Plateau House Of Assembly Members-Elect from Langtang North- North state constituency Hon. Nannim Joseph Langyi has promised to boost small and medium scale enterprises in his constituency in a bid to create jobs for the teeming youths in his constituency’.
Langyi stated this in an interview with newsmen in Jos shortly after he received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) .
According to him, the youths in his constituency’ have lots of potentials but lacks the opportunity to showcase themselves adding that with access to soft loans, they will do more better and their lives will be transformed .
Langyi explained that he was propelled to join the race because of his desires to serve the people at the grassroot with a view to make huge impact in their lives.
He a pointed out that as a grassroot politician, he will not take the mandate given to him by the good people of his constituency’ for granted.
” Having worked with our dear mother Hon. Beni Lar, the 5th times member representing Langtang North/Langtang South federal Constituency for decades,the people have seen the leadership qualities he has demostrated over the years and called him to come and serve them in this capacity”.
Langyi further stressed “My people are looking up to me with great expectations and I will make sure I go to any length within the ambit of the law to bring dividends of democracy to their door steps.”
He promised to do everything humanly possible to protect their interest at any time .
He urged his opponent who lost in the election to join hands with him as his door is widely opened to them, saying they should embrace the spirit of sportsmanship so that together they can contribute their quota to the growth and development of Langtang North North constituency and by extension the state in general.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP House of Representatives Members- Elect have chosen to rely on competence, efficiency and suitability of a person and not zoning in determining the leadership of the lower chambers in the 10th National Assembly.
They also cautioned all political parties to be sensitive to the needs of the nation by ensuring that the 10th National Assembly does not become a lame dog in the hands of the executive arm of government.
Rising from a strategic meeting of the Northern Caucus of the PDP Members-Elect in Abuja at the weekend, the newly elected federal.legislators observed that the legislature is the engine room of democracy and therefore the quality of its input will drive the process of policy initiation and execution.
According to them, only capable and experience legislative leadership can guarantee Independence of the 10th National Assembly.
In a communique signed by 7 members , 2 from from each of the North Central, North East and North West geo political zones of the country under the leadership of Hon Dr Ali JC Isa, ( Balanga/ Billiri Federal Constituency of Gombe State), the Members-Elect said with all eyes on the legislature, it will be unfair to compromise efficiency and competence on the altar of zoning just for political reasons.
They all agreed to work together to ensure that competent persons are elected or appointed to occupy the leadership positions of the lower chamber of the apex legislature.
According to them,” it is the quality of the legislature that provides effective oversight for good legislation and effective implementation of government policies. . ” We are therfore poised to make an additional difference to what is on ground to ensure smooth progress from where the 9th National assembly will stop and return Nigeria to proper socio- economic footing and development. “
According to them, a sound and effective legislative leadership is what is needed in a democracy to sustain or midwife positive change and therefore we cannot be talking about the traditional issues of zoning which has often times retarded growth and development of democratic ideas because of week and imposed legislative leaderships.
They task themselves to keep the vision and work towards recruiting vibrant leadership when the national assembly is inaugurated.
Former deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Usman Bayero Nafada who chaired the event congratulated the Members- Elect and informed them that the secret to legislative success and performance is unity.
He charged them to familiarise themselves with one another as they prepare towards inauguration and ensure that they think together all the time for the progress of the nation.
The meeting was attended by almost all the PDP Northern Caucus members who are in high spirits to make a difference in the 10th assembly.
They vowed that as an opposition with a huge number, they will work together in unity with other minority members from the Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA to ensure that eligibility, competence and merit takes precedence in the choice of the leadership of the 10th national assembly instead of the usual tradition of using zoning to impose leadership which creates legislative instability most of the time..
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Plateau State chapter, Yakubu Bawa, has expressed dismay over campaign on the social media against the Vice Chancellor Of University of Jos , Prof. Tanko Ishaya, who served as the Returning Officer for Nasarawa State Governorship elections in the just concluded polls in the state
Tanko served in Nasarawa State as the State Returning Officer in both the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections as well as the March 18 Gubernatorial and State Assembly Elections.
Professor Tanko who officially declared the result of the governorship contest after collation of the total number of votes casts, declared Governor Abdullahi Sule and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election in Nasarawa state having polled the highest number of votes in the election.
