TY Danjuma advocates peace in Mambilla plateau

Retired Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, the Chairman, Presidential Committee on North East Initiative (PCNI), on Wednesday, urged the people of Mambilla plateau in Taraba to eschew violence and build peace to foster development.

Danjuma made the call at a Peace Building Town Hall meeting organised by Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in partnership with UN High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) in collaboration with PCNI in Gembu, Taraba.

The PCNI chairman cautioned that the resuscitation of the Mambilla Hydro-Power project by President Muhammadu Buhari would be stalled if the people failed to build peace.

Represented by Brig.-Gen Habila Vintenaba, the Chairman, Security sub-committee of PCNI, Danjuma appealed to the various ethnic groups on the plateau to give peace a chance to enable government to execute the hydro power project for economic development of the country.

He said “conflict often leads to stagnation which further retards development anywhere in the world.

“The resuscitation of the Mambilla hydroelectric power project by President Buhari should be a strong reason to eschew violence on the plateau.

“PCNI is committed to whatever initiative the people will take to ensure peace on the Mambilla plateau and the North East.”

He appealed to the people of the plateau, the Fulani, the Kaka, Panso, Kambu, Igbo, Yoruba, among other ethnic groups on the plateau, to respect each other’s culture and stay united for economic and social development.

Earlier, Prof. Oshita Oshita, the Director-General, IPCR, had said that the beautiful scenery of the Mambilla plateau could no longer accommodate violence.

Oshita, who was represented by Mr Mbah Chukwuemeka, the project Coordinator, told the people to “break the wall of hatred and build a future for your children through peaceful coexistence.”

In his remarks, Mr Daniel Bisu, the Taraba Coordinator of UNHCR, decried the recent crisis on the plateau in spite of UN efforts by constructing the Tonga dam that was supplying 4,00 kilowatts of electricity to Kakara community to engage the people in productive ventures.

Bisu recalled that UN intervened after the 2002 crisis on the plateau that made many people  refugees in the Republic of Cameroon by helping in resettling the people.

He urged the people to support the peace process to enable their brothers and sisters currently taking refuge in Cameroon due to the recent crisis to return home.

Rev. Godwill Sol, the Acting Chairman of Sardauna Local Government Council, thanked PCNI, IPCR and UNHCR for taking steps to find lasting solution to the recurrent crisis.

Dr Audu Baju, the Chief of Mambilla, commended Federal Government and the UN “for always identifying with the people.”

Represented by Alhaji Isa Musa, the Madakin Mambilla, Baju pledged the commitment of the traditional council in achieving permanent peace on the plateau.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that traditional rulers, women and youth groups, security operatives and community leaders unanimously pledged to live in peace with one another to foster development on the plateau. (NAN)