Niger State governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has decried the reported exodus of non-indigenes from the state because of the fear of likely violence after next month’s general elections.
The governor, who was at the Redeemed Christian Church Living Stone Parish, Tungan Minna, where he received the Award of Meritorious Service to Humanity by the Church on Sunday, stated that such movement from the state for fear of the aftermath of the elections should be stopped assuring citizens of security of lives and property in the state.
“I appeal to you not to run away from Minna, and other parts of the state because of the coming election”, he stated, adding that the situation will cause more problems for them than solving any.
According to Aliyu, the 2015 general elections will be peaceful because the result would be accepted by whoever loses, urging the people not to kill themselves for the political interest of anybody.
The governor said, “One killing self for partisan politics was like committing suicide which both religions abhor”.
He also stressed the importance of religious tolerance among Nigerians, pointing out that as a good Muslim, he believes in Jesus Christ and that both Muslims and Christians pray to the same God explaining that “Hallelujah! in Christianity is the same as Ya, Allahu! in Islam”.
He declared “We must respect and protect each one of us. I am appealing to you that the election period for the first time is becoming more intense than all the times that we have had election in this country. We must therefore be very careful. We must not allow the young ones to drag us into problems that we may not be able to get out from. We must not allow our desire and whims and caprices to cause problems and you must not kill yourself for anybody.
“I am not a religious fanatic. I am happy with the way we handle religious issues in Niger State”.
