Lawmaker wants state of emergency in Plateau
The majority leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Ifedayo
Akinsoyinu, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of
emergency in Plateau State as a way of taking control over the crisis in the
state.
Mr. Akinsoyinu, told reporters that with the crisis that had
engulfed Jos, the capital of Plateau State in recent times, there was no
alternative to the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
The lawmaker, who described the continued crisis in Jos as
alarming and disgraceful, charged Mr. Jonathan to urgently find a lasting
solution to the problem in the area. Mr. Akinsoyinu, (Labour, Ondo West), said
leaders of various communities in Jos should be probed for the continuous
crises that have engulfed the ancient town in recent times.
“The crisis in Jos is fast becoming too many,” he said. “Government
must brace up and get to the root of the matter. There are many people who are
fueling the crisis that should be brought to book. The solution to the crisis
is in the region because some cabals are behind the crisis, it is only when
these cabals are probed that Jos will enjoy peace.”
The lawmaker also criticised the federal government for not
doing enough to find a lasting solution to the crisis, saying the government
has failed in its duty of providing adequate security for its citizenry.
Changed dressing
Meanwhile, residents of Jos have adopted various survival
strategies as the warring parties resort to secret killings in the troubled
city. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one of the strategies,
known as ‘chameleon tactics,’ involved the usage of clothes deemed acceptable
to each of the warring territories.
“I wear my jeans trousers and T-shirt if I move to Christian
settlements and change to caftan, trouser and cap when returning to the areas
inhabited by Muslims,” Shehu Mohammed, an undergraduate of the University of
Jos said.
Mr. Mohammed, whose campus is in a Christian-dominated area,
resides at Bauchi Road, populated by his fellow Muslims.
“The dressing has helped me a lot. It helps me from attracting
the attention of hoodlums,” he said.
Another resident, Bulus Pam, told NAN that he usually changed
his dressing whenever he was going to the market to purchase meat and
vegetables.
“If I want to buy meat, I wear jumper, cap and trousers because those items
are sold in Hausa-dominated areas,” he said.
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