FORGIVENESS IS NOT AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE WEAK GOV. LALONG

FORGIVENESS IS NOT AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE WEAK GOV. LALONG

SPEECH BY H.E. (DR) SIMON BAKO LALONG KSGG, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE ON THE OCCASION OF THE COMMEMORATION OF “FORGIVENESS DAY” IN PLATEAU STATE HELD ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022 AT THE PEACE AND FORGIVENESS GARDEN, JOS - PLATEAU STATE.

Protocol

1.     It is with a deep sense of gratitude to God Almighty that I address you on another special day, which we have set aside to drive the process of healing and reconciliation in our beloved State. Since we instituted the Forgiveness Day, our people have continued to embrace one another and work hard in putting the ugly events of the past behind them, thereby building a better society.

2.     We are therefore gathered here today to commemorate in sober reflection, a day which we have set apart from 2019 to take a retrospective view on our journey as a people, and to appraise the impact that the mistakes of the past have had on the very social fabric that binds us together. Our goal since coming to office has been to restore our State to its solid foundations of peace, justice, equality, tolerance and hospitality. This year’s team, “Forgiving the Past to Reconcile the Future” is very appropriate.

3.     There is no doubt that two decades of recurring violent conflicts in various parts of our State did unimaginable damage to our collective psyche and fractured age-long peaceful intra and inter group coexistence which stunted our development and growth. This resulted in deep seated level of mutual distrust, suspicion and hate that characterized social relations between people of different ethnoreligious groups across Plateau State.

 4.     It is in a bid to mitigate this situation that we set aside this day as a symbolic effort of using forgiveness, which is a very powerful tool in pulling down the walls of differences that we may have against one another. It is our firm belief that until and unless we learn to forgive, we may never really understand the blessings of God.

5.     I am personally convinced that “forgiveness” is not an attribute of the weak, but the very character of the strong who love God and are willing to walk in his ways. Forgiveness as a Godly virtue does not erase the hurt and pains we have inflicted on one another, but a tonic that is needed to take us to the future where we shall no longer loose loved ones and valuable property over issues we can sit together and resolve.

6.     As a Government, we are fully aware that it is within the power of individuals to choose to either forgive or not to forgive. But we also realize that we have a responsibility to show society the road that will take us to a better future.

 7.     We can either choose to live in hate and resentment, or to forgive the wrongs done to us in order to forge a new social compact that will guarantee a beautiful future for our children and generations unborn.

8.     I am happy that as we mark this year’s Forgiveness Day, there are very positive stories of achievements in the process of healing since we came into office in 2015. Having taken steps and developed mechanisms in the form of institutions that are working round the clock to ensure the return of peace to our dear State, many communities that were hot beds of crises are now calm and working together to forge a better condition.

9.     You will also recall that some Local Government Areas like Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Riyom and Jos North were hot-beds of ethno-religious crisis and violent attacks where precious human lives and property were lost. I am glad to say that as at today, we have restored some level of calm and peace in those areas while work is continuing to ensure that every remaining obstacle to peace is removed.

 

10.                This feat could not have been possible without the role of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, the Traditional Institution, Security Agencies, Civil Society, the citizens as well as other non-state actors who have continued to work tirelessly to rebuild the peace through trust and confidence building, dialogue, advocacy and community resilience.

11.                Despite the fact that we celebrate some modest achievements, we are however not living under the illusion that absolute Peace has returned to the State. As a Government, we are particularly mindful of the fragile nature of Peace in some parts of the State particularly Bassa LGA. We are also concerned about the activities of crises merchants who from time to time carry out isolated attacks on soft targets in some parts of the State.

12.                Notwithstanding, we are not resting on our oars to ensure that we explore the pathways that will lead to a lasting solution to the lingering security challenges in Bassa before the expiration of the tenure of our administration.

 

13.                For the avoidance of doubt, I have, at various times personally led a series of multi-level and multi-layered meetings with leaders of both Irigwe and Fulani communities towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.

14.                Similarly, the Plateau State Peace Building Agency has held, and is still facilitating a series of intra and inter-dialogues between the parties. The Plateau State Inter-Religious Council (IRC), made up of respected religious leaders is also facilitating mediation and dialogues in the troubled communities. The most recent is the intra-dialogue engagement between the IRC and Irigwe community that took place last Friday.

15.                This will be followed by another engagement between the IRC members and the Fulani community in the next few days. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it will interest you to know that the Irigwe and Fulani Internal Peace and Security Committee set up by the two communities will complete its assignment in the following weeks.

 16.                We believe the potential that the work of this committee holds is immense and will ultimately serve as a panacea to ending the protracted conflict and maybe serve as a good model for other communities in conflict.

17.                While these processes are ongoing, I have also directed the Plateau Peace Building Agency to design and implement a project that will help foster social cohesion and ensure the reintegration of our segregated communities in the State. They are expected to identify and map all conflict areas and especially communities that have been sacked due to attacks. Our administration remains committed to ensuring that displaced people return to their ancestral homes.

18.                that is why we signed into law the Anti-Land Grabbing Law to ensure that nobody claims the land of those who temporarily relocated from their ancestral lands due to insecurity. While we work to provide security for their safe return, I call on all citizens to take advantage of the Law to report anyone who seeks to claim their land.

The government will deal with such persons according to provisions of the law as they are the enemies of peace and the State.

19.                Let me use this opportunity to once again register our profound appreciation to the security agencies for supporting us in the process of reconciliation and healing in Plateau State. Their presence, proactive engagement and even advocacy have boosted our capacity to address lingering issues that could have triggered other crises in the State. They have remained professional and committed to performing their duty of confronting criminals and also providing a conducive environment for dialogue and reconciliation to take place.

20.                I also want to thank our Royal Fathers who have not only worked assiduously to maintain peace in their domains, but also engaged various stakeholders in preaching the message of forgiveness and reconciliation. Our religious leaders have also played a similar role by propagating the message of love and forgiveness to their followers.

 

These messages have also been amplified by the leaderships of the various Community Development Associations in the State thereby leading us to the level of stability attained today.

21.                May I use this occasion to specially appeal to the political class to tow the same line of the traditional, religious and community bodies by anchoring their political messages on love, peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. As the race towards the 2023 election intensifies, there is every need to exercise caution and responsibility in an attempt to get votes. Let us always remember that without peace, there will not even be elections or the positions we seek to occupy.

22.                Finally, I wish to again ask our citizens and the media to avoid the dissemination of messages that stir anger and incite the people to violence, revenge and unforgiveness. By using social or traditional media to spread hate speech, incitement and intolerance, we are further damaging the prospect of attaining a peaceful Plateau. We should always remember that we have a choice to think and act in a manner that will make us love one another and fight those who seek to divide us.    

23.  Plateau is ours to hold, nurture and develop. Only love and not hate can make us grow as a State. I wish us all a happy commemoration of the 2022 Forgiveness Day. God bless Plateau State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG

Executive Governor Plateau State.

7th February 2022.