The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mr Labaran Maku

  • Maku pledges resuscitation of Nasarawa cultural festivals if elected governor

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Gubernatorial Candidate in Nasarawa State, Mr Labaran Maku said he would revive the state’s cultural festivals that had been abandoned by previous administrations if elected.

    Maku, a former deputy governor of the state, made the promise when he hosted Mr Aliyu Doma, the Gubernatorial Candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) at his Akwanga residence on Wednesday.

    According to him, the state that has multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and cross-cultural heritage should have a platform that can unite its people.

    The ex-deputy governor said he planned to place premium on reviving cultural festivals because culture had the power to unite people irrespective of tribal and religious affiliations.

    He expressed regrets that the current All Progressive Congress (APC) administration in the state had failed to sustain the achievements of late Gov. Akwe Doma, who promoted and sustained cultural festivals of Nasarawa people.

    “I think Nasarawa State, which is home to many Nigerian tribes including the Hausas, Fulanis, Kanuris, as well as others that transcend beyond the north, should be called the rainbow state.

    “I will revive the cultural festivals in the state; rename Nasarawa Rainbow State because it is a multilingual, multicultural and multiethnic state,’’ Maku said. (NAN)

  • Maku warns politicians against divisive tendencies

    Mr. Labaran Maku, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has warned politicians against creating division among Christians and Muslims in Nasarawa.

    Maku, a former Minister of Information and governorship aspirant of APGA in the state, gave the warning on Saturday at a fundraising ceremony at the Assemblies of God Church in Lafia.

    According to him, the political class is responsible for the religious dichotomy currently going on in the state.

    He explained that prior to the return of democracy in 1999, Christians, Muslims and the traditional worshippers relate freely with one other, but regretted that the trend was fast eroding.

    “We had a situation where both Muslims and Traditionalists visit the houses of Christians during Christmas and other festivities and eat freely and they also exchange gifts.

    “So also Christians will visit Muslims during Sallah celebrations.

    “But today, all these virtues and show of love has varnished just because of bad politics being played by bad politicians,” he said.

    The former minister said that the religious divisions were being promoted by desperate politicians who hide under the guise of religion to perpetrate evil.

    He promised to return the state to its lost glory when he became the governor in 2019.

    “If I become the governor in 2019, I shall return Nasarawa State to its old good days.

    “I will give to Caeser what belongs to Caeser, and to God what belongs to Him. I will ensure nobody is marginalised irrespective of his or her tribal or religious affiliation,” he pledged.

    Maku also warned members of the public against vote selling and urged them to vote according to their conscience in 2019.

    He urged religious leaders to ensure adequate voters education among their members.

  • Maku calls for scrapping of state electoral commissions

    A former Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has called for the scrapping of all state electoral commissions to ensure  free, fair and credible local government elections in Nigeria.

    Maku, the National Secretary of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), made the call in Lafia on Saturday during a political mobilisation tour.

    He said that the scrapping of the commissions would  give opposition parties hope of winning local government polls and ensure public  confidence in the process.

    Maku said that most opposition parties boycotted local government elections in the states because of the lack of transparency and trust in members of the  commissions.

    “Those in power in the state level appoint chairmen and members of their political parties as members of the state electoral commissions.

    “How can local government elections will be fair, free and credible?.

    “They will dance to the tune of their master who appointed them.

    “All the state electoral commissions have problems. All of them, that is why we suggested that all the so-called state electoral commissions should be abolished in order to have fair, free and credible local government elections in the country.

    “INEC national body should be given a mandate to run and conduct local government elections in the country.

    “INEC can have a different department for the local government elections and another department for national elections.

    “This will give the opposition parties and the public hope and confidence to actively participate in local government elections in their respective states, “he said.

    Maku urged the people of Nasawa State, especially farmers and herdsmen, to co-exist peacefully in the interest of development.

    He said that insecurity in some parts of the country were caused by political interest groups for selfish reasons and urged Nigerians to unite against violence in the interest of development.

