Jos North LGA chair moves to promote peace

Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, Hon Shehu Bala Usman, has intensified a campaign to boost peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims as well as all the ethnic groups.

A statement made available to newsmen in Jos the Information Officer, Philip Eplong, said the chairman wanted to change the negative narrative in his LGS which had witnessed ethno-religious crises in the past.

“The chairman, following his appointment as the Management Committee, the Chairman honoured invitations and participated in activities organized by both Christians and Muslims in Jos North and interfaces with leaders of both religions, that of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI).

“He also interfaced with traditional rulers in his domain and has paid homage to Gbong Gwom Jos, Ujw Anaguta, the Adagwom Izere, Jos North community and youth leaders as well as other interest groups. The chairman has also expressed determination to persuade traders to relocate from segregated business places based on religion and return to markets where people of different faiths interact and transact business.

“By and large, Hon Usman wants to change the negative narrative in his domain which has witnessed ethno-religious crises in the past. And he has demonstrated this fact by hosting in his office the first ever Christmas Tree lighting on 2nd December 2019 at the council Secretariat in Jos,” the statement partly read.

The statement, which added that anyone who loved God must appreciate and respect other people’s religion other than theirs, pointed out that the chairman drew inspiration from from Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, whose peace initiative had boosted peace across the state.