Martha Azi
Jos – Rep. Johnbull Shekarau, an aspirant to the Plateau governorship seat, says reconciling warring communities remains the only way to achieve lasting peace in the state.
Shekarau, who represents Shendam/Quan-Pan/Mikang federal constituency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Monday that reconciliation would foster mutual trust and breed confidence.
“Reconciliation will restore the togetherness and love that kept the people as one in the past. It is the only key to mutual acceptability,” Shekarau, who is seeking the PDP governorship ticket, said.
Shekarau promised to reconcile all warring groups when elected governor, saying that he would initiate a forum where each group shall state its grievances toward seeking solutions.
He regretted that the current government had politicised security issues, and blamed such posture for the incessant killings.
“The current government doesn’t seem to understand the issues; they merely use the security issue to play politics which is very dangerous.
“How can you preach peace when you have not reconciled those at war? How can the warring groups trust each other when they have not actually spoken with each other?
“If we are going to encourage people to live together, we must spell out the conditions for such peaceful co-existence,” he opined.
Shekarau said that security was a very dynamic issue requiring round-the-clock attention, and promised to make it his priority.
The lawmaker, however, promised to remain in power “for just one term”, adding that he would run an all- inclusive government.
He also promised to pay special attention to key sectors like education, agriculture, tourism and mining, and described the quartet as “very crucial to Plateau’s economic growth”.
(NAN)