    Maku said Nigerians should  live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliations.

  • Maku calls for preservation of culture, tradition

    Maku calls for preservation of culture, tradition

    Mr Labaran Maku, a former Minister of Information, has called on all ethnic groups in Nasarawa State to preserve their culture and tradition from extinction to promote peace and unity,

    Maku, a 2015 gubernatorial candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa State made the call on Wednesday while addressing different ethnic groups that paid him Christmas homage in his home town, Wakama, Akun Development Area of the state.

    “Our culture is dying; culture is one of the ways of promoting tourism, unity. Culture is one of the best ways of making money as well as promoting unity and there is no longer cultural festival in Nasarawa State.

    “Why are we not having cultural festival again in Nasarawa State,’’ he said.

    Maku said that the call became necessary as a result of the danger posed by lack of proper documentation of cultural history of some ethnic groups in the country.

    “The rate at which some aspects of many ethic cultures are disappearing in Nigeria if not checked and urgent steps not taken, Nigerians will wake up one day and discover that all cultures are gone.

    “It is important to always document the cultural history in order to save Nigerian indigenous cultures from going to extinction.

    “Cultural history and history in general is very important because it enable us to know the past, the present and to plan ahead for the future, hence the need for every tribe to preserve and promote its culture,” he said.

    The former minister urged Christians to use the Christmas period to pray for the peace and unity of the nation.

    “I use this period to charge us to learn from the love our Lord Jesus Christ showed to us by laying down his life for us.

    “This is the type of love God wants us to share among ourselves by living in peace, unity and be our brother’s keeper at all times in the interest of development,” he added.

     

    The ethnic groups that paid him a Christmas homage include Alago, Rindre,  Migili, Afo, Mada, Fulani, Eggon among others

  • ‘Wike Nigeria’s new generation leaders’

    The National Secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Labaran Maku has declared that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike
    represents Nigeria’s new generation of leaders driving the country towards prosperity and development.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the media aide to Governor Wike, Simeon Nwakaudu, the governor stated that he is motivated to deliver more pro-people projects across Rivers State by the enthusiastic applause he gets each time he embarks on projects inspection.

    Both leaders spoke on Saturday after they embarked on joint inspection of
    projects in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Obio/Akpor Local
    Government Area and Ikwerre Local Government Area.

    Labaran Maku, a former Minister of Information said that Governor Wike’s
    legendary projects delivery is a proof that the people stand to benefit
    whenever they elect well equipped leaders.
    He said: “This is what we want. A generation of leaders who are committed
    to making more progress in the direction of prosperity and development.

    “This is what you get when you have the right people people in place who
    have the energy, the intellectual wherewithal and the commitment to drive development.”

    The APGA National Secretary noted that the team will be coming back to
    Rivers State to further understudy the development model of Governor
    Wike, so as to export same as an example of good governance.

    Maku said: “I am not surprised that Governor Wike is performing. At the
    Federal Executive Council, I knew him to be very serious with a noble heart. As Governor of Rivers State, we have observed with happiness, the
    kind of seriousness he has brought to governance.”

    In an interview, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said he insists
    on timelines for the completion of projects because of the need to avoid
    abandoned projects.

    He said: “The happiness of the people motivates me to work harder. Their
    response each time we go out for project inspection is a sign that they are happy with what we are doing.

    “I will continue to work promote and defend the interest of our state. I will continue to fulfill all promises I made to the people,” Governor Wike said.

    The governor said that never again will funds meant for the development
    of Rivers State used to sponsor the election of some persons.

    The inspection witnessed hundreds of residents trooping out to
    celebrate Governor Wike during the project inspection.

    Some of the projects inspected by Governor Wike and Labaran Maku on
    Saturday include: Rukpokwu Market road, Rumuokparali road, Tam David West Boulevard, Mother and Child hospital in NAF base, Government Girls
    Secondary school, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt Pleasure Park, Second
    Nkpogu//LNG Road and Bridge and Ogbunabali// Land Reclamation project.