Exactly 70 years ago, one of the greatest Jewish heroes of all times, David Ben Gurion, declared the founding of the State of Israel and return of Jews from all corners of the world after hundreds of years in exile. The birth of Jesus Christ, whom we celebrate today, took place at the time the Jews were under Roman conquest. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem owed much to the Roman decree requiring all Jews to return to their ancestral home for a headcount (census). Perhaps, this is why there is an emotional connection between Christmas and the ancestral home. Only yesterday I read somewhere that every Christmas, Ndigbo witnesses an influx of about 20 million Igbo returning home to celebrate festive season with extended family members!
Unfortunately, due to the lingering activities of insurgents and terrorists, like the Boko Haram and armed herdsmen killers, many Nigerians have been uprooted from their ancestral land and cannot celebrate Christmas at home. Among the millions of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are the remnants of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls and the lonely Miss Leah Sharibu. In Plateau State since the 2010 Dogon Nahawa massacre, thousands of IDPs are yet to be reunited with family not to even speak of celebrating Christmas together.
Seventy years, I can only imagine how the returnees in Israel celebrated their first Yom Kippur! It must be simply ecstatic!! Last week the Tribune newspaper titled a story “Home Sweet Home: Joy, Ecstasy as Plateau IDPs Return” to describe the homeward journey of displaced persons to their ancestral land for the Christmas.
Indeed, it is cheering news that Governor Simon Lalong kept his promise to ensure that the IDPs celebrate Christmas in the ancestral home, on December 20, 2018, when 207 households, comprising hundreds were escorted by military convoys back to their various homes in Kurra Falls, Kuzen and Kukuruk in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
Penultimate Tuesday, I suggested that the ability of the government to carry through this programme of “resettlement of displaced persons back on their ancestral lands” will be one of its greatest feats. One of my readers, an elated Evang. Kandi Ayuba, sent me this beautiful piece in response:
“Glory to God almighty for the commencement of the relocation of victims of the unfortunate various attacks in some local governments by armed herdsmen back to their ancestral homes just as promised by the Plateau State governor, Gov. Simon Lalong. The Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) who had been forced to take refuge in schools, worship places and other public facilities had gone through a lot of trauma, some to the extent of losing their humanity.
When the state government under Governor Simon Bako Lalong first promised a few months ago, that they would go back to their ancestral land as soon as practicable and set up the machinery in motion to this effect we were doubtful since no government had done it before. My hope however was raised when the governor got the approval of the Federal Government to deploy a detachment of Mobile Police Force to the most troubled spot of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. Then he followed it up with the appointment of the committee headed by Retired Air Vice Marshal Danbaba, a former commander of the state-owned security outfit, Operation Rainbow to work out the details which would guide the implementation of the programme.
As one of the indigenes of the affected areas it was a delight to us that the management of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Company (NESCO) agreed to willingly donate accommodation to the deployed police mobile force which will establish the government security presence and protection in the large territory for every law-abiding Nigerian and the relocated persons in their homes and on their farms.
I know many doubters who thought the exercise was a mere political gimmick to curry for votes especially as elections are around the corner. But with the actual relocation of the displaced people last week the government has demonstrated its honesty. Now many of our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters who we have not seen for years and months have joined us for the Christmas. Glory to God and thank you Governor Lalong. In fact, we commend the state government for this landmark achievement.
However, I wish you advice my brothers and sisters, to join hands with the government, devoid of politics and sentiments, to ensure the total relocation of thousands of others remaining persons in all IDP camps without delay. I plead that the Federal Government should ensure that in future there is no place for any forceful invasion and occupation by another group of people in this 21st century. The occupiers of the affected lands should tow the path of reason and withdraw peacefully or be militarily forced out. Plateau State, often described as a miniature Nigeria and an acclaimed ‘home of peace and tourism’ does not deserve what it had gone through in the past decade or so. Many unsuspected lives have been lost with others maimed while unquantifiable properties have been lost through these dastardly acts.
The state government should make adequate provision for the relocated people to restart their lives with reasonable comfort. They should be supported to go back to their legitimate means of livelihood especially farming activities which have remained disrupted. While we sympathise with families who have lost their loved ones in the various attacks, it is our belief that with adequate instrumentalities of peace and security in place, the state would not go back to these dark days.
I am Evang. Kandi Ayuba,
CCMI, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State”
P.S. On this day and on this occasion, I wish my teeming readers, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!” Celebrate in peace and love.
Announcement
I wish to also announce that I will be commencing on a brief leave from this column to attend to urgent private matters. I plead for your understanding. It has been my pleasure interacting with you here and through your private messages. I have learnt a great deal from you and made some good friends too.
END
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