The INEC State Collation Officer and Returning Officer, Prof Ishaya Tanko, announced that the All Progressive Candidate (APC) who is also the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Sule, was the winner and returned elected.
According to Tanko, governor Sule polled a total of 347,209 votes to defeat his closest opponent, David Ombugadu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 283, 016 votes.
However the results of the March 18 Governorship elections in the state was greeted with mix reactions as several allegations were made against Prof Tanko .
It was alleged on social media that Professor Tanko compromised in the manner he handled the collation and the declaration Of the results of the contest.
Speaking with newsmen in Jos the Plateau State capital on the issue on Monday, the NBA Chairman in Plateau state said it is unfortunate that people are smearing the name of such a morally upright person Prof. Tanko with such allegation.
“Posting of any unsubstantiated information in the social media is an infraction of violation of law because it falls within the purview of cyber crime, information act and so on.
“So what the people are doing is wrong because there is a rule of engagement in any social media and online post, and unless and until one has a compelling evidence against someone, such person ought not post any defamatory material about the person because you are smearing such person’s image,” he said.
Bawa said they in the law profession and other professional bodies know Prof. Tanko so well and can say that he is a man of uncommon integrity, adding that some of them even gathered how he firmly stood his stance to make the right declaration during the Presidential Election which Peter Obi won in Nasarawa State.
Bawa express surprise that Prof Tanko’s declaration of the winner in the governorship election in the state has become a subject of controversy and generating of smear campaign against him while he was not taken to the cleaners during the presidential election result declaration in the same state.
The Plateau NBA Chairman reminded all those peddling rumours without proof to desist as it is a grave offence, adding that those circulating such on online social media should desist because it is a cyber crime under the law.
He urged all aggrieved persons to go to the election tribunal where they can tender any evidence of alleged infraction, rather than spreading rumours or information without any proof whatsoever.
The Plateau state All Progressives Congress, (APC) and the Peoples Democratic party have taken different positions on the outcome of Governorship polls on the Plateau.
The Chairman of the state All Progressive congress in the state Rufus Bature while addressing the media at his Kalwa House Party Secretariat in Jos on Monday rejected the result of the State governorship election that was held on 18 March 2023 on the Plateau.
Hon Bature who said the conduct of the governorship polls in his state was flawed with irregularities,called on supporters of his party in the state to remain calm ,resilient ,steadfast , peaceful and law abiding while the party takes legal option to reclaim it’s stolen mandate .
Addressing newsmen in Jos on Monday ,the State Chairman of the APC in Plateau state Hon Rufus Bature alleged that the entire electoral process as midwifed by the Independent Electoral Commission ( INEC) was characterized by bizarre tendencies on the part of the opposition PDP to rig the elections and thus subvert the will of the people .
He added that ” There is no gainsaying the fact that the funny and laughable outcome leading to the so called emergence of Bar Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP as the winner of the Governorship polls smack of a charade of democracy perpetrated via high degree political robbery of the millennium .”
The APC Chairman also dismissed the result declared by INEC as a pyrrhic victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which will be overturned by the sheer weight of evidence against it.
In a counter media briefing on Monday at Plateau PDP Secretariat in Jos, the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party Hon. Chris Hassan while addressing newsmen at his party Secretariat in Jos,said the election of Barr Caleb Mutfwang as Plateau Governor Elect was greeted with laud ovation through out the state, saying APC leadership in the should take the outcome of the election as the will of the people of Plateau .
Hassan alledged that some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, in Jos North LGA and suspected APC members of the same locality absconded with electoral materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive; and deliberately refused to turn in the results of 35 polling units for over 48 hours after the close of polls during governorship polls .
According to him, these acts of criminal conspiracy, and sheer electoral brigandage and banditry were premeditated, hatched, calculated and executed with the collusion, connivance and funding of the Chairman of Jos North LGA, Hon Shehu Bala Usman, Hon Babayo Yusuf Gagdi, member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Constituency and member elect of Jos North-North House of Assembly, Hon Aliu Adamu, all of the All Progressives Congress.
Hassan added that there were failed attempts at various stages of accreditation, voting and collation of results to manipulate and rig the election in favour of the governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, but was halted by the vigilant people of the state who were desirous of putting an end to electoral fraud in Jos North LGA of the state.
