Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has called for a permanent end to bloodshed in Plateau as she donated N1 billion to the victims of recent violence in the state.
Mrs Tinubu, who held an interactive session with stakeholders in the state during a visit to Jos on Thursday, prayed for lasting peace on the Plateau.
She further expressed hope that the visit and donation would be the last she would make to the state on humanitarian grounds.
Addressing Governor Caleb Mutfwang, traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, women’s groups, community members, and others, Tinubu expressed concern over the ongoing violence that had plagued the state for years.
She insisted her visit to the state was not for politics, but from the heart of a mother, and pleaded with the men to protect the women and restore the peace that the state was known for.
“This visit is filled with mixed emotions. I came here as a mother, whose heart bleeds each time I hear about killings or bloodshed.
“It took me some time to respond, but I want to assure you this will be the last time I will respond to such a situation in Plateau.
“From now on, it shall be for the progress of the State,” Mrs Tinubu said.
She recalled being welcomed at the airport by a young girl offering fruits and calling Plateau “the land of peace and tourism,” a moment she said she took as a divine sign of hope.
Referencing the recently restored National Anthem and its call to “hand unto our children a banner without stain,” she urged the leaders to reflect on the legacy they were leaving behind.
“Have we truly protected our land? Women do not fight. We are asking the men to protect us, to ensure our children grow up without fear,” she added.
The first lady announced the donation under the Renewed Hope Initiative, her personal intervention project aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
She also handed food and other essential items to the people through the governor’s wife, Mrs Helen Mutfwang.
Mrs Tinubu clarified that the funds were not from government coffers but from people of goodwill who were supporting her initiative.
“I do not have vast sums of money, but what I have is meant to bring life. This is not government money. It is what I have raised to help others.”
She reiterated her prayers that future visits to the Plateau would also be pleasant in order to explore the beauty and tourism potentials of the state and not to respond to tragedy.
She further appealed to the traditional rulers to play their role as custodians of peace.
“Office holders will come and go, but you will remain. Please, bring peace to this land,” she pleaded.
She reaffirmed her love for Nigerians and Nigeria and her desire to enjoy its beauty in peace at her old age.
“My love for this country is not political. I want to see Nigeria flourish. Let’s protect our children and preserve our land,” she said.
Responding, the Gov. Mutfwang thanked the first lady for her support and prayers.
He described her as “a mother of the nation” who had shown consistent compassion for vulnerable communities.
He lauded Mrs Tinubu for her dedication to humanitarian efforts through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
“She has travelled across the country, bringing support to those in need. Her presence here today is deeply appreciated,” Mutfwang said.
The governor, however, assured Mrs Tinubu that the state was committed to peace and reconciliation, as his administration was engaging leaders of faith, tradition rulers, and communities to end the decades of violence.
“We promise to provide leadership that unites us. With voices like hers encouraging us, we are confident we’ll get there,” he said.
The governor expressed gratitude for the donation and acknowledged the first lady’s sincerity and concern for Plateau’s future.
“You carry a deep burden for the Plateau. We thank you for your prayers and support.
“We are determined to ensure that our testimony as a state is that is the home of peace and tourism.
:I am sure as you flew over the land, you saw the beauty of the land from the airplane, and I am sure that by the grace of God, we will make that beauty to radiate in the faces of our people.
“We want to thank you most immensely for this August visit. And in our personal conversations, I know she carries a burden that Plateau finds peace, and that is her prayer.
“Today she has come to express that. We welcome you sincerely, and we say may God continue to preserve you,” Mutfwang said.
