The Plateau state government has appealed to youths planning to stage a protest on Monday 13th June 2016, regarding the planned grazing policy in Plateau to consider shelving it.

In an 340 worded appeal to the youth on social media, Mr. Joseph Lengmang, the Director General of the  Plateau State Peace Building Agency – heartily requested that the youth abandon plans to stage the protest because of rising tension in the state.

He argued that rather than organising a protest, the youth should consider continuing to dialogue, whilst engaging in meaningful debate as a means of arriving at workable solutions. He said already, his bureau were planning to commence wide engagement with stakeholders in the coming weeks, as a means of educating and sensitizing them about the benefits of the grazing policy – the statement read

“The Peace Building Agency will in the following days organize and facilitate series of activities and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders across our state.This engagement is aimed at educating and sensitizing the general public on the choice, context, nature and implications of the ranching policy with regards to peace as well as the prospects of economic empowerment that the policy holds to a vast majority of our citizens”.

Full text of his communique is found below:

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The Plateau State Peace Building Agency is concerned by the growing tension arising from the discourse on the planned creation of ranches in Langtang North and Mikang LGA’s of Plateau State.

Even more worrying is the highly emotive dimension to which both opponents and supporters of the ranching pilot scheme have approached the matter. Any further escalation of this growing tension might end up jeopardizing the gains of the relative Peace that currently pervades our landscape.

Although it is within the limits of our democratic rights to agree and disagree with such a policy yet, it is equally imperative that we do not allow our disagreements to degenerate into chaos or violence.
Therefore, the planned protest by those who oppose and support the ranching policy in Plateau state at this early stage of the debate is uncalled for and totally unnecessary.

What is rather more important is that we continue to dialogue with one another in a civil and respectful manner with a view to build consensus over a matter that not only speaks to our unity, but responds to the challenges of peace and security.

The Peace Building Agency will in the following days organize and facilitate series of activities and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders across our state.This engagement is aimed at educating and sensitizing the general public on the choice, context, nature and implications of the ranching policy with regards to peace as well as the prospects of economic empowerment that the policy holds to a vast majority of our citizens.

We all have a stake in the on-going Peace Building process. Therefore, we must not allow our emotions to hold a better part of us to the extent that our efforts to sustain the Peace is either threatened or undermined.

We set a limit to our options when we fail to listen to one another. Yet, tackling the risk of a return to violent conflict can only be achieved through effective mediation, understanding and above all, Dialogue.

Let’s give Peace a chance.

The statement was signed by Joseph Lengmang

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Grazing Policy Protest: PLSG appeals to youths to shelve protest plans