Plateau: Let’s Keep The Peace

RAYMOND OISE-OGHAEDE

Sitting at the middle of the country’s landscape, Plateau State is endowed with lots of beautiful features such as the fascinating rock sceneries, uniquely pleasant weather conditions, varieties of fresh agricultural food products, divers ethnic groups, huge deposits of tin and other mineral resources and, the highly (but not fanatically) religious, industrious, and accommodating people to mention but a few.

I was privileged to have my first feel of the state in the late 80s as a student of the prestigious University of Jos. Though resident in the hostels, I capitalized on every opportunity to ‘enter town’ (the slang used then, when going outside the university environment for various and sundry reasons). These trips were made pleasurably easy and stress-free as a result of smooth flow of traffic and, the excitingly secured and friendly atmosphere. Therefore, it was not surprising that within a short while, I had visited almost every nook and cranny of the capital city of Jos. The experience was indeed very pleasant and it gave absolute credence to making reference to the state as, the ‘home of peace and tourism’. Little wonder, when, for some pressing reasons, I had to relocate to Lagos to continue my education, I left with sweet memories and, a resolve to return whenever destiny permits.

As providence would have it, I was posted back to the state for my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the early 90s where I served as a Protocol Officer in the Deputy Governor`s Office. This assignment afforded me the opportunity to travel to several other local government areas within the state (which included the present Nasarawa state). It was during this period that I had a better feel of the rich cultural values and, the highly hospitable and peaceful nature of the people. The love and care showered on us (I and two other corps members) by His Excellency and other workers in the office were second to none. In a matter of few days, I had bought into their various traditional delicacies/beverages and was home and dry with the people. There was no form of discrimination from any quarter and, this gave me the impetus to put in my very best to serving the state and the nation.

Consequently, I went beyond the scope of my primary assignment to embarking on self sponsored Youth Enlightenment Campaigns with several published articles on various national issues. I also carried out One-Man Demonstrations/Road Shows (with adequate media coverage) to sensitize the people on the need for free and fair elections (in the days preceding June 12, 1993 elections) and, to disabuse their minds from resulting to violence as a results of its annulment. It is important to mention that many lives (including those of some corps members) were lost to road accidents as a result of people embarking on impromptu and panicky migration across the country for fear of the unknown. At the end of the day, Plateau maintained its peace and remained ‘home away from home’ to other ethnic nationalities.

Today, some unscrupulous elements and enemies of peace and harmony are trying to destroy this laudable reputation by the spate of recent wanton destruction of lives and properties in some parts of the state. This review will deliberately not make references to any particular incident in order not to open fresh wounds and bring sad memories to the fore. Its main objective is to sensitize the people on the need to put hands together to forestall the evil trend. In as much as it is true and normal for divergent human interests to sometimes come into conflict and breed misunderstandings/disputes, the people had always found amicable ways of settling their differences and moving on with life. However, when those that had peacefully and harmoniously lived together for decades now resorted to killing one another as the only solution to their challenges, it then becomes very worrisome and saddening. Logically, it means that these crises go beyond the ordinary and, there are more to them than meet the eyes.

From whichever angle we look at it, this shows that, the people are gradually losing the spirit and heart of tolerating one another. It means that the activities and utterances of hatred by some bad eggs in our societies are systematically sowing seeds of discord in the minds of the people. Instead of the usual bond of love, they have begun to see themselves as incompatibly divided along ethnic and religious lines. Ordinarily, religion and ethnicity are very important components which ought to boost moral uprightness, socio-political co-operation and economic advancements in the society; but the unpatriotic elements have converted them to readily available tools for tearing the people apart.

Though, these skirmishes are not peculiar to any one particular community or state; the enemies are gradually and strategically shifting their evil acts to the center with the aim that, it would be easier to spread to other parts of the country. These happenings should be a cause of concern to all patriotic citizens because, the seemingly `minor communal clashes` could lead to total breakdown of law and order if handled with kid gloves. Therefore, the strong directives of Mr. President to security agencies and the efforts of the state government towards ensuring that the menace are put under checks are on point/commendable and deserved the support of all and sundry.

Consequent upon the aforementioned, I would implore the relevant, arms of the law to embark on thorough investigations and intelligence gathering towards getting to the root causes of these problems. The masterminds and perpetrators must be fished out to face the full wrath of the law and to serve as deterrent to others.

All well meaning people should use every available avenue to disabusing the minds of the people from embracing the negativities of religion and tribal ethnocentrism. We must learn to tolerate one another and be our brothers` keepers.  This would make it so difficult, if not impossible, for the enemies to penetrate and cause disharmony amongst us. In view of this understanding, our Religious/ Traditional/Community leaders should always drum it into the ears of their followers and subjects to always see and treat people of different affiliations as one.

Though Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the, Right to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof; we should always have it in mind that the beliefs and socio-cultural and economic values of the host communities must be accorded all due respect and, this should equally be reciprocated by the later. No person or group of persons should take the sanctity and rights of others for granted.

Corps members should take it as a form of national obligation to continuously educate and sensitize the people in their areas of primary assignments on the need to see themselves as brothers regardless of tribal and religious differences.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other relevant bodies should embark on enlightenment campaigns at the grassroots level to purge the minds of the youths from societal vices and to promote unity amongst them.

Also, in view of the effectiveness of social media in information dissemination, Nigerians should form the habit of using their platforms to promoting peace and unity in the country and adding value to the lives of the people rather than spreading calumny and hatred.

Finally, all hands must be on deck to supporting the government in saying `NO` to the enemies of progress and `KEEPING THE PEACE` in Plateau and the nation.

Raymond Oise-Oghaede is a Public Policy Analyst and commentator. He writes from Surulere, Lagos. He can be reached on 08023116867, 08099405562.