Internally displaced persons will participate in elections in Nasarawa – Al-Makura

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The Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura, has assured the people of the state that security measures will be put in place to ensure that internally displaced persons participate in the 2015 general elections in their communities.

Nasarawa has been embroiled in communal crises which was heralded by the killing of 84 security operatives in Alakyo village on May 7, 2013.

Mr. Al-Makura distributed relief materials through traditional rulers to over 100 communities affected by the recent crisis in the state.

He told journalists that his government was doing everything possible to ensure that the 2015 general elections scheduled for March 28 takes place in troubled communities hit by communal clashes in the state in the last two years.

Mr. Al-Makura said, as a priority, government was equally putting measures that would ensure the return of the internally displaced persons to kick start their lives and forget the past.

Mr. Al-Makura said government was putting new strategies in place to ensure lasting solution to the lingering crises in the state.

“To stem the tide of the recurrent crises in the state, government took far-reaching measures, including the vigorous pursuance of this administration’s innovative Community-Based Conflict Resolution initiative to resolve communal misunderstandings and disagreements for sustainable peace and socio-economic development of the State,” the governor said.

“It is heart-warming that these measures have been a catalyst to the restoration of normalcy in the affected communities and, indeed, the State as a whole. These unfortunate incidences were tragic, avoidable and a setback to the development endeavours of this administration.”

Mr. Al-Makura added that to ensure safety and more security measures, the state government has created 10 additional security centres across the troubled communities.

He urged the people of the state to continue to sustain peace and harmonious co-existence.

“I urge you to be active participants in our community-based conflict resolution and endeavour for the settlement of all misunderstandings and local disagreements in the state,” he said.