Jonathan, Berom elders meet over Plateau crises

[DT]

Elders of the Berom ethnic group in Plateau State held a late-night meeting behind closed doors with President Jonathan on Monday, where they called on the Federal Government to implement all recommendations of panels that probed crises in the state over the years.  The meeting was convened to find a lasting solution to the cycle of internecine communal violence in the state that led to the death of hundreds since 1994.

Addressing journalists at the State House in Abuja after the meeting which ended in the early hours of yesterday, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang-Buba, said the implementation of the recommendations would douse the crisis in the state.

Gyang-Buba, a retired Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, said the ethnic crisis between Berom and the Hausa/Fulani should not continue unabated.

He said both ethnic groups must talk and proffer amicable solutions that would end the wanton killings and destruction of property in the state.

"You are aware of the fact that there have been security challenges on the Plateau just like so many other states. But that of Plateau has been on for quite a while and so the National Security Adviser invited us to meet with Mr President so they can hear from us what really are the issues and what are the suggestions for the way forward," he said.

"We cannot allow such things to continue indefinitely; we must be able to talk and come out with what the real issues are and then resolve them appropriately."

The Gbong Gwom Jos said that the real issues involved in the crisis are contained in the reports of the various commissions of enquiry and other probe panels.

President Jonathan is also billed to meet with the leaders of the Hausa-Fulani group from the state to further explore ways out of the crisis.

Other members in the Berom delegation were Water Resources Minister Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, Retired Col. John Dungs, Da Yohona Dang, Mr Emmanual Lonang, Mr Edward Pwayok, Da Cholom Jamlong, Gyang Audu, Rep Simon Mwadikon and Mr GNS Pwayok.

Former minister of state for information, Alhaji Dasuki Nakande, confirmed to Daily Trust yesterday that the Hausa-Fulani community has been invited to meet with the president this morning.

Since 1994, there have been numerous reports by government panels on the crises in Plateau.

They were the Aribiton Fiberisima commission of inquiry on the 1994 crisis, the Niki Tobi commission of inquiry into the 2001 crisis, the Prince Bola Ajibola commission on the unrest of November 2008, the Emmanuel Abisoye panel also on the November 2008 violence, as well as the Solomon Lar committee of 2010.



Daily Trust