By Managing Editor
Plateau state government has assured citizens of the state of its determinations to heal the wounds of violent, crises and skirmishes that have befallen the state in recent time, and reintegrate all communities beyond the misconceptions of, ”No go areas” existing in the state.
The government believes that this is achievable when citizens of the state and non state actors toe the path of peace and encourage each other to tolerate and understand with one another irrespective of religious, political and other affiliations.
The government added that the establishment of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency has make remarkable successes in reducing the circle of voilence in the state and is exploring every avenue to ensure that the state regain her lost pride of the ‘Home of peace and tourism’.
The Director General, Plateau state peace building agency Plateau, Mr Joseph Rengman disclosed this during an interactive session with Journalists as part of activities marking the 2021 Plateau state day of Peace.
He disclosed that the agency in partnership with the media, stake holders and some non governmental organizations have substantially worked on the perceptions that used to ignite crises in the State, even at any slitest provocation.
“Government through this agency has initiated ways to forestal peace and we are taking mechanisms to strengthen the peace, but this is not enough for people to live under the illusions that peace has finally returned, progress is being recorded, but we are going round to deescalate tensions and making frantic efforts to avoid re-occurrences of any crisis in any form.
“We are pushing to beak the barriers and bring back the segregated communities together and build linkages.
” We commend the media for imvolving strongly in the post-violent, crisis management in the state. This synergy of pushing for peace is beginning to manifest by the peace we are enjoying now.
“We encourage people to pursue peace in a non violent manner, and this Plateau peace day, which commenced on Friday, 5th February, 2021 with Juma’at Prayers at the Jos central Mosque, is an avenue to reflect on the past, evaluate our present and chat a way forward.
“Prayers will also be held in churches this Sunday and his excellency, the executive governor of Plateau state and chairman, Nothern Governors’ Forum Rt. Hon. Bar. Simon Bako Lalong will on Monday engage stakeholders to design new agenda for the state.
”The event will be climaxed with the inauguration of an Inter-religious council to synergies with the peace building agency to find possible ways of bringing stable peace on the Plateau”.
It will recall that he Plateau state peace building agency was established five years ago by governor Lalong to ensure peaceful and harmonious coexistence among the people of the state, failure of the successful government to nip the ethno-religious violence to the bud.
Nasarawa Reporters 