He appreciated the people of his state for voting out the APC from power on the Plateau due to poor performance of the administration of Governor Lalong in the state.
The Citizens Observers Hub/ Executive Director CYPA Africa, Ambassador Chris Iyama has cautioned Plateau State Governor Elect Barr Caleb Mutfwang to be mindful of the fact that most of those visiting him at this point may just be praise-singers and sycophants who harbour future requests and favours.
According to Iyama, the victory of Mutfwang is a reflection of the trust and confidence the people of Plateau State have in him.
He stressed that now . that the elections are over and Mutfwang will to be sworn-in by May 29th 2023, it is pertinent to bring to his attention certain important issues.
Iyama in a statement in Jos made available to Kwararafa Reporters, said now that people are pouring into Mutfwang residence to congratulate him over his victory at the polls, Mutfwang must be mindful of the fact that most of those visiting at this point may just be praise-singers and sycophants who harbour future requests and favours.
“We urge you to be blind to praise-singers, deaf to sycophants while sourcing for the best brains into the right offices in your cabinet to facilitate delivery of the expectations of Plateau people.”
Iyama advised Mutfwang to ensure the selection of personalities into his cabinet will be interpreted as a reflection of his intellectual prowess and resolution to implementation of governance philosophy and programmes.
“we implore you to hit the ground running without delay in order to save time and attract the goodwill of the electorates.”
According to him, their proposition is drawn from the failures of previous administrations arising from delays in constitution of a cabinet and other key executive and administrative positions and thus, wasted time on internal politicking on who gets what, where the person came from, and the office to be occupied.
“Resultantly, it took months before the administration of Lalong took off fully while the electorates waited in dwindling hopes.”
He charged Mutfwang to realize that time is of essence and as such Plateau Governor Elect , must begin implementing his blue prints for the people of Plateau State from the first day he assume office to ensure that Plateau people do not experience the pains and frustrations the outgoing administration brought on the State for eight (8) years.
He suggested that it is important to look at those critical projects like the National Library – Abattoir Connecting Bridge and road networks which the outgoing administration refused to complete throughout their eight (8) years in office, stressing that these projects when completed, will ease traffic and make navigation easy for Plateau people within Jos Metropolis.
‘We wish to also bring to your attention the dilapidated state of the most used in-road into Plateau State, the Kuru-Riyom road linking Plateau State to Kaduna State. We kindly request that you use your influence to enable the repair and/or dualization of the road while considering other funding options and raw materials in road construction.”
He added that as evident by security and safety reports issued by government agencies, the road has become a death trap in relation to fatal accidents and security breaches.
” As contained in your Policy Thrust, there is need to immediately revamp the state security outfit, the ‘Operation Rainbow’ to quickly dominating trouble spots, flash points and security risk areas in our rural communities. This is important to ensure that lives and property are protected proactively and not reactionary responses after the damage has been done.”
He added that already there is a ready army of young people who can be integrated to protect lives and property on the Plateau.
” You will recall how young people applied the same motivation and endurance in resisting attempts to manipulate results at various collation centres.”
Iyama hinted that there is an urgent need for massive employment into the Civil Service upon Mutfwang assumption into office, adding that the youths who came out to defend Barr Mutfwang mandate are mostly unemployed, hence the need to engage them into fruitful ventures for the overall security and economic prosperity of Plateau State.
“drawing from your Governance Philosophy and Programmes on the need to boost the State’s economy through investment in the agricultural sector, you will recall that the Agric Services Training Center and Marketing Limited (ASTC) packed up immediately the Lalong- led administration took over, stressing that rather than continuing from where the Jang-led administration left off, equipment and farm supplies were left to rot away by Governor Lalong administration..
“Farmers were left to their fate in subsistence farming which had little capacity to meet the daily food consumption requirements of the State. Thus, rejuvenating the ASTC will give ample employment opportunities in agriculture for Plateau people.”
He also suggested that there is the need to re-visit the Greater Jos Master Plan in order to open up other areas of Jos through massive road infrastructure to bring more development and ease of urbanization.
“Throbbing in the heart of Plateau residents is the Jos Main Market project which should be looked into with a view to addressing the issues through confidence building among Plateau residents.”
