Jang preaches peace at meeting with Gowon, Lar, Dariye, others

Source: The Nation Newspaper Published:Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Jang

After the four-day Jos violence in which hundreds were killed, it is time to bind wounds and avert a recurrence.

At a meeting in Jos, the Plateau State capital yesterday, Governor Jonah Jang preached peace, saying: "conflict resolution is a team work as no one has the monopoly of knowledge".

Among those in attendance were former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, first civilian governor of the state, Chief Solomon Lar, former Governors Fidelis Tapgun and Joshua Dariye, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, former Deputy State President John Wash-Pam.

Others are members of the National Assembly from the state, members of the House of Assembly and their former colleagues, former ministers and ambassadors from the state.

Explaining why he convened the meeting, Jang said the state is faced with devastating memories of a plethora of violence, the pains, bitterness and loss recorded in the past.

"My invitation to you all for this meeting is because we believe that conflict resolution is a team work as no one has the monopoly of knowledge. As major stakeholders and considering your profile we believe there is much for us to draw from you.

"You would agree with me that in this recent situation, such conflict resolution mechanisms were completely ignored as people took the law into their hands, resulting in destruction of lives and properties. This is most regrettable because it is coming at a time when we have all worked very hard to restore normalcy and peace. I recall that in my state address on the eruption of violence, I said, our efforts have been made manifest through communal harmony, religious tolerance and maintaining security personally on our streets in addition to continuous dialogue with stakeholders so as to consolidate the peace and security in the state".

Gowon told the gathering "that Plateau people should sink their differences and embrace one another"

He urged the youths to say "no to violence", asking the Muslims and Christians not to raise their hands against one another.

Lar said "it is not time to apportion blame", adding that the country’s problem could only be solved "when the issue of religion is removed from the statute books".

He said: "The mandate of the governor has been challenged by this latest crisis", urging all to stand up and be counted in the fight against religious intolerance".

"We are here to rebuild and support the mandate given to the governor by us," Lar added.

Wash-Pam said he is saddened by the crisis.

He said: "During the Second Republic the Northern region preached the gospel of one love, one people, one nation, but today, can this happen?

Wash-Pam said: "There should be a code of conduct which every one must abide by and anyone who refuses should be shown the way out" adding: "There must be respect for people who settle in a place before some migrated there."

Kwande, Nigeria’s former ambassador to Switzerland, recalled how bitter it has become for people to live together as "brothers" and not strangers.

He said: "It is time for people to begin to speak the truth", lamenting that the crisis has persisted largely as a result of "ill feelings" that brothers can no longer tolerate one another "because of religion".

Comments

Aliyu Musa | Takum Taraba State.  | February 22nd, 2010

Well Jang should not fool him self we are feedup with all this issues if there should be a solution it should be NO INDIGENOUS, OF A THING and NOT YOU ARE A STRANGER.
May the souls of our love ones be in peace and we should embrace our self's.
One Nigeria,One Nation.
Arewa Tamu ni.

Macham Zwalfa  | Karu - Abuja  | January 29th, 2010

This is to advise my dear people of plateau state to remember the last judgement, knowing that the world is just a market square. I wonder even animals stay with one another, but why are human beings fighting each other?

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