JOS—As the crises with in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State defy all possible solutions, the elders in the area have called for the immediate repeal of both Jos north and South council areas in the interest of lasting peace.









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The elders under the Berom Elders council, said at a press conference that the haste that characterised the splitting of the former Jos local government area by former military president Ibrahim Babangida was a curse rather than blessings to the people in the area.


Speaking on behalf of the council, Da. Yohana Nyam Dang said the council was dismayed over the recent religious disturbances that claimed lives of innocent Nigerians, adding that it will only be fair if those affected are duly compensated by the government.


According to him, until a proper procedure was followed in creating a new local governmnet area for the area, the crisis in the area would continue because those that are responsible appeared to be enjoying federal backing than the real inhabitants of the area.


As part of their demands, they called on the state governor, Jonah Jang not to waste time in inaugurating the elected chairmen and councillors in the 17 council areas, which according to them, would ease the tension across the state.


They recalled that the Hausa Fulanis have been the first to attack, hinting that in the past, the igbos have suffered several such attacks simply because of their mode of dressings, especially during the tin mining activities in Jos city.


The council further noted with dismay that the Hausas are quick to forget their origin, because Plateau state or Jos North was never a Hausa state as history has indicated, insisting that “Jos and Plateau state has stood out as a beacon for christianity in the north and perhaps even Nigeria” hence their discomfort and struggles to capture the area at all cost.


According to them, “the truth is that most of their [Hausa] parents and grand parents came to Jos courtesy of the colonial government’s draft of labour force to work on the mine fields[ Diban Gwamna]. Some of their forebearers were serving prison terms in Jos and on release, preffered not to go back, while some came as traders, dry season farmers and so on”.


http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jan/7/312.html

I have always wondered why the lingua franca in Jos is Hausa?
Why havnt the Berom been able to fully conquer their so called lands?