Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has offered automatic employment to two daughters of the slain former state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the late Chief Philips Shekwo.
Engineer Sule announced this as fulfilment of the promised he earlier made to the family of the late APC chieftain, during the first memorial lecture organized in honour of the departed Chief Shekwo, which held at the Taal Conference Hotel, in Lafia, on Monday.
This is just as the governor vowed to ensure that the three killers of the late Chief Shekwo, including their informant, who are currently undergoing trial, face prosecution.
Responding to a call by the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe, for him to ensure the persons arrested over the killing of the former APC chairman, are duly prosecuted, Engineer Sule expressed willingness to sign their death warrants, if the courts found them guilty.
He recalled that, only recently the state assembly passed the anti-kidnapping law, which prescribed death sentence for kidnappings that lead to the death of the victims.
“If the courts find them guilty and sentence them to death, I will sign their death warrant.
“I’m happy that they were caught. I’m happy that they are facing trial and by the grace of God, they will not escape,” he stated.
Engineer Sule described the late Chief Shekwo as a humble, accommodating and frank.
He used the opportunity of the event, to shown appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the security agencies over their role the night the killers invaded the residence of the late APC chieftain.
According to the governor, for the late Chief Shekwo to be remembered a year after the departed this earth, is a sign that he was a good man.
Engineer Sule thanked the APC and family members of the deceased, for organising the memorial lecture.
” By the grace of God, those who killed this man will not go scot free,” he assured.
The governor said his administration will continue to take proactive measures in order to ensure security of lives and property across the state, stressed that government will continue to do more in tackling insecurity because there is never enough.
He disclosed that like the administration addressed insecurity along the Many Have Come Hills, by attracting the police mobile force training college at Endehu, government is also considering attracting similar facility to be sited either in Udege or Loko, in order to restore lasting peace in the area.
Engineer Sule explained that the recent signing of MoU between Nasarawa State and the NNPC, was aimed at further ensuring security across the state, through employment generation, industrialization and internal revenue generation.
While announcing the automatic employment to Zepora and Jedidah Philips Shekwo, the governor said the gesture was in fulfilment of the promise he made when he first visited the family after losing their breadwinner.
He appreciated the Shekwo family for binding together.
In a goodwill message, Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe, lamented that Toto Local Government Area and the state have lost a man of humility and peace.
He described late Shekwo as a very humble person, God fearing and above all easy going.
” His Excellency, we read in print media and heard in electronic media that the perpetrators of late Chief Philip Tatari Shekwo were arrested by the police.
” Up till this moment, we have not heard about the perpetrators again.
“We the people of Toto Local Government want to see the conclusion of the matter by ensuring that they perpetrators were brought to book to serve as deterrent to others,” he said.
Guest speaker at the event and Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Professor Mohammed Suleiman Bala, while delivering a paper on the use of intelligence in security, highlighted on the efforts of the Engineer Sule administration in the area of security, which resulted in the being being the most relatively peaceful.
Earlier in a welcome address, state Chairman of the APC, Hon. (Dr ) John Mamman, said that the event was organized in order to honour and remember the late Shekwo for his contributions to the growth of the party, the state and Nigeria at large.
” Late Chief Philips Tatari Shekwo was a team player who lived an examplary life.
” He has contributed so much to the progress of the party, the state and Nigeria at large,” he said.
Hon (Dr.) Mamman assured that under his leadership , the APC will continue with the good legacies left behind by the late Shekwo for the peace, unity, progress and development of the party.
In a vote of thanks, Philips Samuel Shekwo, who spoke on behalf of the family, thanked both the state government and the APC, for being supportive of the late Shekwo family.
The first late Chief Philips Tatari Shekwo memorial lecture was attended by prominent sons and daughters of the state, including the late Shekwo’s friends, colleagues and associates.
Among those present at the event include state Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the Sen. Godiya Akwashiki, state lawmakers, politicians, traditional and religious leaders, family members among others.
Recall that the late Shekwo was gruesomely murdered on the night of Saturday, November 21, 2020, after gunmen invaded his private residence and kidnapped him.
