Alli Canvasses Reconciliation Panel
Plateau State, Administrator Gen. Chris Alli has affirmed his belief in constituting a Reconciliatory Commission fashioned after South Africa�s Truth Commission as a means of reconciling all warring communities and peoples of the state.
Alli in an address to Civil Servants, Permanent Secretaries, chairmen and Heads of government boards and parastatals in the state said there was no alternative to peace in state noting that except the people decide to forgive each other, the task of restoring peace and confidence would continue to be Herculean.
According to him, he was consulting with different interest groups, stakeholders and elders in the state with a view to finding the correct formula in the mandate given him in reconstructing, rehabilitating and rebuilding the state back to its former glory.
"We need to sit all the warring factions and the people fighting together and they talk frankly about how each had wronged the other. Then they iron out issues, forgive each other shake hands and embrace. Some people call it the Truth Commission and I believe strongly that we need something like that for Plateau state" he disclosed.
He also stated that its only the people of the state that could solve the problems noting that he was not disposed to the idea of imposing ideas on the people of the state on how to reconcile.
"My mandate is to ensure the restoration of peace in six months; I am here to preach peace. Solutions to the problems on ground cannot come from the state administrator. We need to purge ourselves of issues that had led to the spate of crises and restore faith to the displaced people. It is not a time of recrimation or witch-hunting. Everybody should contribute his quota to convince the Federal Government that peace has been restored so that every other structure could also be restored."
He urged the people to assist the state government in the rehabilitation of displaced persons by not preventing those returning or waylaying them with a view to turning them back.
In his words, "We are all Nigerian citizens and everybody should be respected no matter their status or position in the society. Allow the displaced persons returning home. There is no country or society or people that can develop on its own. You must all work out the best way you can relate with others.
Alli solicited the support and cooperation of civil servants saying they are the nexus to the people, especially the grass roots.
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