Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, has warned politicians against stoking the embers of discord among various religious groups in the state.
He handed down the warning during a meeting with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and retired Justice Sidi Bage-Mohammed, the Emir of Lafia and chairman of the state traditional council in Lafia, the state capital.
It was prompted by provocative videos which went viral on social media promoting religious politics ahead of last Saturday’s presidential and national assembly (NASS) election in the state.
Sule said his administration would not allow any attempt to fuel religious and ethnic crises in the state for parochial interest.
He said, “Nasarawa State has always been seen as a peaceful place and there are Muslims and Christians in virtually every family. So, the government cannot allow a religious crisis in the state.
“If the state is not peaceful, even those inciting people cannot have the time to send those messages, as everybody will be on the run.
“Power comes from God and He gives it to whomever He wants at any time so, as politicians, we should only present ourselves to the people.”
He said the fact that the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) presidential candidate lost election in his home state but went ahead to become the president-elect should serve as a lesson to all.
He called on religious leaders to always preach the messages of tolerance and peaceful coexistence to their adherents.
He commended religious and traditional leaders for their roles in ensuring peaceful conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections in the state.
He urged them to replicate the same feat during the upcoming governorship and state house of assembly election in the state.