By Matthew Johnson

The Nasarawa United Forum (NUF), has urged political actors in the state to shun the habit of maligning other contestants in the governorship race of Nasarawa State.

The group in a statement issued by its Coordinator, Abdulaziz Abba, on Thursday, said the latest affront is the unprovoked insults on the person of the former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu by a Senator, who’s also contesting for Nasarawa governorship, on a national TV, on Wednesday, during an interactive session.

In the statement, which reads in part, Abba said, “We the members of the Nasarawa United Forum, would not have bandied words with the Senator but to restrain from unprovoked harangue and insult on the person of a fellow contestant, former IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu. 

“We therefore wish to seize this medium to condemn in all its entirety the unprovoked insults directed at the person of the former IGP Adamu by the Senator on TV last Wednesday. 

“As the senator himself acknowledged in that interview, he was just playing politics. But must you play politics with something as serious as the safety and security of the lives and property of Nasarawa State? This is because security matters are not something that should be treated with kid gloves.

“There are a few points to ponder in that interview. With the benefit of hindsight, this Senator is not abreast with the salient fact that insecurity anywhere, however minor, is a threat in itself. Once there is security scare from any quarters, especially in a state, investment opportunities, growth and development, and even the daily hustle and bustle by the people in the informal sector are greatly undermined. In fact, every good thing takes flight once there is fear of insecurity anywhere. 

“Nasarawa State, in North Central has since become a hotbed of crime with a serious threat of banditry and civil unrest. This should bother anyone, especially considering the fact that the state shares close proximity with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. 

“For a state eyeing investment opportunities from across the federation and abroad, it stands to reason that Nasarawa state needs to be secured, safe and sound for business to thrive; to decide otherwise is a bad omen indeed.”

Expatiating, the group reiterated that the security of Nasarawa State deserves all the seriousness and attention at any given time and as such, anybody who means well for the state should not treat it as child’s play. 

“Security of lives and property of the good people of Nasarawa State is sacred and should not be regarded as something unimportant or secondary in the scheme of things. Political actors should stop playing politics with the safety of lives, Nasarawa people deserves better,” NUF said.