Plateau Governor Calls for Unity in Fight Against Insecurity 

The governor made the appeal at the Thanksgiving Service in honour of the immediate past Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly, Mr Abok Ayuba, on Sunday in Jos, the State capital.

This was contained in a statement issued by Gyang Bere, the governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA).

Mutfwang, who decried the spate of killings and wanton destruction of farmlands and other properties in some communities in the State, called on the people to unite, irrespective of tribe or religion to defend the State against its common enemies.

“It is time for Plateau people to unite on a common front in preserving the State.

“We must forget the mistakes of the past where various ethnic groups were left alone to confront calamities that befell their communities.

“It is not time to be careless but a time for us to unite as a people and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with one another.

“This land that God has given us is for a purpose and we must do all within our powers to preserve it for oursleves and generation yet unborn.

“We will prosper in the land that God has given us and we should continue to pray; but just as the Bible says, we should watch while we pray,” he said.

The governor, thanked the former speaker for organizing the thanksgiving, adding that it had availed the people of the opportunity to pray for peaceful coexistence in the State.

Mutfwang, who described Ayuba as a dogged, committed, courageous and resilient young man, called on the citizens to support government’s efforts toward addressing the security challenges currently facing the State.

“I am confident that God will grant us victory over those that trouble us, and Plateau will prosper again.

“I thank you all for your prayers, encouragement and for standing with us in this difficult moment, but I am confident that God will not allow Plateau to be destroyed,” the governor said.

Earlier, the former Speaker, who is currently the Special Adviser on Legislative Matters to the governor, said the thanksgiving was organized to appreciate God’s favours in his life.

“My family and I have come to show gratitude to God for finding me worthy to serve Plateau in the capacity of Speaker.

“Without God, I would have been consumed by a myriad of challenges.

“As Speaker, I took decisions in the interest of Plateau, but I plead for forgiveness wherever I stepped on toes of others; it was not deliberate,”he said.

In a sermon, Rev. Obed Dashan encouraged Plateau people to put their trust in God and pray ceaselessly for lasting peace to return to all parts of the State.

The governor was accompanied to the event by his deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo; his wife, Helen Mutfwang; and other top government officials.

The Agwom Izere, Da Isaac Wakili, other traditional rulers and religious leaders in the State also attended the event.