The Plateau State Government has denied the statement credited to Governor Caleb Mutfwang by some media organizations that he apologised to the Igbo Nation over the civil war.
Following the alleged publication many Nigerians reacted to the statement credited to the governor. While some applauded the governor, others expressed concern.
Mutfwang was said to have made the statement during a recent courtesy visit by Igbo leaders from the 17 local government areas of the state.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Wednesday, by the governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs , Gyang Bere, said the governor’s statement was misinterpreted.
Bere said the government is concerned that portions of the Governor’s remarks have been “deliberately taken out of context and presented in ways that neither reflect the substance of the conversation nor the convictions of Governor Mutfwang.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Mutfwang’s remarks were made in the spirit of appreciation, reconciliation and national unity. They were intended to acknowledge the resilience, enterprise and enduring contributions of the Igbo community to the growth, prosperity and social fabric of Plateau State, while encouraging all Nigerians to continue building bridges of mutual respect, understanding and peaceful coexistence.
“At no point did the Governor seek to diminish the painful experiences of any ethnic group or the historical realities surrounding Nigeria’s Civil War. The scars of that period remain part of our national history and deserve to be remembered with empathy, honesty and sensitivity. Equally, they remind us of the enduring responsibility to strengthen the bonds that unite us rather than reopen wounds that generations of Nigerians have worked hard to heal.”
Bere, however, said Governor Mutfwang remains firmly committed to preserving and strengthening legacy, explaining that his administration believes that Plateau’s greatest strength lies not in the differences among its people but in their ability to transform diversity into unity and shared prosperity.
He therefore urged members of the public to disregard interpretations that seek to assign meanings to the Governor’s remarks that were neither intended nor expressed, adding that “such distortions serve no constructive purpose and only distract from the broader message of unity, gratitude and national cohesion that defined the engagement.”
News Credit to our media partner DailyTrust Home .
