…in the task of restoring peace on the Plateau.
by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum has urged leaders and influencers across all the communities and sectors in Plateau State to join Governor Mutfwang in the task of uniting the people and restoring sustainable peace.
The Forum was led by its Chairman, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, of Kwara State, on Thursday to commiserate with the Government and people of Plateau State over the recent attacks in some parts of the state.
He said Youth Leaders should come together to speak strongly against attacks or any kind of violence, and urged the people to resolve their differences through dialogue, fair negotiations, mutual respect, and perspective taking.
According to the Forum Clhairman, “Sustainable development can be a mirage in an atmosphere of tension and violence. Plateau is full of potentials, especially in agriculture and tourism.
“But, these potentials could be affected negatively, if we allow violence or threats of it, to define how people see our communities,” he stated.
While commending Governor Mutfwang for his leadership at this critical moment, Governor Abdulrazaq said that, their visit was to express their solidarity to the government and good people of Plateau State.
He prayed God Almighty for the repose souls of the victims, who were killed, and to restore peace to their communities.
While commiserating with families of the victims, he also commended the interventions of the security agencies, which prevented further escalations.
Governor Abdulrazaq said, “We are in Jos on behalf of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the people of their states, and have come with a sincere words of condolences on the unfortunate events in which many of our compatriots have lost their lives.”
While responding, the Plateau State’s Governor Caleb Mutfwang expressed profound appreciation for the visit and solidarity demonstrated by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
Mutfwang stressed that, “On behalf of the Government and people of Plateau State, I sincerely thank you for this kind gesture. Your presence here is a powerful reminder that we are not alone in this moment of grief. It gives us hope and strength.”
The governor described the recent attacks as “senseless and deeply regrettable.” While he mourned the loss of innocent lives, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring normalcy in the affected areas.
According to him, “Since assuming office, we have made significant strides in uniting our people across faiths and ethnicities. For over a year, Plateau State had stayed out of negative headlines. The resurgence of violence has been a painful setback, but we remain undeterred.”
While reaffirming the resilience of the Plateau people and his administration’s resolve to rebuild and strengthen peace, Mutfwang added that, “Our people are strong and hopeful. This is an obstruction, but, by God’s grace, we will rise above it. We are more determined than ever to move forward. Plateau remains the Home of Peace and Tourism.”
He also pledged to continue reviewing – and improving – security strategies, while welcoming fresh ideas and collaboration from stakeholders.
“We do not claim to have all the answers. We are open to new perspectives and ready to address our weaknesses. Together, we will build a more secure and united Plateau,” the governor stated.