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In 1970, in the month of March to be precise, JDG warned against tribal divisions and segregation, -equality was his watch word. He warned the people of Benue-Plateau of the danger in viewing events from tribal or ethnic angles. He kept Benue-Plateau united by demonstrating what no governor has ever dared to do till date. He empowered selected men with money to start businesses to create employment for youths in the State. The minimum he gave was 3000pounds and men like Ezekiel Washik, Tilley Gyado, Paul Gindiri, D.B. Zang etc. were beneficiaries of such great ideas and benevolence from a man who didn't want to know your tribe before helping you. The question here is, where did we get it wrong? The sharp division amongst Plateau youths today is definitely not from JDG. So where did our youths learn to be very divided against each other along tribal and party lines? The answer is: they learn what they are manifesting now from their mentors and political fathers. We have seen in recent times very dirty politics on the social media amongst Plateau elites which spilled to affect the followers of these elites.
Plateau State is the richest state in Nigeria but we are currently one of the poorest states in Nigeria because of our disunity. We are located on the highest altitude in West Africa which is a position of strength and not weakness but we are weak in the days of adversity because of tribalism. We were Kings and Queens but currently, slaves because of tribalism.
The man from Du must see the man from Zawan as his own brother…. Plateau Must Unite! The Taroh man must see the Berom man as his own brother… Plateau Must Unite!
The Mwaghavul man must accept the Goemai man as his own brother…Plateau Must Unite!
The Ngas man must see and accept the Rukuba or Irigwe man as his own
brother…Plateau Must Unite!
The list goes on - there are over 53 ethnic groups on the Plateau and each and every one of these tribes is important, invaluable and indispensable on the Plateau…. Plateau MUST Unite!
Every one of these tribes on the Plateau represents a strength or skill. The beauty of tribes on the Plateau is strength and if we don't get it now then we will soon be miserable. Take for instance, there are 12 tribes in Israel but they speak only Hebrew, what does that tell us? Our tribes are identification of strength not weakness. Here is it again; the Taroh people on the Plateau are bold and very intelligent when it comes to securing themselves and the land: The Ngas people are very good administrators: The Mwaghavul people love education and read a lot: The Miango people are very skillful artisans and very industrious: The Berom people are the most technically endowed people on the Plateau: The Anaguta people are also known to be very bold warriors – etc, every tribe on the Plateau represents a strength not a weakness. The question then is, have we been able to maximize the strength in these tribal identities? The answer is NO.
Why the fight? Why killing your brother? Why manipulating each other to do evil against each other?
The origin and motive for the introduction of tribes in the bible was to confuse man and scatter him to spread all through the earth and to prevent him from achieving his set goal of wanting to make a name for himself as was self-serving by motivation and in orientation. There are two sides to it; the introduction of tribe brought confusion to mankind but it became a blessing to him because tribes gave mankind the identity of strength (not weakness) that we must use properly if we must develop.
I believe that we don't need a Mwaghavul nation, we need a Plateau United nation.
We don’t need a Mupun nation, we need a Plateau United nation.
We don't need a Taroh nation, we need a Plateau United nation.
We don't need an Afizire nation, we need a Plateau United nation.
We don't need a Pyem nation, we need a Plateau United nation; and the list goes on.
The youths on the Plateau must be united to create and rewrite an alternative narrative for our children and younger generation, born and unborn.
We must all understand that before a man can lift himself he must lift his thoughts. When we shall have learned to master our thought habits to keep our minds open to the great divine inflow of life force, we shall have learned the truths of human endowment and human possibility.
I am calling on all warring factions of Plateau Youths wherever and n whatever ground to come together and lock our hands, pray and forgive each other and turn towards the direction of our common enemy!
Therefore, it is only PLATEAU UNITED that we need to become the Plateau we all desire!
My name is Samuel DanAuta Kyarshik aka SDK with the Value Based No Excuse Leadership.
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