Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue on Saturday in Abuja urged Nigerians to co-exist in peace and harmony for the sustenance of development programmes in the country.

Suswam, who was the special guest at the FRSC's monthly jogging exercise, said peace was fundamental to the development and sustainability of the country as one indivisible entity.

"I call on all opinion, community, religious and political leaders, as well as the traditional rulers, to prevail on their followers to live in peace," the governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Saints Gbilaka, said.

He noted that political leaders were privileged to develop and exhibit a virile political culture that could sustain peace and good governance.

"Peace is very important for the growth and development of this country. Without peace we will fall, and we need it more at this time when we have security challenges.

"Peace is a fundamental thing towards the unity of this country as one entity and for our development.

"We have leaders in every community and people listen to them. They have their followers and the followers will listen to them if they tell them the right thing to do," Suswam said.

In his remark, Mr Osita Chidoka, the FRSC's Corps Marshal/Chief Executive, called on Nigerians to work hard to sustain peace.

Represented by Mr Ayo Omidiji, the Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Policy Research and Statistics, Chidoka said Nigerians should work hard for the country's development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the exercise was "Walking for Sustainable Peace in Nigeria".