A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, has described the renewed violence and killings in Plateau State as politically motivated.
More than 20 persons were reportedly killed in the Palm Sunday attack in Gariya Waye, Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The incident heralded a resurgence of killings in the state, leading to fears that the situation could degenerate to full blown breakdown of law and order.
However, in a statement he made available to journalists on Monday, Zazzaga, who is also Chairman of the North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum, said the killings are aimed at derailing the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, and discrediting Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang.
He also linked the insecurity in Plateau State to persons opposed to Muftwang’s defection to the APC.
Zazzaga, while pointing out that the North-Central had pledged six million votes for Tinubu in 2027, alleged that ongoing killings in Plateau and Benue states are aimed at reducing Tinubu’s votes in the forthcoming election.
“The ongoing attacks and killings in Plateau State are politically motivated. Those behind these killings are opposition politicians who want to derail Mr President’s re-election in the 2027 elections. These are also people who want to discredit Governor Caleb Muftwang, knowing fully well that they can’t stop his re-election.
“They know that with Governor Muftwang having defected to the APC, the chances are high that Mr. President will get 100 percent of the votes from Plateau State, so they have decided to sponsor violence to prevent that from happening.
“To create the impression that the administration is not performing, these individuals have decided to sponsor violent attacks and killings in defenceless communities. They know the natives are with Mr President and the governor, that is why they are engaging in mass killings, to reduce the native population and by so doing, reduce the votes that would go to Mr President in the coming election,” Zazzaga said.
The APC chieftain, who is from Plateau State, linked the upsurge in attacks in the state to the unending cycle of violence in Benue, another North-Central state.
According to him, the native population in Plateau and the people of Benue are being targeted as part of a grand plot to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Zazzaga noted that the North-Central, being the first zone to have six APC governors after Governor Muftwang’s defection, is Tinubu’s number one political stronghold, making the region a conspicuous target for the opposition.
“In the history of Nigeria, no President has cared about the needs of the North-Central more than Tinubu. He has demonstrated this by listening to our cries and agitations, through location of infrastructural projects and also with sensitive appointments.
“Because the opposition are afraid of the bloc votes that will come from the North-Central for President Bola Tinubu in 2027, they are now sponsoring violence and killings, not only to give the impression that Mr President is not working but also to reduce the voting population,” Zazzaga added.
In the same vein, he warned clerics and other religious leaders against making utterances that further promote violence and killings.
He called on the security agencies to beam their searchlight on clerics whose preachings encourage violence.
“Some religious leaders are making unguarded utterances which contribute to the insecurity. I am advising them to stop before it is too late. Any right thinking religious leader should watch what he says to his congregation so as not to encourage violence. Being a religious leader comes with responsibilities which includes promoting peaceful coexistence among the people. Any religious leader that abandons this responsibility should face the consequences of his indiscretion,” the APC chieftain stressed.
Zazzaga also urged the security agencies to take proactive steps in combatting insecurity in Plateau, Benue and other parts of the country. According to him, efforts to address insecurity should take into consideration political undertones behind the situation.
In the same vein, he thanked Tinubu for visiting Jos, Plateau State, in the wake of the Palm Sunday killings, noting that the gesture shows that the President is a leader who has empathy and feels the pains of the citizens.
“Suspending other crucial matters of state to visit Jos to show solidarity with the victims shows Mr President cares about Nigerians. He feels the pain of the people and I am glad that he has given the security agencies marching orders to apprehend the perpetrators. I implore all Nigerians to join hands with Mr President to address insecurity in all parts of the country. Security is everybody’s business, not only for Mr President and the security agencies,” Zazzaga stressed.
