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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Disagreement over relocation of market stall Plateau peace talks
THE on-going Plateau State peace conference suffered a set-back last week when the Hausa community in Jos North objected to the decision of other communities to relocate the popular Yan Shanu Market.
A representative of the Hausa community in the council, Mallam Samaila Mohammed, one-time chairman of the council, stood his ground, supporting it with arguments.
Other communities in Jos North represented by one Dr. Thomas Bingel wanted the market relocated because of the hazards it posed to the communities in the area.
But Mohammed argued that if the market actually posed hazards to the communities, the people living there had never complained.
He said the agitation was religiously motivated.
According to him, "the agitation to relocate the Yan Shanu market is inimical to the Hausa community and religiously motivated, and therefore, perceived by many observers as not being in the spirit of the conference.
Expressing disappointment over the turn of events, the chairperson of the conference, Mrs. Elizabeth Pam remarked: "If 150 of us cannot be responsible and maintain peace during these deliberations, how do we expect the wider society to react to situations?"
In their separate submissions, representatives of the Yoruba and Igbo communities associated themselves with Bingel's presentation that the market be relocated.
The Igbo community's representative, Mr. Sam Okoye, pledged his peoples continued respect for the culture and traditions of the people of Jos North and that they would not meddle in any chieftancy affairs.
Okoye said the Igbo are in the state to trade and improve on the economy of the areas where they reside.
The representatives of both Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State chapter, and that of Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI) prayed for peace and brotherly co-existence among the people.
The members may extend the conference, which is expected to wind up on Wednesday.
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