Fear Grips Gov. Lalong Over Grazing Protest, As He Begs Plateau Youths To Shelve Proposed Protest

In what may be termed as an expression of fear over the proposed protest by Plateau Youths over the grazing policy, the Plateau Governor through its agency for peace, the Plateau State Peace Building Agency pleaded with Plateau Youths to shelve its proposed protest and come for dialogue.

The State government’s position was made known through a communique signed by Mr. Joseph Lengmang the Director General of the Agency.

Read the full Text of the Communique:

The Plateau State Peace Building Agency is concerned by the growing tension arising from the discourse on the planned creation of ranches in Langtang North and Mikang LGA’s of Plateau State.

Even more worrying is the highly emotive dimension to which both opponents and supporters of the ranching pilot scheme have approached the matter. Any further escalation of this growing tension might end up jeopardizing the gains of the relative Peace that currently pervades our landscape.

Although it is within the limits of our democratic rights to agree and disagree with such a policy yet, it is equally imperative that we do not allow our disagreements to degenerate into chaos or violence.

Therefore, the planned protest by those who oppose and support the ranching policy in Plateau state at this early stage of the debate is uncalled for and totally unnecessary.

What is rather more important is that we continue to dialogue with one another in a civil and respectful manner with a view to build consensus over a matter that not only speaks to our unity, but responds to the challenges of peace and security.

The Peace Building Agency will in the following days organize and facilitate series of activities and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders across our state.This engagement is aimed at educating and sensitizing the general public on the choice, context, nature and implications of the ranching policy with regards to peace as well as the prospects of economic empowerment that the policy holds to a vast majority of our citizens.

We all have a stake in the on-going Peace Building process. Therefore, we must not allow our emotions to hold a better part of us to the extent that our efforts to sustain the Peace is either threatened or undermined.

We set a limit to our options when we fail to listen to one another. Yet, tackling the risk of a return to violent conflict can only be achieved through effective mediation, understanding and above all, Dialogue.

Let’s give Peace a chance.

The statement was signed by Joseph Lengmang