Tamale, June 23, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister has warned detractors of unity and peace in the region, "Who would want to use him to foment trouble to settle their personal scores to derail the peace process to stay away or he would expose them." He said: "I have not come here for vengeance or take sides in the Dagbon chieftaincy divide and nobody can choose a side for me. They are all my people and friends and I will work with your cooperation to consolidate the peace that is currently prevailing in the region."

Alhaji Idris gave the warning when addressing Heads of Departments, Security personnel, representative of political parties, the media and a cross section of the public at a reception organised by the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to usher him into the region as the substantive Northern Regional Minister. He took over from Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, who is now the Minister of Manpower Development, Youth and Employment who together with Mr Ernest Akubour Debrah, also former Northern Regional Minister worked hard to maintain peace in the region.

Alhaji Idris said supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other political parties or any other group of people were expected to come and tell him about problems within their communities and suggest measures to develop those areas to move the development of the region forward. The Northern Regional Minister assured the people that his administration would ensure equitable distribution of the region's share of the national resources to promote rapid development of the area and good governance.

He warned that his administration would deal drastically with contractors who had piled up development projects and abandoned them. "We must ensure that the people reap benefits of Government's development efforts by ensuring that there is absolute peace, law and order in the region, especially within Tamale Metropolis," and urged the people to be apostles of peace within their communities. "With your cooperation and goodwill I will live up to expectation," he assured.

Alhaji Idris commended the security personnel for their hard work to maintain peace in the region and urged the people to give them their cooperation to facilitate their operations. Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) appealed to the people in the area to tolerant each other's views and maintained unity for the development of the region in particular and the country as a whole.