In a significant move to address longstanding conflicts in Plateau State, President Bola Tinubu has deployed his Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, as a peace emissary to the troubled region.
High-Level Engagements with Religious and Community Leaders
The two-day peace mission, which concluded recently, saw Dr. Essiet holding crucial meetings with key stakeholders across Barkin Ladi and Jos South local government areas. The presidential aide met with Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, the regional chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi, where they extensively discussed how faith-based leadership can actively promote peace, unity, and social development in the conflict-affected state.
According to a statement released by Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga on Sunday, the peace initiative represents President Tinubu's direct intervention in the state's security challenges. During her engagements, Dr. Essiet conveyed President Tinubu's personal message of fostering ethnic reconciliation to various groups, including addressing some widows affected by the conflicts.
Bridging Farmer-Herder Divides
In a pivotal development, the presidential aide conducted separate meetings with Fulani leaders in Barkin Ladi, focusing specifically on building dialogue and mutual understanding between pastoral and farming communities. These discussions aimed at addressing the root causes of conflicts that have plagued the region for years.
The peace efforts yielded immediate results with the resolution of a specific conflict between David Toma, the owner of Agha Farm in Gyel district of Jos South, and some herdsmen. The dispute, which involved Toma seizing two cows following the destruction of his farm, was successfully mediated through the intervention.
Establishing Sustainable Peace Structures
Dr. Essiet conducted a comprehensive workshop on establishing a community peace structure for all 17 Local Government Areas in Jos, creating a framework for ongoing conflict resolution at the grassroots level. The initiative represents a structured approach to maintaining peace beyond immediate interventions.
In a significant closed-door session, the presidential aide met with representatives from the Irigwe community, the Miyetti Allah group, and the Youth Council of Bassa Local Government Area. The discussions centered on sustaining peace through a 17-member peace committee designed to strengthen dialogue, reconciliation, and coexistence between the communities.
Dr. Essiet reiterated President Tinubu's unwavering commitment to peace and inclusive governance, emphasizing that the Community-Based Peace Structure serves as a key instrument for grassroots unity and long-term stability in Nigeria's North Central region.
