The name Prince Vincent Venman Bulus alias Money in the boot, may be famous in many virtuous acts and motives but most profoundly, a byword for philanthropy, social Justice and democratic activism. Blessed with a set of weak and colorless political foes, the young Executive Chairman of Langtang South LGC, waxes and wanes without any ramifications.
The wealthy young man’s socialist and philanthropic instincts is simply out of this world. No wonder, he enjoys a popularity that is unique to him. But just like any other human endeavor, his stay in the murky waters of Plateau politics, hasn’t been without incidences. In this chat with Jos Correspondent of Kwararafa Reporters, Comfort Billa Philemon took time to drive us through the interesting details of the unmanageable sojourn.
Interview Excerpt:
Q Kwararafa Reporters : You are one political leader that foes imagine as embattled on many fronts. Is there any chance that your regime is plagued with such inadequacies?
Ans Prince: That will entirely depend on their characterization of a predicament. For me, I’m a simple person, destined to espouse the politics of generosity, care and standing up for the oppressed. I’m verifiably passionate about putting smiles on the faces of my people and of course, fellow Nigerians. I try in my own little way to attend to my peoples’ financial and material needs, as personal, urgent and uncompromising as possible.
As an elected Chairman, I have prioritized the security, peace, dignity and economy of my people. God’s own mercy has been sufficient, since I resumed as the elected LGC Chairman and Chief Security officer, The LGA hasn’t recorded any of such horrendous internal or invading foreign criminal gangs. I create and sustain level playing field for all to pursue their goals, without let or hindrance. My joy, to the glory of God, is that so far, my people sleep with their eyes closed. The LGC revenue net has been greatly widen and collection is at the verge of digitalization. Resources are now dully accounted for, and focal facilities like the Health and Education sub sectors are running optimally. These I do without apology or fear. May be these are the kind of commitments, integrity and passion I have brought to the table, that failed and warped minded politicians like them adjudged as an embattlement. Considering the anxious moments, there’s some neglected facts of life that, we must begin to take serious now. One is, eventful leadership has little or nothing to do with your Paper credentials. And the other, that Resources can never be scarce but Resourceful leaders. Daily Agenda: Walk us through the temper issues your opponents say you have.Prince: To start with, I don’t have issues with regulating my emotions and, I take exception to their wayward insensitivity.
The issue is that desperate politicians have been allowed to elevate ruse and hypocrisy to a level of culture. These type of politicians have made Moral values like Truth, hard work and honesty look like weakness, and waste of time. I fear for the youths. This is the exact tactics some of their parents used and squandered our parents’ generation. And their children are at it again! They are using the same tactics to squander our own generation and those of our children, this is not fair. I urge Taroh youths to weak up from their terrible slumber. Tarohland is in shambles.
Q : Where do you place the 74th Resettlement Day episode? . It was one single incident that rightly sparked all the bad publicity.
Ans : Thank God you brought this up. Like I have said severally, the incident was as avoidable as it was a premeditated. That Hon. Ubandoma’s show was just desperate decoy to disrupt the Resettlement Day celebrations, but luckily, they didn’t succeed. And to tell you how successful the Day was, first our target was to raise N15m but we ended up with over N28m and counting. This is largely unprecedented and, if you allow me, it is an endorsement of my person, popularity, focused and progressive leadership.For the records, this was how the regrettable skirmishes started. An extended convoy of vehicles with unruly mob arrived the venue with the most disruptive and insultive language of the century. The toxins, chanting songs more of war than celebration, refused to calm down. Shortly, Hon.Ubanduma Laven emerged from one of the tinted Toyota Hiluxes and headed to the VIP stand. While there, he wanted to take the seat of the Executive Chairman of Langtang North LGC and, I sow how the protocol officials unsuccessfully tried to manage the situation. As the Chairman and Chief Security Officer, I only wanted to nib the situation, but alas, the next thing Ubanduma did was to snatch the Microphone from the MC and started chanting their Party’s name and slogan PDP, PDP-Power to the people. Suddenly the whole place went agog, guns stated blaring. And as a carefully scripted plan, Hon. Beni and Rtd. AVM Bali, quickly left the venue and never looked back. Shortly, Ubanduma also left with his hoodlums. While this confusion was raging, prerecorded messages and baseless videos had already gone virile on the social Media networks. For God sake, is this how elected officials are supposed to conduct themselves? So, it was just a desperate situation which requires a desperate solution. It took us time to restore normalcy.And let me use this opportunity to correct an impression; we Tarohs are only courageous and honest not unruly and desperate people. Those who are trying to forcefully replace these inate values their vile political narratives, owe it a duty to our founding fathers to stop. Politics and generations will come and go but Taroh land remains.
Q Where you wrestled to the ground and beaten by these PDP hoodlums?
Ans : Never. Can you imagine, one of the sensational recordings even speculates that in that confusion, one of the Taroh masquerades crashed into a tree and was revived at a hospital, trying to flee the troubled venue? There wasn’t anything of such.
Q Daily : What steps are you taking to resolve or forestall a re-occurrence, as the Taroh nation is billed to celebrate their day in May 2022?
Ans : Strong efforts are in the works to brief critical leadership structures like the joint Taroh Traditional Council and the Ngwan Ishi O’taroh –N.I.O. I’m particularly encouraged by the integrity and energy the current officials of N.I.O have brought to bear to our collective desire to remain united and caring for one another. I will be expecting to hear their roadmap on how to restor the Taroh lost glory and stoping us from leaving in the past glory of our former leaders. The Ponzhi Taroh stool remains a big challenge but I recognize the great efforts the entire members of the Taroh Joint Traditional Council are doing to fill the void. My thanks go to the HRH, the Ponzhi Zinni and Deputy chairman Taroh Joint Traditional Council. Hon.Nimnan L
Q.: One of the reasons rumor mills adduce for PDP not seeing eye to eye with you, has to do with the 2023 elections. Is there any interest of yours that threatens theirs?
Ans: Don’t mind them, is just their politics of bitterness greed and intolerance that is hunting them! The saying, Power comes from God is real and incontestable. For God to have created us as fallible as we are, it means that no single person owes us a holistic solution to our problems and needs. It is the lack of humility and appreciation that has brought to this desperation and irresponsible desire to remain in political offices forever. Let me tell you, in this highly Enlightened and smarty generation of the most competent Taroh Sons and Daughters, no single idea or approach is the best or indispensable. Thus,10 years of the same idea or approach is certainly forever, let alone 16 for God sake! I’m for change and no one has the muscle to intimidate me or my party, APC out of it. I haven’t offended or insulted anyone for aspiring towards a credible change in the Langtang north/Langtang South Fed. House of Representatives 2023 elections.
Q : Apart from attending to the personal economy of your deprived people, which other major focus do you have?
Ans . : My major and irrevocable motivation in joining politics and of course contesting for elective offices, is to put genuine smiles on the beautiful faces of my people! As a practical public-spirited person, I’m set to lift my people out of their grinding poverty and squalor. This I will be accomplished through the empowering of Youths and Women. We will fund Langtang South economy to the place of plenty and independence. Basic Infrastructures like water and roads are key to our revolutional agenda. I promise to bring prosperity and security to the doorstep of all citizens of Langtang South LGA.
Q : What’s your advice to Taroh Youths.
Ans : The Taroh youths are unique and competitive in any sense. The hope and pride of Tarohland. They have distinguished themselves in many ways, the only problem is the system they met on ground that we are trying to change for the betterment of all.
Kwararafa Reporters 