Plateau State governor-elect Barr. Caleb Mutfwang has reiterated his commitment to work with other leaders in the state to return persons who were displaced back to their ancestral homes.
Mutfwang made the disclosure during the 2023 Nzem Berom celebration with the theme, “The Berom Economy: A metamorphosis”, held at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos.
He prayed to God to stop the renewed killings in the state to allow citizens who have laboured over the years to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
Mutfwang praised the Berom nation for their resilience and commitment towards rebuilding Plateau State, and urged the people to continue in that direction for the greater good of the state.
He said; “It is with great joy and satisfaction that I bring my felicitations to the Berom nation. The history of Plateau State cannot be complete without the history of the Berom, you cannot say you have developed Plateau State without developing Berom land; you cannot secure Plateau State without securing Berom land.
“I am glad that today, other ethnic nationalities on the Plateau are gathered in solidarity with the Berom nation and this is the direction that we must go as people of Plateau State from May 29, by the grace of God. We are going to start a new journey, a journey to secure Plateau, a journey to unite Plateau, a journey to develop Plateau, and by the grace of God, the Berom land will have a chunk of it.
“By God’s grace, we will work together with other leaders to ensure that our people that are displaced from their villages are returned to their ancestral land. By the grace of God, Berom land will flourish again, Plateau will flourish again; and Nzem Berom will attract other people not only from Plateau but other states in Nigeria and internationally.
“We will ensure that this cultural festivals and others from the various ethnic nationalities are well developed, well packaged, so that Plateau State will regain its name as a home of Peace and Tourism. I thank you for putting this festival together. It is historic and epoch- making, and I want to congratulate the planning committee, and to say that this is pace setting, and I am sure that other ethnic nationalities will learn from this and build from it.
“Tomorrow would have been the turn of the Mwaghavul nation to host this similar festival, but because of the crisis that broke out and the number of people that were killed, his royal highness and his council decided to put it off”.
Bauchi State GovernorBala Muhammad in his remarks expressed delight for being part of the 2023 Nzem Berom, saying he attaches utmost importance to the festival.
He described Berom people as hospitable and accommodative, saying he would work in collaboration with the incoming governor to bring about the desired development in the state.
“This is an opportunity for me to come and celebrate with my brothers in Plateau and the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da. Jacob Gyang Buba, who has contributed immensely in various ways to the development of Nigeria.
The deputy chairman Senate Committee on Defence and Senator representing Plateau North, Istifanus Gyang who doubles as the chairman Main Planning Committee of the 2023 Nzem Berom, said the Berom economy had undergone faces and stages from the precolonial era which was widely regimented, characterised by farming, hunting, animal husbandry, among others.
