The Youth Wing Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) in Plateau State have warned that Youths shall resist any attempt to disorganize Hon. Ayuba Abok led Plateau State House of Assembly following the recent turn of events in which the house called on more action on the part of the executives.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of YOWICAN Plateau State, Deacon Pharm. Markus Audu Kanda while addressing a world press conference on the Recent Massive Resurgence of Violent attacks and insecurity on the Plateau. Held at the Secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria, in Jos South on Wednesday 1st September.
Deacon Pharm. Markus Audu Kanda. said people of Plateau State, especially the Youths are unreservedly identifying with their representatives in the Plateau State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ayuba Abok and charge the Honourable members with the mandate of continuing to speak with one voice for the peace, well-being, good governance, protection and self-determination of the Plateau people.
He said “YOWICAN called on the attention of the Plateau State Government on any perceived impeachment of the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and intimidation of the Honourable members, by whatever means possible for the measures taken by the House under his leadership in the defence of the interest of Plateau people. Plateau Youths shall resist strongly any attempt to disorganize the Plateau House of Assembly. The faith-based youth group said it believes that the Governor means well for the people and will not allow himself dance a strange dance at a time the Plateau Spirit of Unity and brotherliness has been revived rather, being a former presiding officer of the same House a few years ago, he should understand and appreciate the place of checks and balances within the bounds of the law. Times of politicking and party cowardice has ended since election in 2019 and now is a crucial time to close all ranks and solidify good governance and the protection of the land irrespective of ethnic, religious or party affiliations.
He said “YOWICAN condemns the silent killings and mowing down of crops still on-going in the midst of the curfew imposed on Jos North, Jos South, and Bassa LGAs and calls on the government of Plateau State to consider and address the plight of the victims noting that their source of livelihood has been destroyed. We also call on the security agencies to double up their efforts in achieving total calm and through credible information gathering, arrests and prosecution should be done to bring perpetrators to answer for their crimes according to law. He further emphasized the need for security agencies to be responsive to every distress call, especially such confirmed dangers as delay in the face of such calls and attacks serve as a respite for the criminals and provide them ample opportunities of escape from the scene of attacks
He said “the group is calling for peace and calm on the Plateau especially given the recent resurgence of insecurity and unprovoked attacks on Plateau communities as well as the destruction of lives and properties of our people. “These attacks are highly condemnable and unacceptable by every human line of thought as no one has the right to take the life of another. We continue to call on all Plateau citizens to eschew violence and promote peaceful coexistence.”
“After the unfortunate incidences that bedevilled Plateau State in recent times, with particular reference to attacks on the Irigwe people in Miango villages in Bassa LGA, some commuters along Rukuba Road and the Anaguta people in Yelwa Zangam both in Jos North LGA (where a total of over 150 lives have been lost), the Plateau Legislators called on the Executive at all tiers of government- Federal, State and Local Governments to discharge their functions to ensure the security of lives and properties of her citizens as well as the defence of the land from Marauder’s and Jihadists who by all means have made frantic efforts to kill on and evict the people from their ancestral lands. It is natural to expect Government to be proactive in their response and to also be seen to be handling citizens fairly because no life is more superior to the other. We encourage a continuous synergy between the Executive and Legislative arms of government to be maintained and improved upon.”
Deacon Pharm. Markus, stated that YOWICAN has noted that the government of Plateau State under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Barr. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong has taken measures to address the ills bedevilling the people as beckoned by the Legislative Arm to visit the people of and victims in Yelwa Zangam. His instruction for the establishment of a Police Post and rehabilitation of the bridge linking the two communities of Yelwan Zangam and Kunga 1 as well as facilitating the burial of the deceased persons is hereby appreciated. The delivery of relief materials to the victims of the attacks and commitment to settling the medical bills of the victims in the hospitals among other things will greatly be appreciated. We hereby encourage the government to remain responsive to demands from it’s arms and the people and act swiftly when the need arises so that the confidence of the people on government will not decline beyond this low point. The government should replicate this gesture and good governance measures in all the troubled areas in Plateau State.
He said the government of Plateau ( all arms) in good synergy will always do great and achieve better things for the Plateau citizens as can be seen in the synergy between the Executive and Legislature in the establishment of Mobile Police Barracks in Shendam and Garshish, Air Force Base in Kerang, Peace Building Agency, Peace Watch Tower in Dutse Uku and Inter-Religious Council among others, aside Enacting the Anti Land Grabbing and Anti Kidnapping Laws including the Autonomy Laws to grant the arms of government full and independent expression of their statutory powers. We encourage this display of tact and understanding in governance for the greater interest of Plateau State.
The group went on to call on the state government to as a matter of urgency set up a committee (if that has not been done) to take stocks of the level of destruction of crops, lives and properties in all the troubled parts of Plateau especially Jos North, Jos South, Jos East, Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs in order to garner and provide adequate relief materials for the victims to prevent famine, hunger and starvation and to also reconstruct or renovate houses destroyed and ensure the victims are peacefully resettled in their communities with adequate security measures to forestall possible future attacks.
In this wise, we draw the government’s attention to the existence of illegal occupants of houses and properties in such communities as some marauders proceeded to occupying the lands and properties of their victims. This cannot be allowed to go unaddressed and unpunished under the extant laws. He said
The group said it was looking forward to seeing greater synergy in Plateau State at all levels of government and also from all and sundry as Peace is everybody’s business as citizens must be all be deliberate in partaking in the process – “everybody knows that anybody could do all the important things that somebody should do, everybody knows that anybody could do all the good things that nobody did”