By Muhammad Tanko Shittu
The Plateau State chapter of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, under the leadership of the Emir of Wase, Muhammad Haruna, has advised Christians in the state to stop turning the controversial rebuilding of Jos Terminus Market into a religious affair.
The Plateau State Executive Council had approved the reconstruction of the market gutted by fire in 2002 through a public-private partnership with Jaiz Bank Plc.
The reconstruction is estimated to cost N9.4 billion for three phases of the market.
The decision had attracted wide condemnation from Christians in the state, especially the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, which claimed that the “Islamic bank” should not be allowed to rebuild a “Christian dominated market”.
CAN also alleged that the market was burnt down by the Muslims in the state.
But the JNI, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Salem Musa-Umar, urged the Christians to eschew provocative utterances, saying that Muslims were the major victims of the crime at the time.
“We are deeply saddened by the turn of events recently where some people who think they own Plateau State or are superior citizens than others conjectured all sorts of absurd reasons to truncate the noble move by the Plateau State Government to fulfil one of its campaign promises.
“What baffled us was the delving into the matter by some Christian clergymen including the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Plateau State Chapter.
“Of particular concern to us was a trending video on social and mainstream media where someone was speaking under a clear banner that stated ‘Concerned Christians of Plateau’.
“We wonder that since when the rebuilding of the Jos Main Market turned into a religious issue that religious bodies will use it to cast aspersions on Muslims and Islam?” they asked.
The JNI lamented that tagging Muslims as terrorists and accusing them of burning down the market was saddening, stressing that about 50% of shop owners and operators at the market were Muslims.
“We are not unmindful of the outcome of the preliminary investigation report of those behind the burning of the Main Market, which was suppressed forcefully and anything that has to do with the market was left in a cooler until the coming of this administration.
“Our consultations clearly indicate that all Muslims in the state are fully in support of the reconstruction of the Jos Main Market embarked upon by the present administration under the leadership of Governor Lalong,” the statement added.
“The JNI reiterated its stand on that the viability and desirability of having the main market back into function in the interest of all in the state.
“We don’t care which financial institution funds the project as we know money has no religion,” the JNI said.
“We, therefore, call on all citizens in the state, especially our brothers in faith to eschew any form or bitterness that might have been implanted in their minds by some dubious politicians and support the move by this administration to restore the Jos Main Market into full use.
“We affirm our commitment to ensuring a peaceful Plateau State and unequivocally state that we don’t have any terrorist Muslim in Plateau State,” the statement added.
