Posted by By Moyo Fabiyi on
As at this morning, normalcy had returned to crisis-torn Jos, the Plateau state capital, as some banks have opened for business and more vehicles are on the roads. But there is palpable fear that the mayhem may erupt again.
As at this morning, normalcy had returned to crisis-torn Jos, the Plateau state capital, as some banks have opened for business and more vehicles are on the roads. But there is palpable fear that the mayhem may erupt again.
The fear of such was expressed by Governor Jonah Jang's Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Dan Manjang, while fielding questions during a television programme this morning.
Manjang said the only step that could prevent a relapse of the crisis is to redefine who is an indigene of a state.
He stated that the mayhem was premeditated and had no connection with the local government election in the state.
'The election was free and fair. Local and foreign observers participated. It was televised live. All the party agents signed the papers and the election results have not even been announced when the crisis erupted,' the governor's aide explained.
Manjang said the Jos crisis was a replica of those that happened in 2001, 2002 and 2004, when there was no council election.
'The problem is connected to rivalry between the indigenes and settlers in Jos township.
He also blamed the crisis on non-implementation of a commission of inquiry's recommendation on similar crises in the past.
'For reasons best known to them, past administrations in Plateau State have not deemed it necessary to implement the commission's suggestion; they did not even issue a white paper on it,' he said, adding,
'until there is a redefinition of citizenship in the constitution of this nation and except we are sincere with ourselves, people who migrated to Sokoto, Kano and other states must face the reality that they have shifted base and see themselves as settlers.'
The governor's aide said the ruling PDP was not in any way connected with the crisis, while also denying the fact that internal wrangling in the party was responsible for it. According to him, all political parties have internal problems, PDP is not an exception.