Violence will chase good people from politics – Progressives Govs Forum
Progressives Governors Forum on Friday warned politicians about making politics a scary venture, adding that it will send the wrong message to intending politicians.
The group indicated that relevant investigation has began into the Gombe mayhem involving the former governor of the state Danjuma Goje.
Recall that the incident caused the death of an individual according to the police with scores of vehicles destroyed by youths alleged to be sponsored.
Chairman of the Forum Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Bagudu made this disclosure in Gombe Government House, while on a condolence visit, he noted that they were in the state to commiserate with the Gombe State Government and the people following the incident that caused loss of life and property.
Represented by Governors of Katsina and Jigawa States Aminu Masari, Muhammad Abubakar, Bagudu noted that the mayhem was avoidable.
He said, “We believe we are peace makers and politics can be played without violence, violence doesn’t help anybody and it doesn’t promote peace.
“We appeal to all political leaders of all political parties to conduct themselves and their affairs in a calm, mature, and responsible manner.
“We have a responsibility to protect lives and property. We shall not under any circumstances to be seen to be promoting, supporting covering violence that will lead to deaths, injuries.
“As leaders we have a duty to promote democracy and we can not deviate by promoting violence, it will scare the good people away. Politics is where you have president, governors, commissioners who lead the country and people. If you don’t attract the right calibre of people, how can you have good leadership, good people will run away. Politics is not about violence, disagreement is natural, normal.
“My advise not only to politicians in Gombe but to all of us in Nigeria, that If we want to promote what we say we are promoting we must eschew violence because we can disagree to agree, we should sell idea not violence.”
While assuring that relevant action has been taken to forestall a reoccurrence, Bagudu said the mechanisms are both internal and public consumption.
“We are working at various levels, and I’m sure the governor is doing the best he can to make sure that whatever happened is properly investigated where action is required it will be taken.
“We have already take action, there are those actions that are for the public and there are those that are for internal consumption,” Bagudu added.
Also speaking, the host Governor Muhammadu Yahaya lauded his colleagues for the visit, adding that he is committed to maintaining peace in the state.
Yahaya said, “The fact that they came to console and condole us on this issue is enough but whatever it is the excellency the governor said this is just the beginning so you wait.
“The fact that they came means solidarity and are in support of what the governor is doing afterall we are all out to serve the people and without peace and tranquility we can’t serve the people that is what we promised and we swore by the Quran to maintain peace at whatever cost.”
