Worried by the escalation of violence in Plateau State especially after the burning of President Goodluck Jonathan campaign buses in Jos suburb, two leading governorship candidates in the February election, the Peoples Democratic Party’s Gyang Pwajok and his counterpart in the All Progressives Congress, Simon Lalong, on Wednesday signed a deal to maintain peace before, during and after the elections.
The deal, which was also signed by leaders of all the religious groups and ethnic associations in the crisis-prone state, was brokered by the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, under the Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace Centre, a peace advocacy initiative established by the archdiocese.
Apart from the PDP and the APC leaders, the pact was also signed by the leaders of Igbo community, Eze Igbo, Prof. J.E.C. Obilom; Chief Imam of Jos Central Mosque, Sheikh Balarabe Dawud; Archbishop Kaigama; INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Godwin Kwanga; leaders of Berom, Hausa, Afizere and Fulani communities; representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria, JNI, JIBWIS, and other interest groups and non-governmental organisations.
Part of the peace deal read, “We do solemnly swear and promise that we will not do anything to compromise the peace we are enjoying now in Plateau State and urge that politics of bitterness and hostile confrontation be replaced by politics of maturity through dialogue, peaceful campaigns and encounters. God help Plateau State and Nigeria to go through the state and national elections this year without tears, violence or inter and intra-political hostility.”
Speaking before the signing of the deal, Kaigama expressed regret that politicians had not learnt from the mistakes of the past, especially the post-election riots that led to the loss of lives and property after the 2011 general elections.
He said that the Centre had to take the initiative because “Jos is a miniature Nigeria and anything that happens in the state resonates in other parts of the country.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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