The Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, Mr. Joseph Lengmang has again reminded the Citizens of the State of their roles as Stakeholders in the Peace building process in the State.Mr. Lengmang said for the State to achieve prosperity, all hands must be on deck for the collective interest of the State.


Joelengs,as  the DG is  popularly called, made the disclosure at a World Press Conference to herald the Day of Forgiveness and Reconciliation being observed in Plateau State in his Millionaires Quarters office in Jos, the Plateau State capital.


It will be recalled that on February 7th 2019, Governor Simon Lalong inaugurated the ‘Garden of Forgiveness’ in Jos, the State Capital,thus this is the 3rd Annual Forgiveness Day.


It is  on record  that the 7th February has been set aside by the Governor Simon Bako Lalong Government as a day to highlight the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation in the process of peace-building in the State.


Mr. Lengmang hinted that the essence of the day is to promote the agenda of peace through healing, forgiveness and reconciliation considering the bitter experiences of the State in the past.


The DG PBA urged citizens to unite towards breaking the walls of stereotypes and prejudices. He said as citizens, there is need to always consider our shared humanity.


Joelengs pointed out that the agency will continue to work with the citizens to achieve a better, secured and safer society through mutual understanding.


He said Gov. Lalong has made peace a priority in his administration,hence, the decentralization of the PBA to the District levels with the District Heads as Chairmen.


He hinted that the agency was established to rethink the approach to the challenges of peace and security by being proactive instead of being reactive; to deescalate violence and work to break the conflict traps irrespective of all considerations.


He said the mandate of the agency is to promote the culture of peace and harmonious coexistence, among the various ethno-religious divides on the Plateau.


He appreciated the media for their contributions to the success of post conflict peace and sustaining same. He urged them to remain advocates of peace.Joelengs pointed their efforts and commitment as Ambassadors of peace having greatly assisted in peace building.


The DG hinted that “The Agency will continue to build on the gains recorded from the relative peace being enjoyed.”“As the essence of the forgiveness and reconciliation day is to reflect on what to bequeath the future generation, repair broken relationship and begin to live peacefully together”


Joelengs continued that “Despite the violence of the past, forgiveness is possible and pointed out that the Media as agenda setters have significant roles to play in promoting peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.


In his remarks the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Barr. Auwal Abdullahi commended the ingenuity of Governor Simon Lalong for establishing the Peace Building Agency which has been working assiduously to entrench peace through greater understanding.


Auwal Abdullahi commended the media for their roles in societal transformation and peace building. He urged the citizens to eschew bitterness and embrace peace as well as abide by the tenet of forgiveness. He said it is God’s desire for us to live harmoniously together so that our diversity can be our source of strength.His words,“Forgiveness is one of the best human conducts”.


In her lovely contributions, Haj. Lantana Bako Abdullahi urged citizens of the State to be peace actors and work assiduously to restore broken relationship. 

The Peace,Women and Children Advocate from Wase LGA of Plateau State decried how women and children are always at the receiving end of violent crisis, calling on men to always consider the sufferings faced by the mentioned persons.


 Lantana Bako Abdullahi posited that violent crisis doesn’t prosper the State, instead it brings about retrogression, suspicion and mistrust among the citizens.


Da Gyang Jatau, a Community Leader in Gyel in his speech recalled their experiences during the civil war and re-emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence. He warned that no meaningful development can be achieved in a hostile environment.


Da Jatau gave an account of how Muslim youths were saved and returned to their communities unharmed during the ‘EndSARS’ protest by him.


The World Press Conference was attended by the Director of Programmes of the Agency, Mr. Godwin Okoko, the Agency’s Director of Administration Mr. Gayi Timothy, other Staff of the Agency, Dr. Alh. Abdullahi Sale Zazzagi, Community Leaders and the Press.