By ALFRED NANMAN
The Plateau State Government has called for calm and restraint following public reactions to a recent High Court judgment on the issuance of certificates of indigeneship and residency in Jos North Local Government Area.
In a statement issued Monday, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, said the government had taken note of the heated public debates and concerns generated by the ruling among citizens and stakeholders.
The government expressed concern that some of the commentaries surrounding the judgment could heighten tensions among communities that have coexisted peacefully for decades.
While acknowledging the constitutional right of citizens to express their views on matters of public interest, the government urged individuals, groups and stakeholders to exercise responsibility in their public engagements.
The statement noted that the Jos North Local Government Council, like any party dissatisfied with a court ruling, has the right to seek redress through the appellate process.
It therefore called on all parties to allow due process to take its course without making statements or taking actions capable of undermining public peace.
“The Plateau State Government remains firmly committed to the rule of law, constitutionalism, and the independence of the judiciary,” Ramnap said.
She added that the government would not allow any individual or group to exploit the situation to incite hatred, sow division or undermine peaceful coexistence in the state.
Ramnap further stated that issues of indigeneship, citizenship and residency rights have long been subjects of constitutional and national discourse, adding that it would be inappropriate to reduce such matters to a single local government area.
She called on residents, community leaders, religious leaders, youth leaders and civil society organisations to remain calm, law-abiding and committed to preserving peace and unity across the state.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to justice, fairness, inclusion and the protection of the rights and dignity of all residents, regardless of their ethnic, religious or cultural background.