By Suleiman Yusuf

Sources in security circles in Lafia have revealed that the Nassarawa state Government has been allegedly pressurising security agencies to frame up the former Minister of Information and APGA gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 governorship election in the state as the sponsor of the violence that led to the death of two persons during last week’s protest at the government house by workers.

Maku-Al-Makura

The state government is allegedly doing everything to frame up Maku because of the former Minister’s criticism of his administration’s handling of the resources of the state and the current economic and social crises that have engulfed the state.

Addressing Traditional Rulers on Wednesday, Gov. Tanko Almakura reportedly attacked Maku, accusing his ethnic group (The Eggon) of sponsoring violence in parts of the state in the past.

Last week, in reaction to Maku’s recent press conference which criticised Almakura’s administration over the ongoing economic crisis in the state, the Governor through Yakubu Lamai, his spokesman, accused Maku of allegedly encouraging the past Ombatse crisis in the state.

Each time Maku criticized the government in the past, the same isues were raised by the Governor Almakura administration without any substantiation.

Maku was one of those who consistently campaigned against Ombatse-Fulani violence in the state.

During his time as Minister of Information, Maku launched media campaigns against the group and spoke out loudly against all forms of violence.

Because of Maku’s clear stance against cult violence, he was singled out for praise by traditional leaders and opinion moulders in the state.

Maku as Minister, coordinated Nassarawa stakeholders in Abuja to intervene and help the state achieve peace.

Owing to his well known position as a peace advocate, Maku was never invited to the sittings of the tribunal set up by the state government to investigate the Ombatse crisis.

Throughout Maku’s political campaigns in Nassarawa in 2015, he spoke out forcefully against violence, and followed the due process of law to pursue his case against the alleged rigging of the 2015 governorship election in the state.

The Almakura administration has been reportedly looking for ways to silence all opposition in the state, especially the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to which Maku belongs.

The state Government last week summoned its aides and lashed out at them for allegedly not defending Governor Almakura against APGA and Maku’s criticisms

The alleged impending arrest of some Eggon youths to frame up Maku as sponsor of violence is a clear indication that Governor Almakura is on the edge and would like to use the state apparatus to shut up the opposition in the state led by the former

The Eggon who constitute a significant voting block in the state were the strongest support base of Governor Almakura in 2011.

With his former ally Sen. Solomon Ewuga, Almakura got the overwhelming support of Eggon communities to win the Governorship seat in 2011.

But when things went awry over alleged succession agreement to handover to Sen. Awuga in 2015, crisis erupted between Almakura and Ewuga, leading to the Ombatse-Fulani violence in parts of the state.

The Ombatse group had openly alleged that Governor Almakura had used them to come to power in 2011. Their statement was widely advertised in the media.

They also claimed before the judicial panel set up by the state government that Governor Almakura was their major sponsor and reportedly tabled photocopies of records of monies allegedly given to them by Governor Almakura when the love tango between them was strong from 2011-2013!

When crisis broke out between them and Sen Ewuga was seen as the main opponent, he was widely accused by the state government as the alleged sponsor of Ombatse.

It now appears the accusation is shifting to Maku who is now seen as the clear frontrunner from the Eggon community for the Governorship position in the state.

Maku was never part of the drama between Almakura and Ewuga, both of whom were all in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Nassarawa state when the Ombatse cult-war started.

Maku was then in the PDP campaigning for then Governor Aliyu Doma. Almakura is widely believed to have used the group in his campaign to unseat former Governor Aliyu Doma in 2011.

It is therefore mere mudslinging and diversionary tactic for Gov Almakura to keep linking Maku to oblatse group which was closely linked to his (Almakura’s) rise to power in Nasarawa state.

If the reported attempts to frame up Maku is carried out, it may send danger signals to the freedom of the opposition in Nasarawa state, because this is coming as a bolt from the blues after Maku in a press conference last week criticised Gov Almakura and called for the declaration of a state of Economic and Social Emergency to address the deepening Economic and Governance crisis in Nassarawa state.

Suleiman Yusuf, a public affairs commentator wrote from Nasarawa State.