MY BUSINESS IS PEACE

Barr. Timothy  Parlong… in an interview with Johnpaul Nnamdi    

We will like to congratulate you on some of the notable feats you have achieved towards peace building in Plateau State.

Thank you. It has been my pleasure serving and I hope to put more efforts in my duty.

Briefly describe your role as a significant figure in the peace building process in Plateau State.

The role of my office, which is peace building is set in order to deviate a little from the modus operandi earlier been carried out by the government.  Hitherto, when there is a crisis, the security will be called upon to curb it. And upon their arrival things will look as if peace has return. But as time went on the, method and force applied to abate the crisis proofed futile. So the governor, Da Jonah David Jang in his own wisdom decided to create an office which will try to make and achieve peace between the people in an amicable way. The office is headed by a special adviser who is the Secretary to the State Government. I am his second and I am to take any measure which I feel is necessary and instrumental to peace building in plateau state.

What encouraged you to accept such a function as adviser to the governor on peace building?

My appointment as the special adviser on peace building is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Upon my appointed, I was encouraged to accept it and swing into action because I was a onetime Permanent Secretary in the state on State Security. So I believed the solution to the problem is on my finger tip.

Tell us about the policies and programmes that have been carried out to sustain peace on the Plateau.

I was given a policy trust and this is to bring peace through a brotherly and amicable way. 

Apparently, there are several methods and laws of peace building designed by notable world bodies. The United Nations recommends that crisis should be solved through negotiation, arbitration, mediation, etc. in fact we also have the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and they have laid down strategies.  These frame works are already on ground; we have taken advantage of them and are still coming up with other plan of action we feel is suitable to our situation. On our own, we fix meetings for Christian and Muslim youths to meet especially during festive seasons.

For example, during Sallah, we hold party which is attended by both Christian and Muslim faithful. Likewise during Christmas, a similar event is organized and we have been recording progress since we started. By the grace of God we will continue to hold such event.

Over the years we have been holding programmes to commemorate the World peace day which was set aside by the United Nations. This year, he organized a 100 day countdown programme to the D-day-21 September- of the world peace day.  

What are the challenges you face while executing your plans of action towards perpetual return of peace on the Plateau.

As far as I am concerned, we have gone a long way. For us in Jos, Muslim and Christian are now reconciling. But there is only one thing that will bring us back. And that is the insurgence of the notorious Islamic sect, Boko Haram. Boko Haram is a threat, but it is not peculiar to Plateau State. The sect is a challenge to the whole nation. But above all, we have so far succeeded because some of the bombs that were detonated would have return us to square zero, but because we have been able to bring these youths together, they were able to communicate and restrain the incidents.

Unfortunately, the situation in Jos has taken a religious colouration and the onus is on us to condemn this perception and let the people see that some people are just perpetrating the conflict and are maximizing profit from it. 

Apparently, there are other civil societies, groups and corporate bodies that strive for peace in Plateau State. Have you been working with any?

On the 21^st of September, 2012 we organized a peace programme with 28 of such bodies. This was done in collaboration with government. In order to maintain sanity, we operate with them under an umbrella body known as Plateau Peace Practitioners Network. My office is a member. I registered with them and we work hand in hand with the support of the government. The government is also ready to work with any group or individual who has excellent ideas on how to maintain peace in Plateau State.

Several people have accused the governor of being sentimental which they claim have limited the return of peace to Plateau State. What is your take on that?

You say accused? They have even gone to court. They have gone to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the court has been coming here for investigations. It has gone beyond mere accusations. But from my own point of view, I have never seen a governor who wants peace, who knows that peace is one of the important ingredients for good governance turning around to cause trouble. I am not aware that the governor is sentimental or bias. However, there will always be accusation. Even the opposition will accuse, but if you do not have a proof, its better you remain silent.

What advice do you have for Plateau people especially the peace lovers?

Do we need to tell anybody the importance of peace? We don’t. So everybody is involved in the peace building business. Every individual should be wary of what comes out of him because when you preach peace, peace shall reign, but when you vomit fire, the whole place would be destroyed. Many questions have been asked whether world peace is achievable, and I say yes. It all depends on all of us. So I urge everyone to live promote peaceful co-existence.

Is there anything we have not asked you which you would like to bare your mind on?

Yes. And that is an advice to youths. Youths, especially students should concentrate on their books. Instead of going to watch soccer, chasing after girls and other frivolities, they should read widely and not just for exams, attend lectures and tutorials. This I believe will help in the future. It will make them better leaders and most of all, give them their meal ticket.