12th August, 2024
NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia
The Nasarawa State government has refuted insinuations that a flag of the Russian Federation was hoisted in the state during the recent “End Bad Governance” protest. It said the attention of the government was drawn to an online publication in which Nasarawa was listed as one of the Northern States where protesters upraised the Russian flag.
A release signed by Hon. Peter Ahemba, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule and made available to newsmen in Lafia on Monday, noted that the news is false.
“The Nasarawa State government wish to categorically debunk this allegation in its entirety. The claim that protesters hoisted the Russian flag during the during the recent protest in the state has no iota of truth. The allegation is false, misleading and mischievous, to say the least.”
While noting that the protest had not foothold in the State, he added that only a few people, and mostly minors joined the protest. These too, Ahemba added, were closely monitored by the security agencies to forestall the breakdown of law and order. he said at nor time did those who took part in the heckling wave or brandish foreign flags as alleged by the online platform.
Ahemba also attributed poor response to the call for protest in the State to the foresight of the government in nipping on the bud, the issues that fueled the protest across the country.
“It is on record that the said nationwide protest recorded low turn up in the State in the first place, owing to the fact that most of the demands canvassed by the by the protesters had been substantially met by the government of His Excellency, Engr, A. A. Sule with the support of the Federal government through the various palliative schemes, hence the decision of the majority of the citizens to shun the politically-motivated protest,” the statement read in part.
He advised Nigerians to be assured of the premium the regard that the Sule administration pays to the unity and sovereignty of the nation. He called on the public to continue to be law-abiding and supportive of the President Bola Tinubu administration as they pursue their legitimate endeavours without let or hindrance.
The statement noted the governor’s pledge to keep implementing policies and programmes that would impact positively on the lives of the people of the State.
