Nigeria: Jang Invites Muslims to Dialogue

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State yesterday urged the Muslim community in the state to come to the dialogue table, saying his doors will remain open in order to ascertain genuine peace in the state.

State Commissioner of Water Resources Alhaji Idi Waziri, who led a government delegation to the Jos Central Mosque, said Governor Jang was saddened by the flood disaster which claimed many lives and properties, saying the unfortunate incident was coming at a time when the state was recovering from a crises situation that led to the death of two prominent figures.

"I am appealing for cooperation in order to achieve genuine and lasting peace in the state. My doors are open for dialogue," he said.

In his response, Chief Imam of the Jos Central Mosque Sheikh Balarabe Dawud thanked the delegation for reaching out to the Muslim community, saying this was the first of its kind to commiserate with the community.

He prayed to God to continue to protect and guide the governor of the state, stressing that Muslims in Jos were ready for genuine and sincere dialogue.

He, however, cautioned the state government that "I hope this will not be the same offer of dialogue that was made to us in the past by the Gbong-Gbon Jos. This is because a similar call was made to us for dialogue by the Gbong-Gbon and we responded with a written document but we never heard from them again."