Plateau Govt Urges Calm Over Controversial Indigeneship Court Ruling

The Plateau State Government has appealed to citizens and stakeholders to exercise restraint in their public engagements following a controversial court ruling that has sparked heated debates across the state.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the government expressed concern that the subject has generated public commentaries "capable of heightening tension among communities that have coexisted peacefully for decades."

Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang's administration emphasized that the Jos North Local Government Council retains the constitutional right to appeal the judgment, urging all parties to "allow the due process of law to take its full course without resorting to actions or statements capable of undermining public peace and harmony."

The government noted that issues of indigeneship, citizenship, and residency rights have long been subjects of constitutional and scholarly discourse across Nigeria, cautioning against reducing these "complex national issues to a single Local Government Area."

"The questions raised by the judgment transcend Jos North Local Government Area and are part of broader national conversations that affect numerous communities and local government councils across the Federation," the statement read.

While recognizing citizens' constitutional right to express views on matters of public interest, the government warned it would not tolerate individuals or groups exploiting the situation "to incite hatred, sow division, promote suspicion, or undermine the peaceful coexistence that Plateau State has worked hard to build and sustain."

The administration reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, stressing that it would neither "pre-judge, endorse, nor condemn the substance of a judicial decision through public commentary."

Religious leaders, community heads, youth groups, and civil society organizations were urged to help preserve peace and unity across the state.

The government reassured residents of its dedication to "justice, fairness, inclusion, and the protection of the rights and dignity of every resident, irrespective of ethnic, religious, or cultural background."