Taye Obateru
4 December 2008
ABOUT 113 Yorubas lost their lives in the recent crisis in Plateau State, President-General of Yoruba Community Council in the state, Chief Toye Ogunshuyi has disclosed.
He stated this at a meeting between Governor Jonah Jang and community and religious leaders on Wednesday saying most of their corpses have been taken to their states for burial.
In a rendition which drew tears from some of those present including the state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, Ogunshuyi narrated how his people were hacked down or burnt over a crisis they knew nothing about.
He said many of the victims were caught unawares because their assailants wore military uniforms.
He said Yorubas were peace loving adding,"We have been carrying out legitimate businesses in Jos since 1891 and we built the first church in Jos but we have been living peacefully without fighting to rule Jos".
The Yoruba leader said those who unleashed the violence should be identified and punished to restore the confidence of people in government's ability to protect lives and property.
However, the meeting was boycotted by the leadership of the Hausa-Fulani community but the Emir of Wase who is President of Jama'atu Nasir Islam (JNI), Dr. Haruna Abdullahi promised to reach out to them.
A minute's silence was observed for victims of the crisis at the meeting.
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Let us hope that these many people did not die in vain. However, there is hope from what I read today that "Angry Pensioners Shut Oyo Secretariat" by Punch's Sunday Aborisade, wherein he reported that "Hundreds of angry pensioners mobilized to the main entrance of the Oyo State Secretariat as early as 6.30pm on Wednesday and shut out civil servants and other visitors for more than four hours. They were protesting the non-payment of their various arrears. Their action paralyzed government activities as they alleged neglect and deprivation by the government...." "...No fewer than 60 policemen watched helplessly as civil servants who had turned up for work, were barred from accessing the secretariat as all the gates were shut." "The action led to a traffic congestion on all routes that led to the secretariat while the traffic gridlock spill over to other routes like the Sango - Mokola Road, Bodija- University of Ibadan Road, Mokola - Gate Road among others. ". The difference between this Ibadan story and the Jos unfortunate incident is the lack of physical violence and deaths in Ibadan which is the way people ought to behave if they want to compel their govt to behave as the electorates want them to - peaceful demonstrations that paralyzes govt daily operations - we don't need to look at Thailand as a role model if we have one here at home - charity begins at home as our elders are fond of saying. Can one imagine if this peaceful demonstrations occurring all over the country at the same time? The House will never get away with unethical conduct of buying cars while 99% of Nigerians live in penury. Can imagine the Senate keeping mum on the 419 kingpins hiding among them. Can one imagine the Presidency harassment of the media? Can one imagine the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General harassing our corruption crusader - Ribadu - with impunity? Govt cannot get away with murder like these if the public would not allow it - but for peaceful demonstrations that shut down govt operations until it changes course and respect the public demand for change and accountability. They just need a good leader to lead them right and safely. The demonstrators should also give adequate warning to the police to keep hooligans and area boys at bay from their peaceful and purposeful demonstration of their goals and objectives. To separate the chiff from the chaffs, the peaceful demonstrators could wear uniforms so the police could easily identify the impostors and mischief-makers. Oshiomolhe used to do this effectively during OBJ's admin. If the governor of Edo state wants to help the public accomplish its goal without loss of lives, he could send his previous organizers to major cities around the country to educate activists on how to organize and protest effectively without recourse to blood letting. Good luck, guys and don't give up & keep believing that the future belongs to you your children and grand kids as you make the sacrifice today.