MOSES EZULIKE
1 June 2004
>Jos — ADMINISTRATOR of Plateau State, Maj. Gen. M.C. Alli (rtd) yesterday warned leaders of thought in the area to remember the fate of the ill-fated secessionist republic of Biafra by not turning their state into a battle ground.
"Plateau should not be allowed to be a battleground for the Federal Government or else they will crush you. It happened against Biafra, so take note of that. We don't want it again in our life history. The option is yours," he said.
However, one of the leaders of thought and faction Sarki of the Hausa Fulani community in Jos North council area, Allhaji Garba Mohammed, opened a window into the possible cause of the crises when he accused some of his fellow Hausa-Fulani of being responsible for the mayhem.
He told the distinguished gathering at Government House, Jos which included the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Victor Pam, that followers of different Hausa-Fulani factional leaders took advantage of the lack of unity among the group to attack the indigenes, then escape into friendly states while the entire Hausa-Fulani in Plateau take the flame.
Mohammed called on the Administrator to appoint one recognised head for the race who will subsequently identify genuine Hausa-Fulani.
General Alli said the crises since 2001 could have ignited another civil war or led to Nigeria's dismemberment, adding that by God's grace, emergency rule had aborted all that.
The Administrator emphasised that Plateau people should realise that they cannot be isolated or seek independence from the rest of the country.
According to him, no race or religious group anywhere on earth lives alone or is completely excised from other parts of the world, saying people should be allowed to settle wherever they want in the country.
General Alli said that the resort to blood-letting at the least instance would not serve the state's best interest.
He restated that Plateau people should borrow a leaf from Biafra which according to him, dared Nigeria and "saw where it led them," and admonished the leaders to beware of another civil war as "no nation survives two civil wars."
Alli urged them to impress on their followers the need to avoid cattle rustling which he pinpointed as a major factor in the crises.
He called on the people to avoid arms importation, warning that government will fish out all persons stockpiling arms for violence purposes.
Some of the leaders present responded on behalf of their groups.
Alhaji Mohammed, in his response, described most Hausa-Fulani in the state as illegal aliens.
He said there is no record of their entry into the area as they have no recognised leader, pointing out that they sneak in "to cause problems" and escape after setting the state on fire.
Asserting that his people are prepared for peace, the Hausa-Fulani leader urged government to ensure that peace reigns in the state.
He said one way of attaining peace was to hand over administration of land matters to indigenes of the state while positions such as councillorships be zoned on population percentage basis to those identified as non-indigenes to have a voice.
Leaders at the meeting included Ezeigbo of Jos, Igwe Julius Ejimgbe, Jos North council area chairman, Dr. Danladi Atu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. John Gobak, a leader of the Yoruba and others.
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