Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has asked the people of Plateau State to take advantage of
the Anti-Land Grabbing Law signed early this year and seek redress over any land forcefully or illegally taken from them.
This is even as the Governor says he will soon inaugurate an Anti-land
Grabbing Task Force to also follow up on such complaints and ensure that
justice prevails.
Governor Lalong was speaking at the inauguration of the new leadership
of the Plateau Youth Council (PYC) at the Azi Nyako Youth Centre in Dadin Kowa
Jos, where he charged the leadership of the youth body to work for greater
peace and security of Plateau State.
Lalong decried the exploitation of the youths by some unscrupulous
politicians who stop at nothing to spread lies against his administration using
such false narratives relating to land and other matters.
He said “Contrary to this mischief, our Government is the first in the
history of Plateau State and one of the few, if not the only one in Nigeria to
sign anti-land grabbing law which we initiated as an Executive Bill. To date,
no one has either approached the Courts to lodge any complaint of land grabbing
or even sent a petition to me. Yet you hear this narrative being spread like
wildfire. Similarly, our efforts to end conflicts between farmers and farmers
are being ignored and twisted for politics. We established the Peace Building
Agency, which has conducted series of dialogue sessions across the State. In
Bassa alone, there have been more than 34 sessions. We succeeded in bringing
Berom and Fulani together in Barkin Ladi and they reached an agreement on how
to live in peace”.
The Governor, therefore, charged the youths to shun being used by
unpatriotic elements who take joy in creating disharmony, and rancour in the
State just to have political relevance.
“I appeal to you to ignore and reject such character assassination
ploys by those who want to use you to achieve their selfish agenda. Beware of
politicians who do not have anything to offer to you except to cook up lies and
pull down others under the guise of standing with the people. Let them tell you
what they are bringing or have brought to the table when they were in office”
he said.
He congratulated the new leadership of the youths for their election
and urged them to continue to support the Government as it works towards
improving the lot of the youths and creating job opportunities.
New Chairman of the Plateau Youth Council, Comrade Lot Sunday Adas
said the youths in Plateau must rise up and show their readiness and commitment
to pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend,
oppose any foe, to assure the survival, progress and success as all citizens of
the State irrespective of their backgrounds.
He also promised to work with the Government in ensuring that the
youths get empowerment and job creation opportunities.
Commissioner for Youths and Sports Victor Lapang, immediate PYC
Chairman, Dr. Fabong Jemchang thanked the Governor for his youth-friendly
disposition and asked him to continuously open doors of opportunities to the
youths.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the
Governor of Plateau State.
9th September 2021
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