Mr. Labaran Maku, the former Minister of Information, on Monday kicked against the recent killings in the southern part of Nasarawa State as security vote hit N300million in the state, describing the incessant killings in the Northern part of the country as the result of the greed of leaders.

The Chieftain of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), who is also the former gubernatorial candidate of APGA, made this known in his Christmas message at his Wakma village in Akwanga local government of Nasarawa State.

In his message, Maku lamented that the north is currently at war with itself.

According to Maku, “The war going on in the entire north today started in Nasarawa in February 2001 when so-called unknown gunmen murdered some Tiv people. The killing trend moved to somewhere in Taraba, then later to plateau and Kaduna and spread to other parts of the north. Today the entire north is at full-blown war.

Maku explained that the reason why the killing could not be stopped was that leaders in the north politicize everything including religion and tribe.

The former gubernatorial candidate added that what is worsening the poverty level in the region leading to insecurity is the level at which election results are being bought by some leaders and made to rule over people who did not vote them to power.

Maku explained that where political office holders do not love and put first the interest of the people they are leading, the consequence is what is seen in most states in the north.

“In a poor state like Nasarawa, only one person is taking N300million every month as security vote. Calculate that in one year that is N3.6billion every year, then multiply that in four years or eight years.

“That is the insincerity we are talking about. How can one person be taking N300million every month as security vote and yet people are being killed, farmers cannot go to their farms and nobody is arrested?” Maku lamented.

Maku further noted that with N300million over two thousand youths can be employed, thirty cottage poultries can be established where young people can be employed and paid sumptuously.

He, however, called on residents not to lose hope but continue to pray to God to give wisdom to leaders to make decisions that would change the present predicaments.

(Daily Independent)