Jos–Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang has called on residents of the state irrespective of tribe and religion to embrace peace during and after the elections stressing the future of Nigeria depended largely on peace between Muslims and Christians in the country.

Jang spoke in Jos on the occasion of the Inter-faith dialogue organized by the Institute of Governance and Social Research, IGSR where religious, community and political leaders as well as other stakeholders were sensitized on the need to keep the peace in the state.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Mr. Samuel Kwamkur, he further urged residents not to give room for any electoral violence in the state again.

Jos–Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang has called on residents of the state irrespective of tribe and religion to embrace peace during and after the elections stressing the future of Nigeria depended largely on peace between Muslims and Christians in the country.

Jang spoke in Jos on the occasion of the Inter-faith dialogue organized by the Institute of Governance and Social Research, IGSR where religious, community and political leaders as well as other stakeholders were sensitized on the need to keep the peace in the state.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Mr. Samuel Kwamkur, he further urged residents not to give room for any electoral violence in the state again.

His words, “Christians and Muslims make up 90 percent of Nigeria’s population hence violent conflicts between groups of every description are usually termed as religious. The future of Nigeria depends largely on peace between Muslims and Christians.

“We should pause and ask ourselves why have elections been the triggers of violent conflicts in the country. Why have religions that preach peace become the weapons for war? Why are places of worship and innocent people always the victims?

“There is no doubt that religion has suffered abuse in Jos; peace in Plateau is about different religions working together. In order to bring peace, there must be mutual respect among the different religious groups.”

Earlier, the President of IGSR, Prof. Isawa Elaigwu represented by Mr. Celestine Ukatu noted that the signals emanating from politicians indicate a violent build-up which if not contained may have a serious socio-economic consequences for the state.

Ukatu urged the people to establish framework for constant dialogue and understanding and address issues amicably so that democracy would not be seen as producing more violent conflicts than generating peace.

… As Dubem Onyia appeals for calm

Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dubem Onyia has appealed for calm and decorum in the run-up to the 2015 general elections, saying that the elections should not be about President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP or General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but about Nigeria.

Onyia said majority of those who fought for the liberation of Nigeria from the shackles of military dictatorship and later congregated into the PDP were now scattered in both the APC and PDP, adding that members of the two parties were brothers and sisters who should eschew violence in the quest for power.

He spoke yesterday ahead of the elections and advised politicians and their followers to show maturity in their conduct so as to ensure peaceful polls, whereby “the winner will be magnanimous enough to accommodate the loser and the loser humble enough to accept defeat and congratulate the winner.”

He said the collateral damage the current tension in the country would bring was better imagined than experienced.

On the clamour to shift the polls, Onyia warned that the 2015 elections should not be shifted for whatever reasons adding that no democrat will ever support a shift of the goal post at the middle of any match be it football or political.

“We must keep moving and ensure that we sustain this fragile democracy, we should also learn to put our fatherland first; we don’t want bloodshed. We should emulate Ghana where I have gone severally to observe their elections under the instrumentality of the ECOWAS Commission,” he added.

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Embrace Peace, Jang Tells Plateau Residents