Vice President Speaks Against Ethnic Profiling in Plateau

The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, has spoken out against ethnic profiling and the cycle of violence in Plateau State. On Saturday, he delivered a powerful message urging the younger generation to reject inherited hatred and embrace peace and reconciliation.

Speaking at the public presentation of the autobiography of former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah David Jang, as part of activities marking his 80th birthday in Jos, the Vice President said generations of young people in Plateau were carrying the burden of conflicts they neither created nor understood.

“The young men and women of Plateau have inherited baggage they did not create. They carry the grievances of a generation they never met and the quarrels of a history they never wrote,” Shettima said.

The Vice President also quoted Mahatma Gandhi, saying, “The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” He emphasized that those carrying out atrocities have no mandate from any community and represent no religion, no ethnicity, and no culture.

Years of Bloodshed in Plateau

Shettima lamented that years of bloodshed had turned once-thriving communities into centres of grief and fear. He added that the people of Plateau have refused to surrender their humanity, even in these painful moments.

Peace and Reconciliation Efforts

The Vice President called on elder statesmen, particularly Senator Jang, to continue using their moral authority and influence to guide the younger generation towards peace. He described Jang as a patriot whose decades of military and public service had left an enduring legacy of sacrifice, courage, and nation-building.

“Life is measured by the difference we make among our people. Office passes from one hand to another. Power is temporary, but what endures is the good we leave behind in human lives,” he prayed.

The Vice President noted that Plateau occupies a unique place in Nigeria’s history and national development, hosting strategic institutions that have continued to shape the country’s security architecture and public policy. He appealed to Nigerians to remain united in building a country where peace, justice, and security prevail over division and violence.

A Message of Hope

Shettima's message comes at a time when Plateau State is still reeling from the consequences of years of violence. His words offer a glimmer of hope that the cycle of hatred and violence can be broken.

Key Facts

### Key Facts

  • Shettima called on Plateau youths to reject inherited hatred and embrace peace and reconciliation.
  • The Vice President quoted Mahatma Gandhi, saying, “The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
  • He emphasized that those carrying out atrocities have no mandate from any community and represent no religion, no ethnicity, and no culture.
  • Shettima noted that the people of Plateau have refused to surrender their humanity, even in painful moments.
  • The Vice President called on elder statesmen to continue using their moral authority to guide the younger generation towards peace.