NAN-H-56
Desperation
By Sunday John
Lafia, Feb. 14, 2018 (NAN) As politicians prepare for the 2019 general elections, Mr Labaran Maku, former information minister and National Secretary, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has advised politicians against “unnecessary desperation”.
“Politicians are getting too desperate over the 2019 elections; some are engaging in actions that could cause bloodshed and lead to loss of lives.
“What I feel is that no political office is worth the life of any Nigerian,” Maku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday on Lafia.
He advised politicians to avoid actions that could lead to the shedding of blood, and wondered why those seeking to serve the people should embark on actions that could hurt the same people.
Maku, who had earlier honoured an invitation by the Nasarawa State Command of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), urged politicians to work together toward a better Nigeria.
“We should join hands to develop our communities; we should strive to promote peace and growth instead of violence and bloodshed,” he said.
The former minister, however, said that disagreement was normal among politicians.
“As politicians, we can disagree; that is healthy for development. It does not make us enemies. It is a key attribute of democracy,” he said.
He said that disagreements among politicians should be geared toward making the society better.
“Our natural disagreement should be toward helping the society. We must avoid whatever is destructive,” he said.
Maku advised leaders to be good to the people and serve the country with every sense of patriotism so that they could still walk freely when out of office.
“I was a Commissioner and Deputy Governor in Nasarawa State. I was also a minister and a member of the Federal Executive Council. Today, I am no longer in office but still move around freely because I served honestly and refused to be corrupt.
“Leaders should understand that the authority and privilege of every public office will surely end one day whether we like it or not,” he said.
On the invitation by the DSS, Maku said that it was a good one and had nothing to do with the speculation that he had been arrested.
He expressed sadness over the massive relocation of Tiv people from Nasarawa State following incessant attacks, and called on the state government to work with security agencies to protect lives and property. (NAN)
SDJ/ETS
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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin