Thread by @Pastoralist1

I remember as a young lawyer in 2001 I appeared before the Justice Niki Tobi Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the then Jos Crisis. After hearing all parties, the late erudite Jurist one day called us and senior community leaders into his chambers. 1/2 #Plateau

Late Justice Niki Tobi recounted all that he had heard in the on the 2001 Jos Crisis. He told us & senior community leaders all parties must redouble their efforts for peace to be restored on the #Plateau because 'the evil Djin had been led out of the bottle' 1/2 #Plateau

Those of us who were around that time (2001) will remember how then President Obasanjo declared a state of emergency on the state, sacked then Governor Dariye, appointed a sole administrator, Gen. Chris Ali and inuagurated the Niki Tobi Commission to look into the #Plateau crisis

Late Justice Niki Tobi then asked all the community leaders of the Birom, Fulani, Hausa, Afizere, Anaguta and others in the year 2001, whether they wanted their children to inherit the circle of violence or have peace and prosperity. #Plateau.

Late Justice Niki Tobi (2001) then told the community leaders, that he is going to submit his report to Government, but they must understand, Governments come and go, Judges come and go, lawyers come and go, but the communities will remain and they must live in peace. #Plateau

From 2001 to date, #Plateau had witnessed one horrible violence to another. Successive military interventions had not succeeded in ensuring sustainable peace, because like Niki Tobi said, ultimate peace is not that of Lawyers, Judges or Soldiers but that of the communities.

At heat moments like we will have lots of flamethrowers who gas up the combustion, seeking to score political points or demonize the parties we may like, but when temperatures are high you need cool doctors. That is what all leaders should seek to achieve.

Condolences to our President @MBuhari, to our brother Governor @RtHonSBLalong and the entire people of #Plateau state and #Nigeria. We must outgrow inter-tribal warfares, restore peace, rebuild relationships and restore governance in rural areas.