Simon Lalong and the Price of Peace on the Plateau

Before the advent of the new millennium, Plateau State lived up to its slogan “Home of Peace and Tourism” as many tourists thronged the north central state of Nigeria to behold and be bewildered by the beautiful sites nature has bestowed on the highly endowed state. From the captivating sceneries of smoking mountains that seem […]

Before the advent of the new millennium, Plateau State lived up to its slogan “Home of Peace and Tourism” as many tourists thronged the north central state of Nigeria to behold and be bewildered by the beautiful sites nature has bestowed on the highly endowed state.

From the captivating sceneries of smoking mountains that seem to always shake hands with the skies, the ever clement weather of Jos, the Shere Hills, Riyom Rock, Pandam Game Reserve and Lake, Kahwang Rock Formation, Miango Rest House, the National Museum, the Jos Zoologica Garden, Wildlife Safari Park, the Assop Falls, the Kurra Falls, Wase Rock, to the Panyam Fish Farm etc, Plateau State served as a hub for both local and foreign tourists thereby serving as a major foreign exchange earner for both state and country.

This was also made possible by the peace and tranquility that enveloped the state in loud whispers despite the extensive diverse ethnic and religious groups living there.

Of course, it is a known fact that tourism can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace as no investor or holiday maker would want to have anything to do with an environment characterized by rancour and hostilities, hence, the thriving of the tourism industry in Plateau State, and the ranking of the Tin City as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

However, with the advent of the new millennium came new challenges that saw the fortunes of Plateau State and its good people decline rapidly. The influx of people into the State, especially Jos, from different parts of the country in search of job and other socio-economic opportunities had caused a swell in population and also a groundswell of tensions between the peoples of diverse cultures and religions.

In Jos, between September 7 and 17, 2001, there were violent clashes between rival groups, and by the time the dust settled, 1,000 people had lost their lives.

Also, in 2004, in the Yelwa area of the State, inter-ethno-religious massacres that happened on February 24, May 2 and 3, 2004, left another about 1,000 people dead.

The Jos riots of 2008 left about 760 people dead and another 10,000 displaced. The story of the 2010 riots in the state’s capital city is not different as about 1,000 people were said to have also lost their lives in that social conflagration.

Since then, the State had lived on edge and in fear that similar crises could erupt at any time especially with the marauding Fulani herdsmen going about the length and breadth of this country and serially accused of wreaking havoc on citizens.

However, in a recent visit to Jos, it was observed that the city has returned fully to its glory days of peace and hospitality. Sight of people going about their normal businesses and children running to and fro in play are pointers to the fact that Plateau State is living up to its name once again.

On a visit to Yelwa, hordes of Muslims were seen heading towards their mosque for a Friday Juma’at prayers, walking briskly and freely among their Christian neighbours through the market without any sign that these two groups of different adherents had had some very bitter past in that same locality.

On enquiry, it was discovered that the current executive governor of the state, Simon Lalong, had taken deliberate, measured and painstaking efforts to permanently exterminate occurrences of upheavals in the state. This he has done by putting in a lot of measures which include the establishment of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, one of its kind in Nigeria, headed by a young and vibrant man, Joseph Lengmang.

The duties of this all-important agency as it concerns Plateau State is so important to the governor that the agency is placed under the direct supervision of the Office of the Executive Governor.

This agency has been equipped to detect early warning signs of conflicts among the people living and doing business in Plateau State, and nip such in the bud before it escalates. As a result of these efforts, Plateau State has not witnessed any crisis in the State since the assumption of office of Rt Hon Simon Bako Lalong as the executive governor of the State.

Based on the foregoing, many of the companies that had hitherto gone moribund are now receiving attention from the private sector who are thronging the state to take advantage of the peaceful situation in the state to invest their resources for maximum returns.

This has led to the revival of the comatose fertilizer processing plant at Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, operated by Bejafta Fertilizer in partnership with the state government.

Similarly, the Bottling Company at Barkin Ladi which had also gone under over the years has been revived by Highland Bottling Company Ltd also in partnership with the Plateau State government.

All these have also created thousands of job opportunities for the people of the State both directly and indirectly.
The case is not different with the education sector as the Plateau State University, Bokkos, which did not operate at all for a long time, has not only reopened but has also had its infrastructural facilities built and upgraded to that of a world class institution, thereby giving the students a new sense of pride and a very conducive atmosphere for learning.

All these and many more have been made possible by the current governor’s deliberately carved out vision of his “Rescue Mission” plans to redeem the formerly sinking ship of the State. The “Rescue Mission” which has peace building and sustainability as one of its foremost cardinal agenda, has succeeded largely in bringing a people who had been enmeshed in bitter rivalry over the years together for the benefit of the State and her people. Thanks to the governor.

To continue to sustain the peace Plateau State is currently enjoying under the current governor, and its attendant immense benefits to the state, the people would have to close ranks, support and cooperate with Simon Lalong, the governor in ensuring that his government not only succeeds but also leaves lasting legacies for posterity to inherit.

This is the least the people owe a man God has given them to lead them to their Canaan Land flowing with milk and honey!
 

Nduka writes from Jos