Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the younger generation to reject inherited hatred and embrace peace and reconciliation.
The vice president spoke at the public presentation of the autobiography of former governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang titled, “From Airman to Politics: My Life Journey,” to mark his 80th birthday in Jos at the weekend.
Shettima cautioned Nigerians against attributing the crimes of armed attackers to entire ethnic or religious groups, kicked against ethnic profiling and the cycle of violence in Plateau State, declaring that criminals have no tribe or religion.
“Those carrying out these atrocities have no mandate from any community. They represent no religion, no ethnicity and no culture. When innocent people are condemned for the sins of criminals, we deepen our divisions and hand victory to those who profit from violence,” he added.
He pointed out that lasting peace would remain elusive unless the chain of revenge was broken, lamented that the 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 a baggage they did not create. They carry the grievances of a generation they never met and the quarrels of a history they never wrote.
“Tell them what hatred costs. Show them that forgiveness is the hardest labour a strong man ever undertakes and the only virtue greater than revenge,” Shettima said.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the vice president added that, “The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
He lamented that years of bloodshed had turned once-thriving communities into centres of grief and fear.
“They turned fertile lands into places of mourning. They emptied markets of laughter. They sought to replace trust with suspicion and hope with fear. Yet, even in these painful moments, the people of Plateau have refused to surrender their humanity,” Shettima said.
The vice president appealed to elder statesmen, particularly Senator Jang, to continue using their moral authority and influence to guide the younger generation towards peace.
Shettima said Plateau occupies a unique place in Nigeria’s history and national development, noting that the state hosts strategic institutions that have continued to shape the country’s security architecture and public policy.
While paying tribute to Jang, Vice President described him as a patriot whose decades of military and public service had left an enduring legacy of sacrifice, courage and nation-building.
According to him, public office is temporary, but the impact of selfless service endures beyond political power.
He prayed for God’s continued grace upon the former governor and called on Nigerians to remain united in building a country where peace, justice and security prevail over division and violence.
In the same vein, former President Goodluck Jonathan paid a glowing tribute to Jang, describing the former military officer, senator and two-term governor as a statesman whose life exemplifies faith, sacrifice, discipline and selfless service to the nation.
Jonathan said the celebration provided an opportunity not only to honour Jang’s 80th birthday but also to reflect on the values that shaped his decades of public service.
“Senator Jonah Jang has served this country in many capacities as a military officer, military administrator, senator and governor.
“His journey reminds us that leadership should not be defined by titles alone but by commitment, discipline and the willingness to serve others,” he said.
The former president described Jang as a dependable partner who remained committed to Plateau State and supported efforts to strengthen national unity and deepen democracy.
On his part, Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang, described Senator Jang as an extraordinary leader, revered father, distinguished elder statesman, accomplished soldier, visionary leader, and one of the most influential political figures in Plateau State and the Middle Belt.
According to him, this milestone is far more than the celebration of a remarkable age; it is a celebration of an extraordinary life devoted to sacrifice, patriotism, courageous leadership, and unwavering service to humanity.
Mutfwang urged politicians and public office holders to focus on leaving behind a legacy of integrity and selfless service rather than becoming consumed by the pursuit of political office and material possessions.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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