Plateau state Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has appealed for
tolerance, forgiveness and peaceful coexistence among the people of
the state. Governor Lalong stated this in his remark at the investiture for
recipients of Papal Knights of St. Gregory the Great KSGG, Knights of
St Sylvester KSS and Papal medal lists held at the Divine Mercy
Cathedral Lamingo Jos held on Saturday 25th January.
Lalong
said People have been rebuilding confidence in the
State and returning to invest and settle here adding that there is
need to do all that is within our power to create an atmosphere of peace
for development to take place, stating that Plateau has emerged from the ashes of violence that
engulfed the state some years back.
He however said ” As a government, he will never allow anybody
to target its citizens or threaten them simply because they are
Christians or adherents of other faiths. Even if they have no religion,
they have the God-given right to existence and should not be threatened
by anybody.
In his words “Being a citizen of Plateau State is not a crime. According to him, some of the issues were given religious coloration
and deepened sentiments that polarized the state more, adding that they
need to be careful not to allow the gains that was recorded be in
vein. He went on that People have been rebuilding
confidence in our State and returning to invest and settle here. We have
to do all that is within our power to create an atmosphere of peace for
development to take place.”
” Similarly, the unfortunate developments relating to
kidnappings and executions that have affected some of our citizens in
the North East recently have been matters of great concern, We are
still mourning the latest ugly incident where a Student of the
University of Maiduguri, Mr. Ropyil Daciya Dalep was murdered by
terrorists calling themselves ISWAP.
Our sympathies go to the family of the deceased and all other
faithful departed. We pray that the Lord will comfort them and indeed
all of us over this tragedy.
” Barely a week earlier, we had rejoiced over the rescue of
another daughter of ours, Jennifer Ukambong Samuel who was equally
kidnapped by the terrorists.”
” Although those who are involved in this heinous crime input
religion as their motive and try to justify their evil acts as revenge
on Christians or Citizens of Plateau State, we know from their
antecedents that they are simply criminals who have sold themselves to
evil and are bent on dividing us.”
” As painful as these issue are, I will like to appeal to all
of us to unite in condemning their actions and also refusing to buy into
their ploy to trigger hatred based on religion or State of origin.”
” Let me assure you that we are working with the President and
security agencies to ensure that these incidences are addressed and our
citizens under captivity by terrorists, kidnappers, bandits or any other
criminals are released.”
” I appeal to us all to be vigilant, prayerful and guard our
communities against merchants of evil who always want to exploit
religion, tribe and politics for their crimes. Peace is all we need and
we must continue working for it.”
” We should equally exercise retrain in responding to these sad
developments so as not to inflame the situation and escalate it to
unfortunate violent levels.”
