Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau appealed to the people on Sunday to forgive the government for the difficulties they are currently experiencing with the cashless policy and fuel shortages.
The governor made the request at an interdenominational service at St. John’s Catholic Church. Monica, Jos, to mark the 2023 Highlands Amnesty Day.
He said the situation is a matter of concern to the governors who are holding meetings with the president to address the situation.
“On behalf of all of us, we apologize for the pain we have caused the community and ask for forgiveness,” the governor said.
Lalong prays that the Federal Government will look into the distress and review the policy.
He said in Plateau Pangapunten Day is celebrated every year on February 7. It was organized as part of efforts to continue the restoration of peace.
It was also organized to remind the younger generation that the country is a place of peace, hospitality and tourism, he said.
The governor explained that this day was marked to strengthen the peace process, using the Plateau Peace Building Agency to coordinate initiatives.
“The Day of Forgiveness that was inaugurated and launched by Mr. President in 2018 has been implemented by the Plateau Peace Building Agency.
“We establish ourselves as the first in the country with the sole responsibility to coordinate and implement all efforts to eliminate toxic narratives, crisis trading, violence and address the causes of disharmony and intolerance.
“Today is to draw our conscience and take us on the path to forgive the past, and look forward to a future free of bad experiences,” said Lalong.
He thanked the Church for supporting him in his work and preached forgiveness as one of his pillars, stressing that forgiveness is not a sign of weakness but of strength.
He dispelled rumors that many villages had been taken over by the herdsmen.
“I can say with authority that there is no report on my desk that any village has been captured,” he said.
The governor added that the Anti-Land Grabbing Law 2020 was enacted to prevent such situations and asked the public to report such attempts instead of going to social media to politicize them.
In his words, the Catholic Archbishop of Jos Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Audu, thanked the governor for conceiving the Amnesty Day and asked him to enact a law to perpetuate it.
He advised stakeholders, especially those in rural areas affected by insecurity, to achieve the objectives of the Day of Forgiveness.
The Archbishop called on the people of Plateau to elect people they can trust regardless of party, saying only such action will ensure good governance.
Audu in his homily also called on Christians to be the light of the world, and make a positive difference wherever they are.