Plateau Peace Forum Awards Lalong, Tallen, Others

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

A peace advocacy group, Plateau Peace Forum on Saturday awarded distinguished persons from all walks of life as ‘Ambassadors of Peace’ in the group’s event held at Eliel Event Centre in Gold and Base area of Jos, the state capital.

The Convener of the group, a former Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Baba Akawu, in his welcome address, identified poverty and lack of unity as immediate causes of violence in the state. He called on political office holders and appointees at all level to support peace innovations from groups and individuals for a lasting peace to be achieved in the state.

In his address, the Keynote Speaker, Dr Yakubu Sankey, a former Acting Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, identified four key areas that have contributed to the lingering crises in the state which must be urgently addressed to include; education, security, infrastructure deficit and leadership recruitment process among others.

Sankey regrettably noted that the last 15 years have seen over 200 communities attacked with several lives lost.

He said that any child born in Plateau state less than 20 years ago would not be a peaceful person, because such a child have been taught segregation and tribalism.

The former NIPSS DG noted that it was unfortunate that most political leaders in Nigeria today are accidental leaders hence, their poor performance.

The awards were categorised into three namely; Award of Ambassador of Peace, Post-Humous Award and Certificate of Ambassador of Peace.

Among the awardees of the Ambassador of Peace was the governor of the State, Rt Hon Simon Bako Lalong, a former Deputy Governor and current Minister for Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, former Bauchi state governor, Ahmed Adamu Muazu, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Ahmed Idris Wase, the new Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof Danladi Atu and his predecessor, Rufus Bature, and a former Director of Sports, NTA, Alhaji Yakubu Ibn Mohammed.

Other awardees in this category were, former Chairman/CEO, NASCO Group of Companies, Alhaji Nasirudeen Atiu, DG Industrial Training Fund, Sir Joseph Ari, Operation Safe Haven, OPSH, Commander Major-General A. Agundu, former DSP House of Representatives, Senator Nasiru Ibrahim Mantu, Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, CAN Chairman, Rev Soja Bewarang and his JNI counterpart, Prof Abdulrahman Lawan, Emir of Wase, Ujah of Anaguta, Sir Lucky Omolua and Sheik Ibn Sani among others.

In the post-humous category were the first executive governor of the state, Chief Solomon Dashe Lar, D.B Zang, Saleh Hassan, Da Dr Fom Bot, Chief Azi Nyako, Alhaji Inua Ali, and Sheik Ahmadu Arabi.

Several other distinguished persons were given Certificate of Ambassador of Peace among whom were, former Super Eagles Captains, John Michael Obi and Ahmed Musa, Arc Pam Gyang, Pastor Michael Akintunde, Coach Bros, Hon Dasuki Nakande, Chief U.U Martins, BECO Chairman, Riyom and Bassa LGA Chairmen, Hon Linda Barawu, Philip Azi, Ambassador Ghazali, Shehu Hassan, Umar Hassan, and Brigadier-General Jon Temlong (Rtd) among others.

While responding on behalf of the awardees, the Honourable Minister, Women Affairs commended the Plateau Peace Forum for advocating for peace in the state saying that the award given to them would spur them “to do more for Plateau state and Nigeria.”

She said, “If possible let us be meeting twice a year to discuss and support the government to take Plateau to the next level.

“We must accept to live together in peace regardless of our tribe.”

While commending women on the Plateau as peacemakers, she urged them to be vanguards for peace. “Don’t allow your children to be used as instruments of violence. May God continue to strengthen the bond that binds us together be it Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa or Fulani.” She concluded.