PREAMBLE: RECLAIMING THE HOME OF PEACE AND TOURISM
Yakubu Wuyep
The Candidate for Pankshin, Kanam and Kanke ,PKK ,seat for Federal House of Representatives under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) has admonished the people of Plateau State to promote peaceful coexistence and support the diverse ethnic groups residents in the State.
he urged distinguished local leaders, elders, clergy, and members of the Jos community to embrace unity of oneness ,
We stand today in a city blessed with unmatched natural capital, a temperate climate, a beautiful topography, and a history as the preferred haven for those seeking peace. Decades ago, serving military officers and professionals from across Nigeria looked to Jos as the ultimate place to reside. However, since the tragic turning point of 2001, we have watched this hope diminish. Despite our fine weather, the interest to reside here has waned. The missing link is not our geography, it is our broken social trust.
To rebuild Jos, we must look to our true grassroots leaders: our Pastors and Imams. In our society, political affiliations fluctuate, but our foundational identity remains rooted in our faith. When the leadership of our clergy is in doubt, the society becomes hopeless. This manifesto serves as a formal framework for our religious and community leaders to change gear, take accountability, and drive human capacity development through shared values.
SECTION 1: THE CORE CONSTRAINTS (THE MISSING LINKS)
To move forward, we must address the specific internal failures that fractured our city:
* The Weaponization of the Pulpit and Mimbar: The infiltration of hate speech into sacred spaces has actively dismantled the peace of Jos.
* The Politicization of Worship Centres: Introducing partisan politics into churches and mosques compromises spiritual authority and divides the collective community.
* Passive Faith Without Social Value: A disconnect where religious identity is loud, but ethical, socially beneficial actions are absent in public and private sectors.
SECTION 2: THE POLICY MANDATES FOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS
We call upon all Pastors and Imams in Jos to sign onto and implement the following code of accountability:
1. Absolute Elimination of Hate Speech
* Mandate: Clergy must be strictly accountable for the words spoken before their congregations.
* Action: Religious messages must focus on strengthening the minds of the audience, building emotional resilience, and promoting peaceful coexistence. Speakers who incite animosity against another faith must be denied access to the pulpit.
2 • Separation of Partisan Politics from Sacred Spaces
* Mandate: Churches and mosques must remain neutral sanctuaries of values, integrity, and spiritual growth.
* Action: Worship centres must not be used as platforms for partisan political campaigns, endorsement of candidates, or divisive political rhetoric.
SECTION 3: THE COMMUNITY MANIFESTO (SHARED VALUES FOR DEVELOPMENT)
National transformation cannot happen until we transform the human heart. Skills without values lead to exploitation, but skills guided by faith lead to public benefit. We commit to the following dual-engine approach to development:
The Principle of Accountable Action
The Christian Standard: Operating under the truth that faith without works is dead
The Islamic Standard: Operating under the concept of Ihsan – doing things with absolute excellence because God is watching.
* Action: Every Christian and Muslim professional in Jos must work with godly integrity. By answering to a higher spiritual court, corruption starves, and public accountability becomes the norm.
The Twin-Engine Framework Principle: Jos cannot thrive on the progress of one faith alone. We are the twin engines of this city. If the Muslim engine fails, the plane stalls. If the Christian engine fails, the plane stalls. We fly together, or we crash together.
* Action: National and local development must never be treated as a competition between faiths. True devotion must be measured by the universal standard taught by the Prophet Muhammad: ‘The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people.’ This mandate applies to humanity universally, not just to one’s own group.
CONCLUSION & CALL TO ACTION Let us leave this space today refusing to let our faiths be used as walls that divide us. Our diversity is not our deficit, it is our greatest capital. Let our shared scriptures be the foundation of love, justice, and hard work upon which we rebuild Jos, develop our youth, and transform Nigeria.
