OPINION

Same city but changed mindset
I was in Jos last week on official assignment. I interacted with a lot of people and visited many places. Before my journey, I thought of the various things that people had said about Jos, the capital of Plateau State. It is true I left that city, May 2001, and the last time l visited was in December 2007, just for four days. Well, since 2001, l have always concerned myself with any news from this central state. After all, l was born and bred in Jos north. I lived there for over 20 years. So, it will be impossible to shove aside any news from Jos. So, when my childhood friend informed me about the changes in Jos because of the religious crisis of almost 15 years ago, I felt bad. I desired to be there once again, to appraise situations for myself. At last the opportunity came – official assignment to last for three days. I was thrilled, despite the disappointment of having to fly to Abuja and make my way straight to Jos on road. The prospect though daunting, but the joy of seeing my birth place swallowed the disgust. I was picked up by a colleague at 6:40 p.m. and straight to my hotel. While in my room, I regaled myself with thought about Jos, the home of Peace and Tourism. The love we all shared with friends and well-wishers. We had no enemies, no religious barrier and no tribal sentiments. We only had our “harmattan” and peace in common. We lived like relations closely knit together. There were moments when politics and even some politically inclined human beings would want to upset the apple cart with issues to make our environment tensed up, yet we have always brushed that aside. Because the bond of peace was esteemed, too sacred to be toyed with by unnecessary sentiments from parochial minds. I remember how my friend Sam would leave his shop for Muslims to pray in it, to accommodate worshippers who would throng the mosque to pray every Friday. Rev Paul Gindiri’s programme, then attracted many worshippers such that roads would be blocked, but we never had problems. I won’t forget how programmes like Rana bata kariya on PRTV, every Tuesday would bring all of us together, for a good laugh.

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