VICE President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to reject ethnic profiling, religious hatred, misinformation and retaliatory violence, urging citizens to embrace unity in order to build a secure, inclusive and prosperous federation.
News Point Nigeria reports that Shettima made the appeal on Saturday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, during the 80th birthday celebration and public presentation of the autobiography of former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah Jang, where he also called for a renewed national covenant on peace and reconciliation.
The Vice President stressed that peace remains a shared responsibility involving government, traditional and community leaders, as well as ordinary citizens.
“A people at peace is the highest achievement of any government, because peace is the soil in which every other blessing grows,” he declared.
Shettima also conveyed the goodwill and best wishes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the former governor on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Tinubu administration to building a Nigeria where security serves as the foundation for economic opportunity and where every citizen feels safe and at home in every part of the country.
According to him, sustainable development cannot thrive in an atmosphere characterised by fear, insecurity and distrust.
The Vice President noted that the economic prosperity of communities and states across the country is closely interconnected.
“No community flourishes in isolation. Prosperity cannot survive where fear reigns. A farmer in Riyom depends upon peace beyond his village.
“A trader in Jos depends upon roads that run through the towns of other men. The confidence of one state is the security of another,” he said.
Describing Plateau State as “Nigeria in miniature,” Shettima said the state’s diversity, aspirations, challenges and recovery mirror the broader Nigerian experience.
He added that every effort aimed at strengthening peace and development in Plateau ultimately contributes to the stability and progress of the entire federation.
“While any setback in the state points to the unfinished work of national reconciliation.
“Plateau State is Nigeria in miniature. Its dreams are the dreams of Nigeria. Its struggles are the struggles of Nigeria.
“Its complexity is the complexity of Nigeria. Its fears are the fears of Nigeria. Its grief is the grief of Nigeria. Its recovery is the recovery of Nigeria,” he stated.
The Vice President condemned attempts to associate the criminal actions of individuals with entire ethnic, religious or regional communities.
He warned that collective blame only enables criminals to achieve their objective of deepening division and mistrust beyond the immediate consequences of their crimes.
“No criminal represents his origin, his ethnic group, his religion, his language, his ancestry, his village or the innocent people who bear his surname.
“Crime has no tribe. Violence has no religion. Murder carries no mandate from any community,” he maintained.
Shettima further argued that when innocent people are blamed for crimes committed by others, criminals achieve a second victory by destroying trust among communities.
“He destroys a life, and then he poisons the fellowship of those left behind. This is the lesson the rest of Nigeria must learn,” he added.
Reflecting on Plateau State’s history, the Vice President said the state had endured years of violence perpetrated by criminal elements who invested in chaos, disrupted farming activities, weakened commercial life and attempted to replace neighbourliness with suspicion.
He, however, commended the people of Plateau for refusing to abandon their belief in peaceful coexistence despite the challenges.
Shettima described their resilience as a quiet act of heroism that has earned the appreciation and gratitude of the entire nation.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would continue to discharge its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
At the same time, he stressed that lasting peace requires citizens to reject rumours, resist inflammatory rhetoric and embrace reconciliation instead of revenge.
Paying glowing tribute to the celebrant, Shettima described Senator Jang as a father figure whose influence transcends the Berom ethnic nationality, Plateau State, religious affiliation and political interests.
He said the true measure of public service should be determined by the positive impact made on people’s lives rather than wealth, political office or public applause.
“The secret of a life well lived is neither the fortune we gather nor the power we hold. Life is measured by the difference we make among our people.
“Wealth fades. Office passes from one hand to another. Applause is carried away by the wind. What endures is the good we leave behind in human lives,” he stated.
Shettima thanked Jang for his years of military service, his contributions as governor and senator, and his continued commitment to promoting peace and stability in Plateau State.
The Vice President also announced President Tinubu’s appointment of the celebrant’s son, Yakubu Jang, as Senior Special Assistant to the President.
Earlier, former President Goodluck Jonathan described the celebration and the public presentation of Jang’s autobiography as a testament to the former governor’s integrity, accomplishments and enduring legacy of leadership.
Jonathan said the autobiography captures the decisions, challenges and convictions that shaped Jang’s service to Nigeria in various capacities.
“It teaches the younger generation of leaders the virtues of integrity, patience and peace,” the former President said.
In his remarks, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang said the event provided an opportunity to celebrate Jang’s values, leadership qualities and sacrifices as a former military administrator, executive governor, elder statesman and bridge-builder.
He noted that although Jang had been misunderstood and misrepresented at different periods, the people of Plateau continued to appreciate his sacrifices and contributions to the state’s development and the welfare of its people.
Also speaking, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia praised Jang’s leadership qualities, recalling his tenure as the military administrator of Benue State.
Governor Alia prayed for God to grant the elder statesman long life, good health and continued strength to contribute selflessly to the development of Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.