The Chairman of the recently constituted Kogi-Lokoja All Progressive Congress Reconciliation Committee, Hon. Saidu Akawu Salihu, has condemn Wednesday’s burning and vandalization of two secondary schools built and renovated as constituency projects by Sen. Dino Melaye.
Akawu stated this after an on the spot visit to Government Girls Secondary School Sarkin Noma and Government Secondary School, Lokongoma all in Lokoja.
He frowned at the action of those behind the act to burn and vandalize properties of government, describing the incidents as heinous crime. He stated that the act is political extremism taken too far and alien to the political culture of Lokoja people.
He described the action of the perpetrators of the crime as reckless and overzealous, adding that it is disheartening that this is happening at a time when efforts is been made at reconciliation.
The Chairman of the Committee commended the swift response of the state government at condemning the heinous crime through a statement. He urged the state governor to go the extra mile in fishing out the perpetrators of the dastardly and wicked act.
Hon. Akawu said his visit and that of a member of the reconciliation committee for Kogi and Lokoja LGA to the two schools, Hon. Mustapha Allahdey underscores the importance the committee attaches to ensuring that it has an on the spot assessment of the extent of damage, the immediate and remote causes of the heinous crime.
Hon. Akawu called on the government to as a way of showing government seriousness and concern, immediately direct the relevant agencies of government towards ensuring that the damages are quickly repaired so as not to allow the beneficiaries, that is the students suffer untold hardship.
He called on the people to embrace peace and to avoid violence, pointing out that no meaningful development can be attained in an atmosphere of violence and destruction of government properties.
While calling on those who are hurt and offended to forgive, Hon. Akawu cautioned against the act of destruction of government properties, especially in this period when resources are scare and hard to come by.
