President Bola Tinubu has described himself as a “very stubborn politician” whom his enemies tried to get rid off through insecurity.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving stakeholders from Plateau State led by Governor Caleb Muftwang, on Tuesday night, Tinubu said he had remained resolute despite criticism over insecurity.
“You are playing to the hand of agents, including my own enemies, who want to use insecurity to get rid of me. But I’m a very stubborn politician. I just refuse to go. And I will campaign for my second term,” he said.
The President said the Federal Government would act once those instigating or financing the violence are identified.
“If you identify and you know the name of troublemakers, agents or provocateurs who want to continue killing or instigate killing, let us know.
“We will use the instrument of office to deal with them,” Tinubu said.
He stressed that security agencies would not hesitate to move against such persons once credible intelligence is provided, insisting that the cycle of violence in the state must be broken.
Tinubu also endorsed a newly constituted peace committee involving former governors of Plateau, directing them to work as a single body to review existing white papers on past conflicts and present consolidated recommendations for implementation.
“Call one another. Ignore the Governor’s Committee if you have to, or incorporate them. Take that white paper, go through it among yourselves and agree to implement it.
“If the ones you have chosen before now are not working, you have to mix and amend membership.
“Forget those committees you mentioned to me, if it’s not working, it’s not working. Consider this group as the committee until we find a lasting solution,” he said.
The meeting follows a high-level engagement with the President in the wake of the Angwa Rukuba killings earlier this month.
Tinubu, who visited the state, met with some stakeholders, all in efforts to find lasting solution.
Former Governor Simon Lalong had suggested that the president should have a closed door meeting involving key past and present leaders of the state, including former governors and traditional rulers, to speak frankly and commit collectively to ending the violence.
“The solution to the problem of Plateau lies with the people. If we are ready for it, we will proffer the solution,” he had said.
“I saw it all. We went through a state of emergency and came out of it. We thought it was over, but it is rearing its head again.
“If you bring all of us together, Jang, Dariye, Lalong, Mutfwang and the traditional rulers, you may find a lasting solution because all of us have gone through it,” he said.
Lalong added that such a meeting, to be held with the President in Abuja, would allow stakeholders to “tell themselves the truth” and make a firm commitment to peace.
“We must reach a point where everybody agrees that there will be no more blood on Plateau,” he stressed, lamenting the continued loss of innocent lives.
