Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa state has advised indigenes and Nigerians in general against hate speeches and utterances capable of causing chaos in the country in the interest of peace and national development.
He gave the advice yesterday during the funeral mass for the Abaga Toni of Toni Chiefdom, Dr. Sylvester Ayih, at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Garaku, Kokona local government area of the state.
According to him, the peace of the nation is priceless and non-negotiable, hence the need for Nigerians to promote peace at all the time as every Nigerian has the right to stay anywhere of his or her choice.
“It is in view of this, I want to advise some people who bent to promote hate speeches in the state and Nigerians to desist in the interest of peace as what we needed most now is peace and unity,” he said.
Al-Makura expressed sympathy and prayed God to grant the entire family, the catholic community and Kokona local government the fortitude to bear the loss.
“He was a peace promoter, bridge-builder, honest, humble and hard-working as well as a detribalised and a patriotic Nigerian while alive and he had contributed a lot to the development of not only the Toni Chiefdom, but the state and the entire country at large.”
He, therefore, urged the people of the state to imbibe the virtues of the late monarch through promotion of peace, adding that his administration would continue to protect the property and lives of all indigenes, including the non- indigenes.
