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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has taken a decisive step toward restoring peace on the Plateau by sending Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement for the North Central Zone, Abiodun Essiet, to the state.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, during her two-day visit, Essiet engaged key local stakeholders, including Christian clerics and Fulani Miyetti Allah leaders, in dialogue aimed at promoting ethnic reconciliation and coexistence. The initiative culminated in a town hall meeting in Jos, where delegates from across the 17 local government areas, traditional rulers, women, and youth leaders convened to strengthen community-based peace structures.
Speaking about the mission, Essiet emphasised, “President Tinubu is unwavering in his commitment to peace and inclusive governance. The Community-Based Peace Structure is a crucial tool to foster grassroots unity and ensure long-term stability in the North Central region.”
In Barkin Ladi, Essiet met with Chairman of the Regional Church Council, Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, considered a leading voice for Plateau’s Christian communities. She shared President Tinubu’s call for faith-based leadership to play a vital role in peacebuilding, stating, “Our faith leaders are pivotal in promoting peace, unity and social development.”
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She also held dialogue sessions with Fulani community leaders to enhance mutual understanding between pastoralists and farmers, reaffirming “the Federal Government’s ongoing commitment to inclusive engagement.”
Significant progress was marked by the resolution of a farm conflict between David Toma, a Jos South farmer, and herdsmen, with a compensation of N500,000 facilitating the peaceful release of his seized cattle. MACBAN Chairman of Bassa LGA, Alhaji Isah Yau, underscored the importance of such outcomes, saying, “This agreement demonstrates the power of dialogue and the shared desire for peaceful coexistence in Plateau State.”
Essiet’s engagement with the Irigwe community, Miyetti Allah, and the Youth Council of Bassa LGA further highlighted efforts to institutionalise peace through a 17-member committee dedicated to reconciliation and dialogue.
