Lalong warns against fanning embers of hatred, disunity

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has admonished religious leaders to be upright and patriotic in their preaching so as not to put the society in danger, noting that there is a huge dose of hate speech and wickedness in most of their utterances.

He, however, lauded the clerics for speaking the truth to power even if it is not palatable to the government.
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Lalong spoke, yesterday, at the annual prayer conference of chaplains of all the State Houses in the country that was held in Jos.
   
The governor urged the clerics to teach the younger generation love to save the nation from disintegration. He said Plateau had taken measures to ensure justice, as an inter-religious committee made up of the two main religions, has been set up in the state.
   
Lalong warned that anyone found to be fanning the embers of hatred in the state would be arrested and prosecuted.
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Speaking on the theme of the conference, “The Increase of His Peace”, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Dr. Yakubu Pam, noted that there seemed to be crisis everywhere, including families, religions and political parties and that the church has a role to play in restoring order.
    
According to Pam, peace of mind cannot be earned and cannot come through recognition as many rich people are committing suicide in spite of their riches.
            
“When you see people dress gorgeously and attractively, you think they don’t have problems. When they tell you their problems, you will be shocked. But Nigeria must move forward, Plateau must move forward. The internal peace is better than the riches outside.
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“For us to have peace in Nigeria, we must advise our politicians to link up with God. The problem we have now is because 2023 general elections are near.” Competition everywhere is dangerous. But it is only God who knows those who will emerge the 2023 political leaders,” he said.
    
On Nigeria at 61, Pam urged leaders to have the country at heart, saying doing so would guarantee a united Nigeria to fix things.
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He prayed to God to break the shackles of bad leadership in the country and set free those who are in captivity.
            
Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Rev. Polycarp Lubo, prayed for the country to witness peace from now on. He also prayed for the economic prosperity of the country and Plateau. “If the economy of the nation is down and doomed, we are all down and doomed. God should look upon the economy of Nigeria and let there be a turnaround and let it blossom,” he said.
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