SPEECH DELIVERED BY
H.E. RT. HON. (DR.) SIMON BAKO LALONG, KSSG, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU
STATE ON THE OCCASION OF THE COMMEMORATION OF “PLATEAU FORGIVENESS DAY” 2021
& INAUGURATION OF THE INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL HELD AT THE VICTORIA GOWON HALL,
NEW GOVERNMENT HOUSE LITTLE RAYFIELD JOS ON 8TH FEBRUARY 2021.
PROTOCOL
1. I am delighted to
welcome you all to yet another historic day in our quest to foster a new future
for our State as we solidify a new narrative that advances a new paradigm shift
in addressing the numerous wrongs of the past.
2. As a State emerging
from the ashes of violence, our Rescue Administration decided to set aside
February 7 of every year as Forgiveness Day. This day reminds us to imbibe and
promote the culture of forgiveness as enunciated in the Holy Books. The
cardinal objective of this day is to achieve enduring peace and harmony as
opposed to hate, bitterness, resentment and vengeance which only leads to a
vicious cycle of violence.
3. On Friday last
week, our Muslim brothers and sisters converged on various mosques to pray and
emphasize the need for forgiveness. Yesterday, Christian faithful also offered
similar prayers in churches with the Catholic Arch Bishop of Jos His Grace
Mathew Ishaya Audu celebrating a mass at the Saint Louis Church to commemorate
the day.
4. When we first
commemorated this day in 2019, I submitted that if we imbibed forgiveness, it
will eclipse and bury all the wrongs of the past and move us to a new dawn by
restoring confidence in our future and ensuring that generations unborn do not
repeat our mistakes.
5. Let me reiterate
that the idea behind the Forgiveness Day is for us to reflect on where we have
been; the human tragedy that befell us; the need to appreciate our present
situation; and our resolve to craft the kind of a peaceful and secure society
we desire.
6. My administration
clearly understands that many of our people have been hurt and could have also
caused pain for others. Many cannot seem to erase the hurt from their mental
hard drive and continue to harbour bitterness, resentment, and anger.
7. The choice before
us is to either continue in our anger thus spending the rest of our lives in
pain and bitterness, or we can choose to be released, healed, and be set free.
That is where forgiveness becomes inevitable.
8. Of course,
propagating forgiveness in a society such as ours can be associated with
misunderstandings and misconceptions. Definitions of forgiveness may differ
depending on which divide one is standing. However, the outcome of forgiveness
can easily unite people and benefit everyone.
9. Forgiveness does
not connote weakness, tolerance for injustice or excusing evil. Forgiveness
does not also mean that the act committed does not matter nor does it suggest
that the offender should not bear the consequences of his actions. Indeed, such
a person should be held accountable to serve as deterrence.
10. At the risk of
being misunderstood or even misrepresented, I am confident to tell you that
forgiveness is not justice. While justice usually involves the acknowledgment
of an evil deed, an apology, and some form of reward or punishment, forgiveness
can take place regardless of whether justice is served or not.
11. In the same vein,
forgiveness does not automatically translate to trust. On the contrary, while
forgiveness is something that should be freely given, trust however must be
earned through consistent truth-telling and dialogue over a period of
time.
12. As a Governor who
wishes to be remembered as a peacemaker long after I leave office, the approach
of my administration is to pursue Restorative Justice side by side with
Retributive Justice in order to right the wrongs of the past.
13. In this regard, we
have taken several policy steps to mitigate the risk of a return to violent
conflicts as well as tackle the growing wave of criminality in our State. Apart
from setting up the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, we have strengthened
Operation Rainbow and reviewed the criminal administration law.
14. Last year, I
signed into law the Bill on Kidnapping, land grabbing, cultism and other
related violent crimes to ensure that criminals are not left unpunished.
Indeed, our determination to arrest and prosecute criminals and trouble makers
in the state remains unwavering.
15. The Plateau State
Peace Building Agency on the other hand has been working assiduously to
entrench the ideals of sustainable Peace through dialogue, advocacy and
strategic engagements with a wide range of stakeholders at the State and
community levels.
16. This is why the
Plateau Peace Agency has held over 87 multi-level dialogue sessions and more
than 40 outreaches across 17 Local Governments of the State in order to promote
the culture of Peace among communities that had once fought each other.
