Peace expert urges Plateau govt on truth, reconciliation

By Muhammad Tanko Shittu
Jos

Plateau state government have been urged to encourage the process of truth and reconciliation as a means of attaining sustainable peace in the state.
A peace and conflicts resolution expert, Malam Sani Suleiman Maigoro, in a paper presentation tagged: “Promoting justice for sustainable peace in Plateau state,” at an annual commemorative and prayer event organised by the Jasawa Community Development Association (JCDA).

Maigoro said: “Inquiry into the deep rooted causes and dynamics of the violent conflicts in some parts of Plateau State, particularly Jos North Local Government Area shows clearly, the correlation that exists between state weaknesses, injustices including impunity, poor governance and the deadly ethno-religious conflicts from the 1990s to date.”
According to him the search for an accommodative formula for the management of ethnic and religious identities and transformation of systemic and structural imbalances which is critical to peace has been a huge challenge for the for the state.

He said promoting justice is paramount and; “restorative justice,” is key to achieving sustainable peace for all.
Maigoro stressed that social justice should be entrenched, frowning at the; “inability of the state to create the much needed environment of inclusion, tolerance and participation,” as against the fulcrum of good governance has exacerbate hatred across ethnic and religious fault-lines.
He urged the present administration to fashion out ways of truth and reconciliation.