Ethnic group in Jos North Local Government Areas of Plateau State has warned the Plateau State government against taking actions that will sabotage the prevailing peaceful co-existence in the volatile city of Jos.
Governor Simon Lalong is alleged to be suppressing the minority tribe by using political appointment to set residents of the city against one another.
Issues of political appointment has always led to violent conflict in Jos North local government Area as exemplified in the 1994 and 2001 Jos crisis. The conflict of Jos that lasted over a decade was caused by the lopsided distribution of appointments.
According Mr. Jonathan Nyam who read the text at the press conference, “Governor Lalong has refused to recognize the Anaguta ethnic group as a stakeholder in Jos North local government as the governor refused to give us any political appointment to serve in his government”.
He added: “All past administrations in both the military and civilian government have always given appointment to Anaguta people in recognition that we are one of the three native tribes of Jos North. But to our greatest surprise, Governor Lalong gave the slot of Commissioner to settlers who have been working hard to take over our land from us”.
The group alleged that the only appointment given to Anaguta people by Governor Lalong is a “paltry” supervisory councilor in Jos North, adding that he gave the slot of commissioner to settlers, who have been competing with them to take over their ancestral land.
