The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Thursday, paid a solidarity visit to Plateau State and tasked Governor Caleb Mutfwang as well as political, religious and traditional leaders in the state to unite the multi-cultural people and residents to stop the spate of senseless killings.
Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, while addressing the gathering at the Government House in Jos, said it was important for all leaders in the state to rally round the Governor to stop the wave of attacks which have led to the killing of over 100 people in the past two weeks while communities in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas were destroyed and thousands of people displaced.
While speaking during the meeting, Abdulrazaq said:
“On behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the people of our states, I bring you sincere words of condolences on the unfortunate events in which many of our compatriots have lost their lives.
“We call on leaders and influencers across all communities and sectors in Plateau to join His Excellency in the task of uniting the people and restoring sustainable peace.
“Leaders, including youth leaders, should come together to speak strongly against violence of any kind. We urge that we resolve our differences through dialogue, fair negotiations, mutual respect, and perspective-taking.
“Sustainable development can be a mirage in an atmosphere of tension and violence. Plateau is full of potential, especially in agriculture and tourism. But these potentials could be affected negatively if we allow violence or threats to define how people see our communities.”
The Kwara Governor also commended Mutfwang for his leadership at a critical moment where strong leadership is required.
“Our visit is to express our solidarity with His Excellency and the government and good people of Plateau State. We pray to God Almighty to repose the souls of the victims and restore peace to our communities,” he said.
Abdulrazaq, who sympathized with the government and people of the state over the tragic incidents and appealed for concerted efforts to promote peace and end insecurity across the country.
“On behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the people of our states, I bring sincere condolences on the unfortunate incidents that claimed the lives of many of our compatriots.
“We urge all leaders to rally around His Excellency in uniting the people and restoring lasting peace. We must all speak with one voice against violence in any form. Let us embrace dialogue, fair negotiation, mutual respect, and empathy as tools for conflict resolution.
“Plateau holds tremendous potential in agriculture and tourism. However, continued violence threatens to undermine these opportunities. We commend Governor Mutfwang for his leadership at this critical juncture. Our visit is a demonstration of solidarity with the government and people of Plateau State. We pray for the repose of the souls of the departed and for the restoration of peace across the state.”
In his response, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang expressed profound appreciation for the visit and solidarity demonstrated by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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,” he stated.
