President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday promised that Plateau state will not experience a repeat of the recent Jos killings, saying himself and the Plateau state governor, Caleb Muftwang, were not elected to create and comfort widows and widowers.
According to the President, his administration was determined to put a stop to killings of innocent citizens of the North central state.
Tinubu said this while addressing the state governor, federal lawmakers and other top government officials and senior citizens during his visit to the state capital.
He said: “Thank you very much. Please, be seated. You have no light at the airport. And I have to fly back within the next ten minutes. To you leaders, I’ve had this to refute (sic) you.
“There is nothing I can give you, whether money in billions, but console you and promise you that this experience will not repeat itself.
“I know the pain and agony in your heart. But it’s only God who can give you joy and comfort.
“No amount of money can pay all of you back. Yes, as a government we will try our best to comfort you, to work with you. The best solution is for Jos to be Jos, the one that people like us grew up to know. I salute all of you leaders.”
Tinubu, who recalled that Jos used to be a land of peaceful coexistence, urged all stakeholders to seek to maintain peace, submitting that persistent violence and bloodletting remain a setback to goals that leaders set for themselves.
“But I’ve had the experience of the past. Why is the past not a source of lesson for us? I’ve listened to Idris Wase, I’ve listened to Netanwe, I’ve listened to the Governor. Governor, you and I were elected on the promise of peace and prosperity. Not to comfort and create widows and widowers. To bring prosperity as a promise. To bring inclusiveness as a government.
“To share the hope and aspiration of everyone. To lead our youths. And if they are represented here, let me give this assurance. I don’t want to be here commiserating and consoling. I want to be here to establish peace. “Leaders who have received us, who have accommodated us politically. I brought the symbol of this cap to break the shackle of violence, shackle of ignorance, shackle of poverty, of hopelessness. We must break it together.”
President Tinubu, while commending men of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, further tasked them to ensure that perpetrators of Sunday killings in Angwan Rukuba community in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State were brought to face justice.
He also promised to ensure comfort for the victims
“I thank the men and women of the armed forces, particularly the Police, for what they are doing and what they are about to do. You must unearth and find the killers. I’m glad the Inspector General of Police is here. I’m glad the Chief of Army Staff is here too. I’m glad the Minister of Defence is here. Our dear leaders, I’ve been to Jos, I’ve enjoyed Jos. In those days of peace, we’ve had our political activities here, Yahaya Kwande, I’m glad you are still alive. We thank God for you.
“And many of you. Thank you. I used to point to your house where we spent the night. Where the leaders of our politics. Where I was active as a young man. You accommodated us. You opened your doors for us. Then, why do we build a division? Our promise then was progressive development, improved standard of living for our people. Not to bury! But to develop.”
Tinubu added that as a security measure, he would ensure the installation of “a network of cameras that will help the law enforcement agencies.”
