Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima on Saturday called for a renewed national covenant on peace, urging Nigerians to reject ethnic profiling, religious hatred, misinformation and retaliatory violence as the country strives for lasting security and development.
Speaking in Jos during the 80th birthday celebration and public presentation of the autobiography of former Plateau State Governor, Jonah David Jang, Shettima said peace remains a shared responsibility of government, traditional institutions, religious leaders and citizens.
The Vice President, who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill to the celebrant, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to building a secure and inclusive Nigeria where every citizen can live and work freely regardless of ethnicity, religion or region. He said sustainable economic growth and national prosperity cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear, insecurity and distrust.
“A people at peace is the highest achievement of any government because peace is the soil in which every other blessing grows,” Shettima said, stressing that no community can flourish in isolation. He noted that the fortunes of farmers, traders and businesses across the country are interconnected and depend on peace beyond their immediate communities.
Describing Plateau State as “Nigeria in miniature,” the Vice President said the state’s diversity, challenges and resilience reflect the broader Nigerian experience. According to him, progress in Plateau strengthens the federation, while setbacks in the state underscore the need for continued national reconciliation.
Shettima strongly condemned attempts to blame entire ethnic, religious or regional groups for crimes committed by individuals, insisting that criminality has no ethnic or religious identity. “Crime has no tribe. Violence has no religion. Murder carries no mandate from any community,” he said, warning that collective blame only deepens division and weakens national unity.
He acknowledged the years of violence experienced in Plateau State, saying criminal elements had sought to destroy farming, commerce and peaceful coexistence. However, he commended the people of the state for refusing to surrender to hatred and for demonstrating resilience in preserving peaceful coexistence.
The Vice President assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would continue to discharge its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property but maintained that citizens must also reject rumours, inflammatory rhetoric and revenge in favour of reconciliation and dialogue.
Paying tribute to Jang, Shettima described the former military officer, governor and senator as a statesman whose influence transcends politics, ethnicity and religion. He said a life of public service should be measured not by wealth or power but by the positive impact made on the lives of others.
He also announced the appointment of Yakubu Jang, son of the former Plateau governor, as Senior Special Assistant to the President.
Earlier, Goodluck Jonathan described Jang’s autobiography as a testament to his integrity and accomplishments in public service, saying the book offers valuable lessons on patience, peace and leadership for younger generations.
