When Plateau sang hallelujah: Three days, fifty thousand voices and a state reborn in joy

There are moments in history when a people forget their pain, drop their suspicions, silence their arguments and lift one united voice to heaven. For Plateau State, that moment arrived between November 28 and 30, 2025. Three glorious days when over 50,000 worshippers trooped daily to the world-famous Ten Commandments Prayer Altar in Jos to do one thing and one thing alone: praise God like He had just landed on the Plateau with a megaphone saying, “I have remembered you!”

And truly, the people had every reason to praise.

For years, Plateau grappled with security challenges that tested its resilience—from violent attacks in rural communities, herder–farmer conflicts, pockets of banditry in remote areas, and communal misunderstandings that shook the peace of many local government areas. But slowly and steadily, the tides are turning.

The state government has strengthened community policing, expanded early-warning mechanisms, partnered with security agencies, deployed more technology, and enhanced local intelligence networks. The result is clear: the peace is returning, the tension is easing, and the Plateau is breathing again.

So when the people gathered to praise, they didn’t come empty-hearted, they came with relief, gratitude and pure joy.

A Festival Heaven Could Not Ignore

The Plateau Praise Festival was not a small “come-and-chop-rice” affair. It was a spiritual carnival. A holy convocation. A praise jamboree. A celebration that could almost make the angels say, “We must go there too!”

For three days, the Ten Commandments ground transformed into a sea of joyful faces, dancing feet and lifted hands. The atmosphere sparkled with colour, ambience and a beauty only God Himself could have arranged.

And then came the dignitaries. Big names. National names. Names that command security escorts longer than the average Nigerian CV.

Seated in the crowd were:

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who walked in majestically at exactly 4:10 pm for the opening ceremony (because statesmen don’t arrive; they appear).

Former governors

Ministers

Commissioners

Heads of government agencies

And of course, the Plateau political father himself, Senator Jonah David Jang, the man whose vision birthed the Ten Commandments Prayer Altar.

And truly, Papa Jang wanted the “Hallelujah” of Plateau people to reach every corner of Nigeria. Judging by the volume that night, even Cameroon must have heard it.

“The Egyptian You See Today…”

The people of Plateau chanted this biblical proclamation with boldness:
“The Egyptian you see today, you shall see no more!”

It was more than a verse; it was a declaration that their days of insecurity were fading away.

Even Obasanjo, in his classic statesmanly humour, echoed the confidence of the moment.

He said: “You started this programme last year and it went well. This year is going well. What I have seen has watered my mouth for next year. I take note that next year’s edition is November 29.”

He didn’t just attend; he booked next year’s seat!

A Governor Who Came Singing… Literally

If you ever doubted that Nigerian politicians can sing, Plateau Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, ended that argument permanently.

He entered the arena in full worship mode, belting out: “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice!”

People were shocked. Even the ushers paused to confirm it wasn’t a choir member disguised as His Excellency.

But truly, the Governor was in his element, praising, singing, lifting hands and rejoicing like David before the ark.

Yet beneath his joyful worship was a deep message: “Plateau has not achieved more because we stab one another, fight one another, oppose one another. This programme was born to unite us, to show the world that great things can come out of Plateau.”

It was a call to unity. A plea for brotherhood. And a declaration that Plateau’s blessing can only blossom when Plateau’s people walk together.

Paul Enenche: A Sermon That Touched Even the Stones

Renowned preacher Dr. Paul Enenche delivered a message titled “THE GIFT OF CHRIST.”

He reminded the crowd that Christ is:

• God’s communication of love
• God’s communication of solution
• God’s communication of direction
• God’s principle for living
• God’s wisdom
• God’s peace
• And God’s salvation

The message was simple, deep and unforgettable. Even the hills of Jos seemed to nod in agreement.

The Choir That Stole the Show

Imagine an 600-man unity choir in dazzling green and yellow regalia, standing like a choir of angels borrowed from heaven.

Their rendition of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” didn’t just thrill the crowd, it lifted the entire worship centre into a higher realm. People didn’t just hear the music; they felt it in their bones.

Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu, Buchi Atuonwu and Uche Itiaba followed, electrifying the gathering with powerful worship that made even the stiffest politicians sway involuntarily.

Obasanjo: “Old Soldiers Never Die…”

When the retired soldiers welcomed him to the stage, Obasanjo grinned, saying: “Old soldiers never die…”

The crowd roared.

Then he delivered the kind of speech only OBJ can give, humorous, blunt, fatherly and sharp.

He emphasized three things:

1. The mission of Christ is to give life abundantly, even in a troubled world.

2. Government must secure lives.

3. Technology should be used to wipe out killers.

He ended with a heartfelt appeal: “We are tired of being killed. The life of every Nigerian matters.”

And the crowd echoed it with thunderous applause.

The Governor’s Moving Declaration

At the climax of the event, the Governor formally declared the Festival open, saying: “Let the spirit of unity envelop us. Let love bind us. Plateau is God’s blessing to Nigeria, and we must rise together to make that blessing a reality.”

The words carried weight. The applause said it all. The unity was palpable.

A Festival That Became a Testament

This grand three-day festival did more than celebrate God, it testified that Plateau is rising again.

As one participant joked: “The enjoyment of the soup is not in the aroma but in the taste. You don’t stay outside to know what is happening inside.”

Those who attended tasted something extraordinary: unity, hope, healing, strength and a renewed Plateau.

And as the last Hallelujah echoed through the Jos skyline, one thing became clear:

The Plateau that once cried is now singing. And the world is listening.

Tooki is a founder/editor, communication strategist and public relations expert. He can be reached via [email protected]