Jos crisis : Group urges dialogue with stakeholders

By Taye Obateru

Jos — Regional Council for Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMMRC-IFESH USAID) has urged the Plateau State government to immediately institute a process of dialogue for all stakeholders in the state as a way of solving the problem of recurring violence in the state.

The body in a statement yesterday signed by its Vice President, Chief Ezekiel Gomos, said discussing burning issues responsible for the repeated crises would go a long way in resolving the problem.

“As peace and normalcy gradually return to the city of Jos and environs, we want to reiterate our earlier call for the commencement of dialogue as a way of solving the cycle of violence and carnage that has bedevilled our city.

“We want to use this opportunity to challenge all elders, traditional, religious and community leaders in Plateau State to cross the divide and engage in genuine dialogue with each other.

“We cannot continue to pretend to ourselves about the causes of the recurrent crises; we cannot deceive the world either. We all know that there are fundamental issues and grievances on the ground that need to be resolved.

“There are deep seated fears and concerns that the people want to see being addressed. We cannot just wish them away. We cannot just gloss over them like we have done in the past. We have always said that violence can never resolve a dispute, especially deep seated issues like the ones confronting us in Jos,” the statement said.