Why Plateau state observed a work-free day to seek forgiveness
Plateau state government declared Friday, February 7 as a work-free day to celebrate the day of forgiveness and reconciliation. It enjoined residents from all across the state to participate in the exercise, and make efforts to forgive their offenders as they seek forgiveness from those they’ve wronged.
Last year, Governor Simon Lalong inaugurated the ‘Garden of Forgiveness’ and proclaimed February 7th as a day of forgiveness which is to be observed as an annual public holiday in the state.
According to the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Danladi Atu, the government instituted the day to highlight the “importance of forgiveness and reconciliation in the process of peacebuilding in the state.”
The North-central state which has been perpetually engulfed in crisis as suspicious neighbours attack each other over religious and ethnic differences believes that peace and harmony could be achieved through the atonement. But many doubt that this will bring lasting peace to the state.
Laidi Pom, a student from Jos tweeted that she does not buy the idea of observing a day of forgiveness if the issues that bring disunity in the state are not resolved.
“Lalong is just trying to make himself look good. Unless you tackle the insecurity, ethnic hatred and religious discrimination in the state and create jobs for the youths to engage themselves, your day of forgiveness is useless.”
“Forgiveness sounds good, but these people don’t care. They don’t have conscience, and they won’t stop attacking until there are consequences,” Peter Toki, tweeted.
The mounting insecurity in the state has left an undesirable outcome among the people. Jos, which was once the darling city where a lot of high profile Nigerians and expatriate communities resided, is comparably deserted. Internal conflict and widespread violence drove prominent residents away.
Just recently, about 26 people were killed in an attack that saw the destruction of 190 homes across many communities in Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas. The incident which occurred between January 26 to 28 brought back fresh agony on the people who had been victims of many such attacks.
But the government believes it can turn the situation around by reducing the sense of animosity among the people of the state. It was on this consideration that the day of forgiveness was instituted.