He noted that from the results at various levels of collation and computation and the merry ambience and jubilations which heralded the election of Mutfwang , it is evident that Plateau youths came out massively to vote for Barr Mutfwang.
“To this effect, they ensured that there were no interferences from foreign interests at various collation centers across the State,these youth stayed under the sun and in the rain, endured brutalisation by state-sponsored security operatives and slept at collations centers to ensure that Mutfwang mandate did not suffer premature termination.”
He pleaded with Mutfwang not to betray the trust of the Youths as the outgoing administration did and recommended that thirty percent (30%) of slots in Mutfwang cabinet be reserved for young people, young people that are experts in their field of endeavours should be appointed into his cabinet.
“Young persons are weary of their usual appointment as Special Assistants (SAs) or “data boys” with no portfolio or job description attached to those appointments.”
Iyama advised that In the outgoing administration on the Plateau, there were young people who distinguished themselves in various leadership positions, advising that Mutfwang should kindly consider engaging them to continue their good works.
“We make bold to say that there are young persons from Plateau State or affiliated to the Plateau course who are making impact in various fields in Nigeria and abroad, and those are the brains needed for quality governance.’
Iyama added that now that time for politics has ended, this is the time for leadership and governance for Plateau people.
He disclosed that Citizens Observers Hub is a coalition of civil society organizations working on credible Elections and deepening democratic Governance in Nigeria.
” In fulfilling our mandate, we will not fail to raise red flags when your government decides to abandon governance for frivolities. To this effect, we are committed to tracking every penny and every project at all levels in Plateau State, including the conduct of persons who will occupy office in your administration.”
He added that It is not going to be business as usual, reminding Mutfwang that his mandate as Governor of Plateau State from May 29th 2023 came from the people and not godfathers.
“Hence, we will follow your administration every inch of the way to ensure that you deliver on your mandate and do everything possible to develop Plateau State, deliver dividends of democracy and secure lives and Iyama stressed. .
Director North Central Zone of Civil Liberty Organizations (CLO) Steve Aluko, has cautioned against any unfounded smear campaign against the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya over the just concluded general elections.
Tanko served in Nasarawa State as the State Returning Officer in both the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections as well as the March 18 Gubernatorial and State Assembly Elections.
But after the results of the March 18 elections were announced, there have been several allegations against him including alleged compromise in the social media.
In that respect, Aluko warned those spreading such smear campaign without any evidence to desist, saying that such could be tantamount to defamation of character and liable to law suit, as the VC also has the right to sue wherever he feels he is wrongly accused. Aluko who spoke with newsmen in Jos the Plateau State capital said voters and aggrieved persons in the just concluded elections have the right to protest against any perceived injustice and as well as the right to seek redress in court, but that smear campaign against anyone without evidence should be checked to avoid unnecessary tensions.
The Director reiterated that the Nigerian constitution upholds freedom of speech and protests, but peddling rumours on social media without any genuine evidence is not only unacceptable, but that it is a cyber crime that is punishable under the law.
He called on anyone who is aggrieved in the whole process to seek proper and acceptable way to ventilate their grievances, stressing that care should be taking not to run fowl of the law in the process of self expression or unconfirmed information.
Bigwigs of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Plateau State have appealed to to the President-elect, Ahmed Tinubu, to stand by the party in the state after last Saturday governorship election, where the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Caleb Muftwang, was declared the winner.
Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Jos the Plateau State capital after their emergency meeting, the APC Bigwigs Chairman, Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, also called on the party at the national as well as the trustees and other party stakeholders to stand with the party at the state at this moment.
He said APC governorship aspirant in the election, Nentawe Yilwatda, with the party backing has rejected the result and will deploy the necessary means within the law to reclaim their mandate.
He said the election wasn’t without flaws, and that is why they have rejected the result, adding that with determination, relentlessness, political will and the support of the party at the national, they will reclaim back their mandate.
Zazzaga said there was a lot of smear campaign against the leader of the party in the state, in person of Governor Simon Lalong, mostly because he agreed to become the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
According to him, Tinubu is a very qualified candidate for the presidential job following his impressive antecedents in the Nigerian political space over the years and his huge contribution to the advancement of the Nigerian democracy.
‘Tinubu’s maximal performance as the Lagos State Governor also still remains unprecedented, and his quality and capacity as a leader attracts many to him.
