President Tinubu Boosts Plateau State Peace Efforts with Emissary Visit
Plateau State peace efforts received a major boost last week as Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sent Dr Abiodun Essiet, his senior special assistant on community engagement for the North Central Zone, to the state. The two-day mission aimed to restore harmony and strengthen dialogue among diverse communities in Plateau State.
During her visit, Dr Essiet engaged Christian clerics and Fulani Miyetti Allah leaders in a series of meetings and workshops, culminating in a town hall in Jos. Delegates from all 17 Local Government Areas, including traditional rulers, women, and youth leaders, gathered to explore strategies to reinforce community-based peace structures and promote coexistence.
In Barkin Ladi, Dr Essiet paid a courtesy call to Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Chairman of the Regional Church Council (RCC), where discussions emphasized faith-based leadership as a catalyst for peace, unity, and social development. She also interacted with widows and community members, conveying President Tinubu’s commitment to fostering ethnic reconciliation in Plateau State.
Further advancing Plateau State peace efforts, Dr Essiet met with Fulani leaders in Barkin Ladi to encourage dialogue and mutual understanding between pastoralists and farmers. She conducted workshops on establishing community peace structures across all 17 Local Government Areas, providing a practical framework for long-term grassroots reconciliation.
A closed-door meeting with the Irigwe community, Miyetti Allah representatives, and the Youth Council of Bassa LGA focused on sustaining peace. The discussions reinforced the role of a 17-member peace committee in facilitating continuous dialogue and coexistence between the communities.
President Tinubu’s peace initiative also produced immediate results. A conflict involving David Toma, owner of Agha Farm in Gyel, Jos South, and local herdsmen was resolved. Compensation of N500,000 was paid to Toma by the MACBAN Chairman of Bassa LGA, Alhaji Isah Yau, and the cows previously seized were released, with all parties signing an undertaking to maintain peace.
Dr Essiet reiterated President Tinubu’s unwavering dedication to Plateau State peace efforts, describing the Community-Based Peace Structure as a crucial instrument for grassroots unity, dialogue, and long-term stability in the North Central region.
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