our States.”
The vice president commended the development strides of Governor Abdullahi Sule, especially in the areas of peace and harmony in the state.
“I want to commend the governor fundamentally for maintaining that delicate peace balance.
“There are agents of destruction and purveyors of death, who are trying to inflame passion in most of the volatile parts of the North, but we should resist that temptation to plunge us into a state of anarchy.
“It is easy to cause chaos but very difficult to bring back peace. Your Excellency, continue your good works of maintaining peace in the state.”
Shettima reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian government to the provision of infrastructure across the country, adding, Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be better off in all aspects.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed me to convey to the good people of Nasarawa State that, his government is poised to address the infrastructural deficit of our society.”
“It is absolutely essential because the gray matter infrastructure of a growing child is very important in realizing his or her full potential.
“So, this is vitally important and the President has a lot of empathy for those on the lower strata of the society.
“The President is interested in redefining the meaning and concept of modern leadership. It is for us in Nasarawa to maintain peace and amity, embrace one another for development to reach us.”
Governor Abdullahi Sule, in a remark earlier thanked the vice president, for commissioning the 5km road, which he said has a lot of business opportunities for the people.
Sule said that the projects was earmarked for construction due to the request made by the community for improved access road.
“It was for these reasons and in consideration of the growing population that I approved the immediate construction of this 5KM road,” the governor said.
He emphasized that, his administration is committed to prioritize infrastructure development across urban and rural areas, being the falcrum for economic growth and societal development.
“I want to show great appreciation to Your Excellency because it was only last week that I came to inform you about the historical nature of this road and asked that you come and help us commission it.
“We had much longer roads and bigger projects but this one is extremely historical because it was indeed the dream of our first civilian governor, Abdullahi Adamu.”
Luka Panya Baba, the Etsu Karu, whose domain the project was located, thanked the Nasarawa State government for the gesture.
He then pledged the support of his subjects to the administration of President Tinubu, even as he said that, the renewed hope agenda of the president was evidence in the completion of the road.