“That is the quality Governor Lalong also sees in Tinubu and his candidature that makes him to accept the appointment of the Director General of his campaign council.
“And as a Governor who is always making efforts to attract good things to the state from national and international community, he decided to accept the role so that Plateau people can be part of the winning team of Tinubu who eventually won.
“But rather than the people to appreciate the governor’s efforts, some few mischievously resulted to smear campaign against him in the state, while using ethno-religious basis to back up their campaign, and we know what such campaign can do in this nation.
“Nonetheless, Lalong is a resolute Governor, an achiever, a performer and a leader for all. His recognition and election as the Chairman of the Northern Governor’s Forum Chairman is also an loud testament of his quality, and even in that position which he holds till date, he performed creditably well,” he said.
He called on their teeming supporters to remain calm as they have been doing since the announcement of the result, promising that the party will do all it takes to right any wrong.
Two Jos Based Business men Moses Pam Dalyop and Abdulmumuni have dragged the Nigerian Police,The Inspector General of Police, DCP Olatunji Officer in charge of Police Intelligence Response Team(IRT) and as well Chuangyue Industrial Nig LTD and Chen Taohong before a Jos high court demanding for payment of the sum of ten billion naira(10,000,000 000.00) only as compensation for their unlawful arrest , assault,torture, detention, embarrassment,, harassment,pain and inconveniences caused to them for a period of two days and still counting for no just cause.
In the suit filled at Jos high court by their counsel Gyang Zi Esq, RT Yilwatda Esq, GT Gontur of Gyang Zi &co Knight Firm which was made available to Daily Independent in Jos on Thursday,requested from the court an order declaring the arrest, humiliation, embarrassment, harassment,torture and detention of their clients from the 14th of march 2023 to 15th march this month and still counting as illegal, unlawful and unconditional.
They also requested from the court an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents either by themselves, servants,previews or officers from further arresting,torturing , humiliating, harassing, threatening and or further torturing or detaining their clients in connection with this case
They also demanded an order directing the respondents to release their clients from their im custody forth with.
The grounds upon which the reliefs were sought was that the two business men were arrested on the 13th and 14th of this month by men of the police force interligence unit and were taken to A Division Police station Jos and later moved to FCT Abuja and detained in the custody of DCP Olatunji Disu Officer in charge of Police Intelligence Response Team.
The two business men were arrested based on the complaint of the Chuangyue Industrial Nig LTD and Chen Taohong to the Police Intelligence Response Team IRT.
Counsel to the complainants Gyang Zi who filled the suit at the Jos high court, describes the conduct of the respondents against his clients as a violation of the provision of chapter IV of the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended . Gyang Zi argued that the detention of his clients has violated their fundamental rights before the eyes of the law.
Kwararafa Reporters t gathered that Ellipse Industries Limited and Chuangyue Industrial Nig LTD and Chen Taohong had joint venture agreement which Ellipse Industries Limited is entitled to thirty percent of mined products while Chuangyue Industrial Nig LTD is entitled to 70 percent,but the venture agreement between the parties in dispute later became a subject of misunderstanding leading to the 4th and 5th defendants business partners engaging the men of the Nigeria Police to arrest and detain the applicants .
Andeta’rang Iramae, the State Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, has lamented over the delay in declaring Lt. Col. Agbu Kefas of the PDP as winner of the governorship election in Taraba state by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking with our Correspondent in Jalingo, Andeta’rang and other PDP supporters who besieged the office on Monday are agitating that INEC State Collation/Returning Officer and Resident Electoral Commission (REC) have no any reason to delay the announcement of Col. Agbu Kefas as the winner of the governorship election having won with landslid scoring the total votes of 255,317.
According to Andeta’rang, any attempt to temper with the result will be resisted ” tempering with results at this stage is dangerous, the outcomes have been formally collated and received at the INEC Headquarters in Taraba.
He said “We are here to defend our vote so INEC should not delay to declare result because PDP candidate, Col. Agbu Kefas won the election.
The PDP supporters added that the INEC State Returning Officer should announce the result as collated and any party not satisfied with it should go to the Election Petition Tribunal and challenge the result as the INEC National Chairman, Yakubu Mahmood did during the collation of Presidential Election on February 25.
