Why Plateau Crisis Persists – Jang

Former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang has attributed the prolonged crisis in the state to unresolved issues of identity, land, justice and citizenship, as well as what he described as failures of leadership and governance.

For more than two decades, recurring violence has affected communities across Plateau State, resulting in loss of lives, destruction of property and the displacement of residents.

Jang made the remarks in his new book, ‘From Airman to Politics: My Life,’ which was unveiled in Jos on 1 August.

Reflecting on the origins of the crisis, the former governor said it was rooted in both historical grievances and failures by successive governments to address underlying tensions before they escalated into violence.

“When I look back on the roots of the crisis that engulfed Plateau State, I see a tragedy that was both historical and artificial. It was a storm that had been brewing for decades, yet it was allowed to erupt because of a series of failures in leadership and governance,” Jang said.

He said the crisis was fundamentally linked to disputes over identity, land, justice and the question of who belonged to Plateau State.

“The Plateau crisis is about identity, land, justice and belonging. Long before the bombs, machetes and the mass burials, there were subtle signs: grievances left unaddressed, tensions ignored, rights denied and injustice institutionalised,” he said.

Jang said the distinction between indigenes and citizens had remained a major source of tension in the state, raising questions over access to land, political participation and recognition as members of the Plateau community.

“The question of indigene versus citizenship haunted our state. Who had the right to land? Who had the right to contest elections? Who had the right to be called a son or daughter of Plateau?

“These questions festered in silence until they erupted into bloodshed.”

The former military governor of Benue and Gongola states also criticised successive administrations after his tenure, accusing them of failing to take what he described as decisive measures to tackle the crisis’s underlying causes.

Jang said lasting peace in Plateau could not be achieved through security measures alone, arguing that the state also needed healing, reconciliation and reconstruction.

“What Plateau needs and still needs is not just security but healing as well. Not just reconstruction, but reconciliation as well,” he said.

He called for a fresh examination of the issues surrounding citizenship, land ownership, political participation and access to opportunities in the state.

“We must return to the drawing board and ask: What does it mean to be a Plateau citizen? How do we share land, power and opportunity in a way that respects history and embraces equality?

“These questions were ignored during the years of violence, which is why the crisis continues,” Jang added.