Vice President Kashim Shettima has appealed to residents of Plateau State, particularly young people, to reject ethnic profiling, inherited bitterness and revenge, insisting that criminals should never be identified with any tribe, religion or community.
Speaking during the 80th birthday celebration and public presentation of the autobiography of former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah David Jang, in Jos on Saturday, Shettima said Shettima Plateau peace efforts require a deliberate commitment to reconciliation and unity. According to the Vice President, many young people in Plateau have become burdened by conflicts they neither created nor participated in.
“The young men and women of Plateau have inherited baggage they did not create. They carry the grievances of a generation they never met and the quarrels of a history they never wrote,” he said.
Shettima urged elders across the state to mentor younger generations by teaching them the value of forgiveness instead of vengeance. He advised community leaders to explain the true cost of hatred and demonstrate that lasting peace can only be achieved through reconciliation. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the Vice President reminded the audience that forgiveness is a mark of strength, saying, “The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
Addressing the persistent insecurity in Plateau, Shettima warned against blaming entire ethnic or religious groups for crimes committed by individuals. He stressed that those responsible for violent attacks have no legitimate connection to any community, culture or faith, adding that collective blame only deepens divisions and benefits those who thrive on violence.
The Vice President lamented the devastating impact of years of unrest, saying violence had transformed once-thriving communities into places of grief, replacing trust with fear and disrupting livelihoods. Despite the challenges, he praised the resilience of Plateau residents, noting that they had continued to uphold their humanity in difficult circumstances.
As part of the Shettima Plateau peace message, the Vice President called on Senator Jonah Jang to continue mentoring younger Nigerians with his experience and wisdom.
He described Plateau as a state of immense historical and strategic importance to Nigeria while commending the former governor for his decades of public service. Shettima concluded by urging Nigerians to remain united in building a nation where peace, justice and security prevail over hatred and division, while praying for continued strength and good health for the elder statesman.
