By Andrew Ajijah
A group, the Plateau Peace Forum, has recongnised the role of the governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, and Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, in maintaining peaceful co-existence among citizens in the troubled Plateau State for two decades.
The Forum described Mrs. Tallen as a ‘Woman of Peace’. Mrs. Tallen is the first female deputy governor of Plateau State.
The forum also honoured a former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, and the present captain Ahmed Musa. The event was held, on Saturday, in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Maje, was also honoured at the event.
Convener of the Forum, Hon. Baba Akawu, a former deputy majority leader, House of Representatives, in a welcome address, identified poverty and lack of unity to be the root causes of violence in Plateau state.
READ ALSO: Gandollar: Remember, Governor Wike is Not Dollars
Hon. Akawu called on political office holders and appointees at all level to support peace innovations from groups and individuals for a lasting peace to be achived in the state.
On his part, chairman, organising committee of the occasion, Dr. Yakubu Sankey, in a key note address, also stressed that lack of unity between Christians and Muslims has been the challenge.
Dr. Sankey noted with sadness that within the last 15 years, over 200 communities had been attacked and displaced, with several lives loss.
According to him, a child born in Plateau State and less than 20 years old would not be a peaceful person, because such a child would had been taught segregation and tribalism.
Dr. Sankey regretted that most political leaders in Nigeria today are ‘accidental leaders’, and therefore, most political office holders are not capable to lead.
There was a posthumous Award of Peace, accorded to the late Solomon Lar, the first civilian governor of old Plateau State.
The first Gbong Gwong Jos, late Da Fom Bot, Mallam Ahmed Arabin, the pioneer educationist in the state, and six others were given posthumous awards for their roles in keeping peace while alive.
Reacting to the honour done to her, Mrs. Tallen, on behalf of other recipients, said it would motivate them to develop more initiatives in ensuring peace is returned permanently.
Mrs. Tallen charged Plateau citizens to live in peace with one another irrespective of religion difference.
The women affairs minister urged women, particularly mothers, to preach peace to their children and husbands wherever they may be.
The awardees were honored, with “Unity Golden Heroes Awards.” For their contributions in ensuring peace prevail.
It’s no longer news that Plateau state is been tormented by gunmen since year 2001, efforts by stakeholders seems not to have yielded the desire results, as killing have continue unabated.
Though there has been relative peace in most parts of Jos in recent times, but the renewed activities of cultists and other gangsterism among youths in recent times has triggered fears in the minds of residences of Jos, thereby closing shops before 9:00pm daily.
