Nasarawa State indigenes residing in Lagos State under the auspices of Nasarawa State Development Association, Lagos State Chapter, have called on Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule of the state to launch a thorough and transparent investigation into the purported sales of the Nasarawa State Liaison Office in Lagos.
According to the group, the building which is situated at Plot 1234 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos was allegedly sold by former governor of the state, Senator Umaru Tanko Almakura to himself when he was governor of the state.
In an open letter to Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule, Chairman, Nasarawa State Development Association, Alhaji Musa Ikushigya, expressed shock at the barbaric and ruthless, manner in which members of the group mercilessly dehumanized by men of the Nigerian Police Force at the premises in the guise of evicting illegal occupants.
“Your Excellency Sir, you may wish to know that Nasarawa State Development Association holds you in high esteem with a deep sense of respect and trust, considering your ethical principles of integrity, character, and honesty.
“However, the recent development in the premises of the liaison office involving our members gives us shivers of concern and a reason for a reassessment of your integrity and our trust and confidence in you.
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“Your Excellency Sir, we wish to remind you that when Senator Umaru Tanko Almakura conceived the idea of selling the property, there was unprecedented outrage from all segments of the State against it, and since then, nothing of such has been heard. So, we wonder why you would allow act of Senator Almakura to resurface and flourish under your tenureship, which has enjoyed some reasonable degree of transparency, accountability, and enduring stability.”
Alhaji Musa Ikushigya in the letter, revealed that governor of the state, Abdullahi Alhaji Sule, had during his campaign while aspiring to become governor, assured the group he would not allow the sales of the edifice to stand.
“More disturbing is the fact that due process of public procurement procedure was not even followed in the alleged sale of the property, and no payment whatsoever can be traceable to that effect,” he added.
Another chieftain of the group, Sunday Alidzi said Nasarawa state indigenes in Lagos state would resist any move to sale the property.
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“This property holds significant importance to the Nasarawa State community in Lagos, serving as a symbol of our state’s presence and influence in the economic capital city. We repulse this gross misconduct and are ready to defend our collective assets with all our strength.
“It should be noted that we will not vacate the Nasarawa State Liaison Office even if Your Excellency or Senator Umaru Tanko Almakura unleashes the entire armory of the Nigeria Police Force on us,” he added.
Meanwhile, Danladi Ojito another top member of the Nasarawa State Development Association, Lagos State Chapter, called on Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule to take immediate action to ensure the protection of the property at the liaison office and the safeguarding of the indigene therein to avert further harassment until the investigation is concluded.