Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has blamed Nigeria’s lingering security challenges on the actions and inaction of the country’s elite, warning that unless they take deliberate steps to foster unity, peace will remain elusive.
Speaking in Jos at a stakeholders’ dialogue themed “Community Policing as a Panacea for Insecurity in Nigeria: The Case of Plateau State”, the governor argued that insecurity is largely an elite-driven crisis.
“My theory is that more than anybody else, the challenges of insecurity in Nigeria are created by the elite,” Mutfwang said. “When elites conspire to lead the people in the wrong direction, we will continue to experience perennial crises.”
The governor stressed that meaningful public engagement on security must be rooted in sincerity and patriotism, especially from the elite class who have the power to influence both public opinion and policymaking.
According to him, while inter-communal tension may begin at the grassroots level, it is often aggravated and sustained by the elite through divisive rhetoric and manipulation.
“Even when the poisoning of minds begins in the community, if the elite takes leadership and says it must stop, they can address it decisively and it will stop,” he said. “But when the elite fan the embers of hatred—through their analysis, narratives, and misinformation—they sustain and escalate conflict.”
Mutfwang noted that many of the country’s ethno-religious conflicts could be curtailed if those in positions of influence exercised moral and responsible leadership.
He therefore urged Nigeria’s elite to shift from divisive politics and instead promote unity, peaceful coexistence, and national development, particularly in volatile regions like Plateau State.
“I came into office with a firm resolve to restore lasting peace in Plateau,” he said. “That is why I have deliberately worked to bridge divides built across religion and ethnicity.”
Despite criticism and perceived political labelling, Mutfwang maintained that he had done more than any of his predecessors since 1999 in fostering peace and unity in the state.
“As recently as yesterday, I heard reports of being labelled in certain influential circles. Still, I can beat my chest and say, without fear of contradiction, that I have done more than any governor since 1999 in building peace and unity on the Plateau,” he asserted.
Governor Mutfwang’s remarks come at a time of renewed calls for community-based policing and national dialogue on the root causes of insecurity across Nigeria.
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