By Joyce Babayeju
The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has said that his government would ensure the protection of lives and properties .
He disclosed this during the 3rd Plateau State day of forgiveness Interdenominational Service at the Archdiocese of St. Louis Catholic Church Jos.
Governor Lalong informed that his administration has made peace and security the top most priority of its agenda. In his words, “peace is the pillar on which every other thing is built”.
He explained that development cannot be achieved in any society without forgiveness and reconciliation. According to him, “we do not try to trivialise the injury, pains and trauma our citizens have undergone as a result of crisis.
We take responsibility for the mistakes of the past and we are ready to chart a new course”. He added.
He further explained that the Plateau State Peace Agency has held over eighty seven multi level dialogue sessions with conflict parties across seventeen local governments of the state with the aim of promoting the culture of peace through forgiveness and reconciliation. In his words, ” this has led to peace agreements between various conflict parties and communities in the last five years”.
Lalong urged citizens to apply caution to their public utterances with negative views which can lead to the destruction of lives and properties. According to him,” let us avoid the propagation of hate and dangerous speeches that frustrates dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation that can endanger peace and security”.
He said that the state would be inaugurating an inter religious Council which comprises of religious leaders and experts in the field of conflict resolution and peace building. In his words, “this is our demonstration in restoring the broken social vices of our society”.
Governor Lalong admonished the people of the state to forgive one another and love should be their guiding principle. ” offences and differences are bound to occur whenever people of diverse ideas come together”.
In his sermon, the Archbishop of Plateau State Archdioceses, Archbishop Mathew Audu enjoined Christians in the State to embrace peace and shun violence.
He stressed that forgiveness and reconciliation is an injunction to all Christians and urged them not to harbour offences in their hearts. In his words ” forgiveness frees both the offender and the offended, forgiveness is unconditional”.
Also in his good will message, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission called on the Christians in Plateau State to lay every burden and offences at the feet of calvary. In his words, “Jesus Christ is the only one who can enable us to look beyond our hurts and pains and to forgive ourselves”.
The NCPC boss stressed that Plateau State is a land of prestigious values”. He urged Christians to imbibe this values and learn to tolerate each other so that peace can reign in the land. According to him, ” let us forgive ourselves, let us keep the spirit of forgiveness and work together”.
