Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, the newly inaugurate a Governor of Plateau State said the ethno-religious crises bedevilling the state have bred hated, mutual suspicion and misplaced anger on innocent passersby and reprisal attacks among the locals.
He disclosed this in his inaugural speech on Monday shortly after taking oath of office at the Rwang Pam stadium in Jos, the capital of the state. He, however, pledged to tackle insecurity and restore the image of the state as the home of peace and tourism.
The governor, who won the election under flagshipof the opposition party is the son of Mangu local government, a council recently ravaged by attacks that claimed hundreds of lives and property worth millions destroyed.
The crises ensued between Mogavul locals who are mainly farmers and the indigenous Fulani herders who have been based in the state for centuries in search of greener pastures.
Mutfwang said: “The genocidal attacks of the last couple of years suffered by many of our communities across the whole state have justifiably left deep wounds and trauma on several widows, orphans, relations and friends. This has in turn bred hate, mutual suspicion misplaced anger on innocent passersby and so-called reprisal attacks.”
According to him, the attacks paved way for those who dislike the unity and prosperity of the state to label the people of the state as hateful and non-accommodating.
“The time has come, and the time is now when we must say enough is enough. We must break this vicious circle of hate and attacks and refuse to allow people to brand us negatively. That is not who we are. I boldly say that no other community of peoples is as accommodating and welcoming as the people of Plateau,” he stated.
He called on the people of the state to embrace peace and look out for the well-being of one another.
“I enjoin us to let go of the hate and distrust of the past and embrace the brotherliness that our dear state is known for,” the governor stressed.
