Insecurity: Plateau elders backs TY Danjuma’s self-defence call

Plateau elders under the aegis of People Democratic Party (PDP), Elders Forum, Plateau Central Senatorial District, on Thursday, backed a former Minister of Defence , Theophilus Danjuma , on his call on Nigerians to defend themselves in the face of killings across the country.

The elders gave their support to the call in a press conference held in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

While saying Danjuma did not ask people to take up arms, the elders explained that the former Chief of Army Staff only said people should protect themselves.

In a lengthy text that faulted the town hall meeting held at the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Jos, the PDP elders said the town hall meeting which was suppose to address the increasing rate of insecurity in the State was stage managed to give the President an impression that all is well in Plateau.

The text read by the chairman of the group Mr. John Mankilik, noted that the President Muhammadu Buhari lead government has done nothing to address the killings that has been going on in the country especially the north-central and on the Plateau.

Mankilik said that if nothing is done the Fulani herdsmen will wipe them out from their own home land.

He said, “of course, you know that self -preservation is the first law of nature: “you can’t just wait in your house and allow someone to come and kill you without resisting the person, but you don’t necessarily need to have arms”.

The elders also berates Senator Joshua Dariye representing Plateau North Central at the National Assembly and Jethro Akun, a former deputy governor in the State, saying that their actions at the town hall meeting was shameful as they fail to tell the President the unabated killings that has been going on even in their constituency.

“The elders also noted with grave concern the shoddy and shameful role played by the supposed illustrious sons of Plateau State who were spokespersons in the town hall meeting.

“Chief Jethro Akun and Sen. Dariye for instance were amongst the key spokesperson, they made speeches that did not address issues of the moment and their non display of statesmanship has become very worrisome.

“They have endangered the dignity and integrity of the Plateau Central Senatorial District: Chief Akun sadly and shockingly declared a clean bill of health for Plateau State even when fighting was on-going in his village and all houses (including his own) were razed down by terrorists fire and not just his village, but many other surrounding villages, and also many others in Bassa LGA suffered the same fate in the morning of the president’s visit”, the text reads.