Senate Minority Leader, Senator Dr George Akume, at the weekend appealed to youths in Benue State to reject the gift of guns to fight for politicians but rather demand decent jobs from them.
He spoke at the funeral of the late Jonathan Apedzan, a retired Permanent Secretary who was his senior in the service as well as husband of Mrs Rebecca Apedzan, one of his commissioners when he was Governor.
Senator Akume said it was an irony that those who lacked funds to pay salaries and meet other commitments of government had enough to sponsor the destruction of the property of their Tiv brothers who rank among the poorest in the country.
The former Governor appealed to the youths to also request those who recruit them to forment violence to engage their children most of who are undergoing studies abroad.
All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Dr Samuel Ortom, stated that he had fully subscribed to the peace initiatives of the Mdzough U Tiv, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, the Catholic Bishops in the state as well as the interagency consultative committee.
Chief Dr Ortom lamented that inspite of the peace pact his campaign property was still being destroyed but urged his supporters not to retaliate but leave vengeance to God.
He stated that as a Christian he believed that one received nothing except given from above hence there was no need for violence which he said cannot guarantee electoral or any victory.
All those who spoke including the President of Katsina-Ala Old Boys Association, Dr Haroun Adamu, represented by Mr Emmanuel Atini, representative of classmates of the deceased, Mr Akwati Biam, Senator JKN Waku, and Chief Abu King Shuluwa, listed discipline, neatness, humor, and peaceful disposition of the deceased as his virtues.
Catholic Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Bishop Peter Adobo, enjoined the living, particularly politicians, to pursue peace as a tribute to the late Apedzan.