Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the responsibility of restoring peace and unity in Plateau State—and across Nigeria—rests primarily on the shoulders of Nigerians, not on any foreign body.
Akpabio made the remark on Saturday at the Jos Polo Field during the formal reception of political defectors into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Representing President Bola Tinubu at the event, he stressed that both the government and citizens must work together to rebuild trust, heal divisions, and end years of recurring violence.
“It is not outsiders who will come and give you peace. It is we, Nigerians, who must bring peace. We must learn to live together. Without peace, there can be no progress,” he said.
Akpabio reaffirmed President Tinubu’s resolve to end the violence that has plagued Plateau and other troubled regions, assuring residents that the federal government is fully committed to restoring stability.
He became emotional as he spoke about the incessant killings in the state, describing the loss of human lives—whether children or adults—as deeply painful.
I cry whenever I hear that a human being, whether a child or an adult, has been killed,” he said.
“Too much blood has been shed. Nigeria is crying, and we are not happy.”
According to him, the Plateau crisis did not begin under the current administration. He recalled that some of the international reports being cited today date as far back as 2010, when he was governor and witnessed similar waves of violence.
He acknowledged the scale of destruction, displacement, and trauma suffered by communities but pledged that renewed government efforts would be deployed to restore enduring peace.
Akpabio urged Plateau residents to support President Tinubu’s peace and development agenda, insisting that unity and cooperation with the APC-led government remain critical for the state’s progress.
Anyone who will lead this state must be committed to peace. This is the only party that cares for you,” he stated.
The Senate President reiterated that peace is the foundation for prosperity and called on citizens to embrace harmony in the interest of Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
