Shettima Calls for Renewed National Covenant on Peace, Rejects Ethnic Profiling

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to embrace a renewed national covenant on peace, stressing that lasting peace remains a shared responsibility of government, traditional institutions, community leaders, and citizens.

Shettima made the call on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State, during the celebration of the 80th birthday and public presentation of the autobiography of former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah David Jang. 

Speaking at the event, the Vice President said no nation can achieve sustainable development in an atmosphere of insecurity, fear, and mistrust. According to him, peace is the foundation upon which economic prosperity, social harmony, and national progress are built.

“A people at peace is the highest achievement of any government because peace is the soil in which every other blessing grows,” Shettima said while reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national unity and security. 

The Vice President, who conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill to the celebrant, assured Nigerians that the current administration remains committed to building a country where every citizen feels safe regardless of ethnic, religious, or regional background.

Shettima urged Nigerians to reject ethnic profiling, religious intolerance, misinformation, hate speech, and retaliatory violence, warning that such actions only deepen divisions and undermine efforts to build a peaceful and prosperous nation.

He argued that criminals should never be identified with entire ethnic or religious groups, insisting that crime has no tribe, religion, or geographical identity.

According to him, when innocent people are blamed for crimes committed by individuals, society only empowers criminals to sow greater division and distrust among communities. He maintained that national unity requires citizens to judge individuals by their actions rather than their backgrounds. 

The Vice President described Plateau State as “Nigeria in miniature,” noting that the state’s diversity, history, challenges, and resilience reflect the broader Nigerian experience. He said peace and development in Plateau would positively impact the stability of the entire federation.

He observed that economic prosperity depends on peaceful coexistence, explaining that communities across Nigeria are interconnected through agriculture, commerce, transportation, and investment.

According to Shettima, insecurity in one region inevitably affects the economic wellbeing of others, making peace a collective national responsibility rather than the duty of government alone.

He therefore called on community leaders, religious organisations, traditional rulers, youth groups, and civil society organisations to continue promoting dialogue, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence across the country.

Paying tribute to former Governor Jonah Jang, Shettima described him as a distinguished statesman whose years of public service have contributed significantly to national development. He said leadership should ultimately be measured by the positive impact made on people’s lives rather than by political office or material wealth.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, and other dignitaries also attended the event, where they commended Jang’s contributions to public service and nation-building. 

Shettima concluded by assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government would continue to strengthen security, promote peaceful coexistence, and create an environment where businesses can thrive, investments can grow, and citizens can live without fear.

He reiterated that achieving lasting peace requires collective commitment from all Nigerians, urging citizens to reject violence and embrace dialogue as the pathway to national development and unity.