Christians to Gov. Ishaku: We are losing hope on you

• 'Gov. Ishaku handling Jukun/Tiv crisis satisfactory' –PDP

Christian Clerics in Taraba State has called on Governor Darius Ishaku to address communal conflicts among various ethnic divide in the state with new vigor, saying the Christian community are loosing confidence on the governor to end daily killing in the state.

 They noted that the worrisome nature of crisis between various ethnic groups like Tiv/Jukun, Mambilla/Fulani, Kona/Fulani, Yandang/Fulani, Mumuye/Fulani and Shomo/Wurkum conflicts were not properly handled by the state government under Governor Ishaku.

Speaking in Jalingo at a peace workshop organized by the Christian Clerics Forum or Peace and Conflict Mitigation, CCFPCM, participants said the Christian community is fast losing hope on Governor Ishaku in face of daily killings across the state.

The workshop which took place at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Secretariat has participants drawn from all Christian organizations in Taraba state  for a resolution on peace and mutual respect across borders.

Rev. Mails Isaac Odah lamented the division of the Church along denomination line, adding that there’s so much gap between Christian clerics on one hand, and members on the other.

“We pledge as a body to do all we can to take this body through the process of peace.” He said.

On his part, the President of the Forum Rev. (Dr.) Philemon AzaraSaredau  said  advice the state government to set up Peace and Conflict Reconciliation and Mitigation Commission to handle crises in the state to be manned by righteous religious leaders without political influence.

He further added that Communities living in mistrust should dialogue to understand their grievances and attend to them where necessary especially the Tiv/Jukun, Fulani and Kona for peace to reign.

The Southern Taraba PDP Stakeholders and Elders Forum said the Taraba State government is handling the unending hostility between the Jukuns and Tiv ethnic tribe ‘satisfactory ‘.

The PDP  group in a statement reacting to its APC counterpart  said Governor Ishaku  has done a lot ''and is still doing his best within his constitutional powers and ability to end the Kidnapping and ensure Peace between Jukun/Tiv in Wukari Local Government Area and Taraba State. Categorically, we wish to state that a call on DDI to relocate to Southern Taraba is unconventional, unreasonable and unacceptable.''