The Jos Coalition to End Bad Governance says that the nationwide protest against hardship in Nigeria has projected Plateau as a peaceful and united state.
Mr Ishaya Durkwa, stated this on behalf of the coalition at a town hall meeting with Gov. Caleb Mutfwang in Jos yesterday.
Durkwa, who is the executive director of the International Organisation for Peacebuilding and Social Justice, said that Plateau youth protested orderly without violence for the first four days of the protest.
He said that the protest against bad governance has become an opportunity for Plateau to rise and provide leadership to the nation by doing things right.
“This protest has shown that we can protest without violence, that we can present our demands without violence, and that we can be heard without violence.
‘On the fourth day of the protest, when we began to notice that some people were trying to infiltrate and cause trouble, the leaders of the protest agreed that it must be suspended from the streets.
“And we decided to move to town hall meetings, and here we are today.
“My hope is that this meeting does not end here. And I am confident actionable and implementable plans will be developed.
“This is necessary because hunger is not just a youth problem, it is a national problem. Our parents are hungry. Our children are equally hungry,” he said.
Plateau Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Bashir Datti, said the country was going through challenges, where the weight of economic hardship and the scourge of unemployment pressed heavily on the shoulders of youth.
“I know In moments like these, the temptation to rise up in protest is strong. It is natural to want to speak out, to demand change, and to show that we will not be silent in the face of injustice.
“But I ask you to remember that as youth leaders, you carry the hopes and dreams of not just yourselves but of the masses, who look to you for direction.
“You also carry the responsibility for generations yet unborn. As your commissioner and also a youth, I urge you to consider the power of dialogue.
“Dialogue is not a sign of weakness; it is a testament to our strength, maturity, and willingness to work together for solutions.
“It allows us to sit at the same table (as we are doing now), to listen, to understand, and to craft sustainable resolutions. Dialogue builds bridges while protest can build walls,” he added.
A member of the coalition, Ms Mildred Bako, said they have shown the world that the young people of Plateau were disciplined and respected, and the world should model after them.
Bako stated that they have demonstrated through their actions and conduct on the streets by ensuring that the protests were not violent.
She called for the reduction of electricity tariffs, which put many young people out of business. (NAN)
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