…describes Nasarawa as model of religious harmony
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, has decried the actions of some Nigerians abroad who fabricate stories of a “Christian genocide” to secure asylum in foreign countries, labelling the practice as a damaging falsehood.
Governor Sule made the declaration on Monday when he received the leadership of the Nasarawa State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), who paid him a New Year homage at the Government House in Lafia.
The Governor, who just returned to the state from his private trip to the United States, expressed disappointment at the trend, stating that such unfounded claims are often used to evade immigration controls in places like the United States.
He countered the narrative by presenting Nasarawa State as concrete proof of peaceful coexistence.
“It is unfortunate that some Nigerians, in order to get asylum, would go and tell people that there is a Christian genocide in Nigeria. Here in Nasarawa, especially in my zone, the Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Muslims and Christians live peacefully together, in the same neighbourhoods and even in the same families,” Governor Sule asserted.
He clarified that conflicts in the country were mostly driven by criminal activities and illegal mining, not religious persecution, and urged for truthful representation of the country to the international community.
On security, Governor Salle reiterated his administration’s vigilance, revealing that he often coordinates responses to security alerts as early as 4:30 a.m. to ensure the safety of residents.
The meeting also served as a platform for the Governor to highlight promising economic developments, noting that with advanced technology, the state’s oil resources would be exploited to boost the economy of the state in the nearest future.
He equally seized the opportunity to reiterate his earlier stance on who will succeed him, stressing that he would ensure that only a God-fearing individual who is capable of carrying the people of the state along would take over from him.
Furthermore, he discussed ongoing mining activities and urban development plans, while acknowledging the challenges posed by mineral discoveries in areas like Gurku Kabusu, in Karu Local Government Area of the state.
Earlier in his opening address, Nasarawa State CAN Chairman, Very Reverend Sunday A. Emmah, commended the Governor for his inclusive leadership, investments in infrastructure, and commitment to security, which he said had fostered a climate of peace and unity.
Reverend Emmah pledged the continuous support and prayers of the Christian community for the administration.
He prayed for peaceful elections in 2027 and reaffirmed the association’s role as a partner in fostering stability and development.
The CAN delegation, led by members of the clergy included Christian commissioners, special advisers, heads of MDAs, other top government functionaries, as well as top civil servants.
The visit ended on a note of mutual commitment to uphold the prevailing peace in Nasarawa State and to project its reality as a rebuttal to narratives of religious strife.