The Gbong gwong Jos, Da Jacob Buba Gyang has appealed to the youths to embrace dialogue and seek a more peaceful way to express their grouse rather than take to violence.
Speaking during a cultural splendor at his palace commemorating the 33rd edition of the National Festival of Arts and culture, NAFEST being hosted in Plateau state, the monarch who noted that Plateau state is enjoying relative peace due to efforts of government, indigenes and security agencies blamed the increase in violence among youths on eroded culture.
The Gbong Gwon Jos who emphasized the importance of culture as a tool for peace and unity said the biggest challenge facing the country was ” insecurity”
The monarch said the determination to hold this year’s NAFEST showed much hope and added that celebration of the country’s rich cultural heritage including food, dance , games, craft and moon light plays should continue after the festival.
The monarch who went down memory lane said the country would definitely overcome some of the challenges it is facing today, pointing out that the relative peace in Plateau state now was as a result of government efforts and security agencies.
Earlier the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture , Otumba Segun Runsewe, who led the NAFEST delegation including dancers from seven states to the Monarch’s palace decried the imitation of Western culture by the youths and emphasized on the need to go back to the root.
Otumba Runsewe described the Gbong Gwon Jos as a leader who has contributed positively to the development of the nation.
High point of the event was cultural dances by some states including Nasssarawa, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Delta, Rivers and Plateau states.
