From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Nasarawa State government has denied reports claiming that protesters in the state hoisted the Russian flag during the recent nationwide protests. The government refuted the allegations following an editorial by an online medium, which listed Nasarawa as one of the northern states where this occurred.
In a statement released on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Governor, Hon. Peter Ahemba, described the claims as “false, misleading, and mischievous”.
“There is no iota of truth in the allegation that protesters in Nasarawa State hoisted the Russian flag during the recent protest”, Ahemba stated. “The protest in the state had a low turnout in the first place, largely because most of the demands by the protesters had already been substantially addressed by the government of His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, with support from the Federal Government through various palliative schemes.”
Ahemba emphasised that the few individuals who participated in the protest, mostly underage children, were closely monitored by security agents to ensure peace and order. “At no point did the protesters hoist the Russian flag during the skeletal protest in some parts of the state,” he added.
The Nasarawa State Government urged the public to disregard the false reports, reaffirming its commitment to the unity and sovereignty of Nigeria. “Nasarawa State, under the leadership of Engr. Abdullahi A Sule, remains devoted to implementing policies and programmes that have a direct impact on the lives of the people,” Ahemba noted.
The statement concluded with a call for citizens to remain law-abiding and supportive of both the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the state government in the interest of development.