17. Despite the
efforts and modest successes recorded at stemming the tide of ethno-religious
violence, Plateau State is still in dire need of healing. Our people have
remained somewhat divided along ethno-religious or tribal lines due largely to
the experiences of yesterday. Yet, we have a golden opportunity to open a new
leaf by consolidating on the gains of our efforts within the last six
years.
18. While we cannot
claim that all issues in the heart of the crises have been resolved, we have in
our hands the tools that can help midwife the rebirth of a new and united
Plateau that is at Peace with itself and neighbours.
19. The stakes are
quite high and the need to work in concert through the forging of robust
alliances has never been this urgent. The age-old maxim says we either
work together as a united front to win or we perish as fools. We have no reason
to choose anything below peace.
20. That is why today
we are inaugurating the reconstituted Plateau State Inter-religious Council, a
body made up of highly respected religious leaders and experts in the field of
conflict mediation and peace building.
21. The inauguration
of this non-partisan body is a further demonstration of our administration’s
commitment to repairing the broken social fabric of our society through the
provision of a structured platform for religious, community, youth and women
leaders to play active roles in fostering mutual understanding and cooperation
between citizens regardless of ethnic and religious differences.
22. It is expected
that working closely with the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, the State
Inter-religious Council will critically think through issues and build
consensus on challenges that threaten freedom, tolerance and peace.
23. The Council will
adopt a flexible and confidential format in which even controversial issues can
be discussed; assumptions tested and ideas generated. Through joint analysis
and structured interfaith dialogue, voices from divergent communities can come
up with new ideas and approaches that will help enhance resilience and social
cohesion.
24. In addition, I
hope this platform provides a channel through which religious leaders can offer
honest, non-partisan and informed counsel on critical matters and present their
recommendations to government and other policy makers at all levels.
25. I will like to
thank the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Inter-religious Council Rev. Prof.
Pandang Yamsat, former COCIN President and His Royal Highness Alh. Sambo
Mohammed III, Emir of Wase and Chairman JNI, Plateau State and other members
for accepting to serve. All Members of the Council have been carefully chosen
based on their track record of integrity, honesty, peace drive and
patriotism.
26. The State
Inter-religious Council is to be guided by the following terms of reference:
1. Promote the culture
of interfaith Dialogue as a viable mechanism for peaceful co-existence, understanding
and religious tolerance in Plateau state.
2. To work with
different faith communities and other organizations that work across faith
lines to expand respect for religious pluralism and freedom of religion or
belief in Plateau state.
3. To offer advisory
services to the State Government on matters of religious practice.
4. To deliberate on
reported cases of religious conflicts and proffer urgent solutions for
government’s intervention.
5. To work closely
with relevant agencies of government to improve social cohesion as well as
promote the agenda of Peace on the Plateau through healing, forgiveness and
reconciliation.
27. The Interreligious
Council will also play an Advisory Role to the Peace Building Agency while the
Coordinating Secretariat is to be headed by the Director General of the Agency
Mr. Joseph Lengmang alongside the following:
1. Barr. Auwal
Abdullahi
2. Rev. Gideon
Para-Mallam
3. Rev. Fr. Blaise
Agwom
4. Hon. Ahmed Muhammad
Nazif
28. My expectation is
that through the work of this council, our citizens would learn to listen to
each other, understand one another, forgive, tolerate and above all, have
respect for the diverse religious and social beliefs that exist in our
society.
29. As I conclude, I
am directing the Council to support the Peace Building Agency in finding a
lasting solution to renewed herder-farmers clashes in some parts of the State
such as Bassa where from last week till yesterday night, we have reports that
people have been killed in attacks and reprisals.
30. I have already
directed security agencies to go after those behind the acts and bring them to
justice. This must stop.
31. May God give us
the grace to be our brother’s keepers, forgive and live in peace with one
another.
[MEMBERS RISE TO BE
INAUGURATED]
32. It is now my
singular honour to inaugurate you as members of the Plateau State
Inter-religious Council to the Glory of God and for the peace, unity and
progress of Plateau State.
33. God
bless Plateau State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon
Bako Lalong, KSGG,
Executive Governor,
Plateau State.
8th February 2021.
