The new chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Taraba State chapter, Magaji Jirapye, on Monday said youth empowerment was key to ending the high level of insecurity and under development in the country.
Jirapye, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo, said women and youth empowerment was his priority.
The chairman was elected on Saturday by the Christian community in Taraba.
The chairman explained that if the youths in the society were well empowered, thuggery, insurgency and other forms of social vices perpetrated by the youths would not be experienced.
He maintained that the issue of peace was non-negotiable, and urged both the Christians and Muslims to embrace one another to pave way for accelerated development.
He said that he had already contacted the Benue State CAN Chairman and that of the 19 Northern states for peace talks to end the crisis between the Jukuns and the Tivs for the benefit of all.
“I have collected the number of CAN chairman Benue state yesterday, in fact I spoke to the CAN chairman of the 19 Northern states. I also had a brief meeting with some Tiv brothers who came to congratulate me and we have already begun our arrangements how we will meet immediately for peace talk.
“I will target Women and Youth empowerment. Youths and women are the live wire of the society, and neglecting them means messing up the whole system.
The conflict between the Tivs and Jukuns has claimed many lives since it began on April 1, 2019 in Kente village in Taraba. Its latest casualty was the Federal University, Wukari, which was shut July 31 by the authorities and students ordered to vacate the campus. The closure followed separate protests by Tiv and Juken students, against alleged abduction and killing of some students and staff of the institution.
“This issue of peace is none negotiable, it is something that we must pursue and nobody can bend my mind about it,” Jirapye said.
“At this critical time Christians must embrace each other, most especially against violence. What is happening in southern Taraba is uncalled for. If the Jukuns and the Tivs finish killing each other everybody will be a looser,” he maintained.
