" he queried.
The President who justified the state of emergency imposed on the state, said people should begin to question their perception and understanding of leadership in the society, to come up with new benchmark for determining and selecting those that should lead them.
He said: We must henceforth, let leaders emerge from the collective struggle, experiences, pains, achievements, dreams and hopes of our people. We must reject those that impose themselves on their societies as leaders."
He explained that what the Federal Government expects of the people and their friend at this moment is a strategic agenda for holistic, socio-economic and political regeneration and transformation.
He remarked that the process towards the attainment of these goals had started, although there is yet a long way to go, "hence this conference is very timely and necessary".
Obasanjo also challenged the conference to identify the causes of the crises at the family, community, local government and state levels.
"We must also find lasting and realistic answers to how every Nigerian citizen living in Plateau State can have a sense of belonging and participation in a process that enables him or her to reach the highest levels of creativity," he said.
To him the idea of indigeneship and settlership should be discouraged because "we are one people under one God".
The state Administrator, Major-General Chris Alli, had earlier thanked the President and his entourage.
The governors of Nasarawa and Taraba states, the immediate past military Administrators of the state, Colonels Habibu Shuaibu, and Musa Shehu, Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, Chief Solomon Lar, Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun and Custom Comptroller-General Mr. Gyang Buba were among dignitaries present on the occasion.
One major project billed for the President's commissioning during his visit to Yobe is Obasanjo Fort where the fight against desertification started in I999 by the local communities and the state government.
Addressing journalists yesterday on his preparedness for the visit, Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim said all arrangement had been completed for the presidential visit, adding that this would enable Obasanjo to see the changes and developments that had taken place in the last five years.
Such developments, he said, included the completion of many projects in the industries, agriculture, housing, education and healthcare delivery.
Other projects billed for commissioning by the President are the N100 million Sharia court building complex, the N100 million abattoir, the N120 million Woven Sack and Plastic industries located on Kano Road and the 500 housing units completed at N1.373billion among others.
At the Government House, Jos, the President addressed a traditional rulers' forum on peace and security. He said that the royal fathers have a crucial role to play in the maintenance of peace and stability in the country.
"We must all work to make peace. We want to work in peace and live in peace," he stressed.
He also appealed to local government chairmen to interact more on security matters with traditional rulers in their areas.
"If we are more civilised now, we are not more irresponsible or uncaring about peace and security for our communities.
"There is nothing we did in the local government reforms, that tampered with traditional rulers' responsibility for security in their domains," Obasanjo said.
Also speaking, the Sole Administrator of Plateau, Gen. Chris Alli, said the forum was a continuation of the efforts to build and sustain peace in the state.
"We want to identify the major causes of instability, promote reconciliation and look for the way forward," he said.
