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Press
Release, October 30, 2000
GOVERNOR
ADAMU URGES RESTRAINT AS HE VISITS LAGOS RIOT VICTIMS
The
Northern States of Nigeria will not avenge the killings of their
citizens by the Yoruba ethnic association – the O’odua
Peoples Congress (OPC) –, which took place recently during a
crisis in the Southwestern city of Lagos.
Nasarawa
State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu stated when he led a 25-man
strong delegation on an assessment visit to the affected area in
Lagos.
Governor
Adamu, who is also the chairman of the 36 state Nigerian
Governor’s forum, said as leaders, they would use their
position to continue to preach the virtues of peaceful
co-existence. He said this was the most viable basis to
guarantee peace in the country.
He
likewise appealed to the victims of the violence to see what
befell them as an act of God, and to do nothing that will worsen
the situation. The Governor assured the victims of the violence
that his government would soon provide them with relief
materials that would assist them to return to their normal ways
of live.
Earlier
on, Governor Adamu had paid a visit on Governor Ahmed Bola
Tinubu of Lagos State during which he expressed regrets over the
violence. Governor Adamu said the ethnic nature of the violence
was capable of derailing democracy which Nigerians fought hard
for. He called on prominent leaders among the Yoruba to come out
and publicly condemn what appears to be a programmme of ethnic
cleansing. He said
such actions on the part of the Yoruba leaders would greatly
facilitate the healing process and ensure quick return to
normalcy.
In
his response, Governor Tinubu said that the recent violence in
Lagos was sponsored by some unpatriotic elements that were hell
bent to destroy the country’s budding democracy. The Lagos
State Governor appealed to his colleagues across the country to
assist in prevailing on the Federal Government to increase the
revenue accruing to Lagos state. He said Lagos was the heart of
Nigeria’s economy, but regretted that it was facing serious
socio-economic problems.
During
the visit to the affected areas, Governor Adamu was conducted
round by senior military officers who were drafted to quell the
riots. One of the places visited was Ajegunle where most of the
riots took place.
On
the delegation of the Governor were prominent sons of Nasarawa
State including Mr. Labaran Maku, the State Commissioner of
Information; Mr. Emmanuel Elayo, Turakin Keana; Alhaji
Yahaya Sabo, Marafan Lafia; The Peoples Democratic Party
Chairman in the State, Permanent Secretaries and Senior
Government House officials.
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