Isaac Shobayo, Author at Tribune Online

The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has stated that the clamour for partitioning of communities according to ethno-religious alignment is a recipe for disaster. Abubakar, in his opening remarks at the stakeholders engagement with the traditional rulers, religious leaders, and opinion leaders from Barakin-Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos, and Mangu areas of Plateau State at the auditorium of the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, 3rd Division Nigerian Army, said the Federal Government will not entertain such a demand capable of causing division and disaffection among Nigerians. "Therefore, living together is not an option but an obligation. This is evident in Mr President's firm resolve to fight any secessionist agenda in any part of the country. This meeting of stakeholders is therefore intended to de-escalate tension and prevent a spillover of the current situation in parts of Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Riyom LGAs into other parts of the state. "We all need to understand that if peace is not achieved, the resettlement programme of the state government would not yield a positive result and will further worsen the socio-economic condition of the state," he said. He pointed out that all the security challenges are lingering because of negligence by some leaders who have refused to live up to their responsibilities, adding that they need not be reminded of their critical role as stakeholders in ensuring peace and stability in your various communities and the entire Plateau State as well as the nation in general. The Minister of Defence therefore charged the stakeholders and community leaders to continue to engage the youth in their communities and urge them to desist from any action that impedes the peaceful coexistence of their communities. "We are all aware of the causes of the crisis in the state: farm destruction, night grazing, underage grazing, cattle rustling, and cow poisoning. All peace-loving persons therefore must cease from these activities so that lasting peace could return. There is a need for you to impress on your subjects to remain calm and eschew violence in any form. "There is no difference or disagreement that can not be resolved with sincerity and diplomacy on the part of all the stakeholders leading the process of conflict resolution. There is also a need for all the stakeholders to shift grounds for peace to return in order for socio-economic activities to thrive for the common wellbeing of your communities.". Abubakar equally mentioned that the perpetrators of these acts are pure criminals exploiting the situation to pursue their selfish interests and benefit from the crisis by giving an ethnoreligious connotation to the situation. "We must therefore do all we can in order not to fall prey to the antics of unscrupulous persons. This can only lead to further attacks and reprisals, which would only bring about more loss and misery to our communities. It is well known that nobody can put his house on fire and go to sleep in that house. "It is also common knowledge that some herders who left Plateau State at the height of cattle rustling activities are beginning to return and have vowed to resist cattle rustling activities using every means available to them. In this regard, I admonish their leaders to talk to yourselves to shun violence and embrace peace because further attacks will only bring about more casualties." ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE We supply 24-hour electricity to Togo, Benin, Niger — TCN No appointment of acting COAS — DHQ Expert warns against makeshift CNG kits’ installation Why Tinubu, Shettima’s simultaneous foreign trip worrisome — Peter Obi UPDATED: Akpabio’s impeachment rumour unacceptable, unspeakable — Senate spokesperson No vacuum in governance with Tinubu, Shettima outside Nigeria — Presidency