The PDP supporters accused the Residence Commissioner REC Alh. Umar Muktar Gajiram and the INEC State Collation/Returning Officer Prof. Muhammed Ahmad Abdullaziz for taking side with Prof. Sani Yahaha of (NNPP) of interference in the final announcement of the Taraba State governorship result won by Col. Agbu Kefas of the PDP, warning that any attempt to disrupt the announcement of the result may lead to anarchy.
Another PDP supporters, Hon. Eric UJ Yohana insisted that Agbu Kefas won the election in Taraba with wide margins defeating the NNPP with 53, 233 leaving APC trailing behind with a margin of 111,851
He said “PDP lost election to NNPP and APC in some parts of the local governments and we did not protest. Even in places like Ibi, Ussa, Gassol, we did not raise eyebrows and we are not bothered because for sure we won the governorship election and any attempt to rigg will be suicidal.
“So why is INEC delaying over announcing our victory? We are not going anywhere, we will stay here till PDP is declared winner, as their name implies, we expect INEC to have their Independent mind and be neutral in the excersise but reverse is the case in Taraba.
At last, the battle line is drawn. Sheik Sani Yahaya Jingir has made things easier for Plateau voters in Saturday’s gubernatorial and state assembly elections.
Sheik Jingir, the extremist Muslim cleric, has finally revealed publicly that he and his co-religionists have shaped most of Governor Lalong’s contentious and failed policies in the last eight years.
And, mark this, Jingir and his ilk are determined to continue this obnoxious trend with Dr. Nentawe, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as he disclosed that he and his followers would vote for him because Lalong has instructed them to do so.
Analysts fear that this would further tighten their stranglehold on Plateau State, most especially now that the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket has sailed through, even though it is being robustly challenged in the courts of law.
But Saturday’s race will be determined by the sum total of the antecedents of individual candidates in the period preceding these elections. Not only their current pretentions and proclivities.
Voters must ask and determine where the candidates were and what they had done in the last eight years when citizens were being subjected to the maladministration of the Lalong government.
On that score, do we need to be told who stands out and has an excellent chance of being elected governor on Saturday? Certainly, some candidates’ pasts are bound to catch up with them that day.
The two candidates have played key and sensitive roles in the Lalong administration. Yet they are desperately trying to clean their mouths, distance themselves from his failures and put up a façade of being the darlings of the suffering masses.
But, thank heavens, the voters, forced by the sheer distress and dislocations of the last eight years, are now wiser and more discerning that they can clearly distinguish their real enemies from true friends. That was amply demonstrated during the February 25 polls.
And as the political pundits still maintain, those who are still planning to hide under the popularity of Peter Obi to win the governorship and house of assembly votes without meriting them will once more go back licking their wounds.
Those others, like Nentawe, who have gone outside the state to enlist the support of the same people who pushed Lalong into making life a living hell for citizens should also be ready for a rude shock.
The people are determined to chart a fresh course, away from the stagnation and bloodshed of the past, by rejecting their subjugation by the core north and the forcible annexation of their ancestral lands and patrimony.
We must also interrogate and ask Dr. Dakum, the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, LP, where he was from 1999 to 2022 when his dear friend, Lalong, prevaricated and sometimes even looked the other way when Plateau people were made victims of endless attacks and their lands forcibly occupied.
Where was Dakum at the time? But he himself has owned up that he was right beside Lalong – as one of his most trusted allies – throughout those horrific years on the Plateau. He was a worthy and loyal member of the APC.
So, he could not speak out or, more precisely, he simply tagged along because he had the ambition of becoming governor in 2023. He was afraid of incurring the wrath and opprobrium of the imperious Governor Lalong and the awesome APC by standing with the dispossessed people of the state.
Now that he has failed to achieve that ambition in the APC, due to the very familiar antics of his great friend, Mr. Lalong, he has suddenly transformed into a fighter for the masses through opposing his good buddy.
Is Dakum less culpable than Nentawe?
Absolutely not. No.
Unvanquished Plateau people now know their enemies who are today seeking to reinvent themselves and harshly insinuate themselves into their collective imagination as messiahs chiefly to grab political power.
The APC is placing undue premium on what it considers the over-concentration of the campaigns on religious and ethnic issues. The truth is that, since Governor Lalong took power in 2015, he has put religious and tribal matters at the centre of his warped agenda, which has brought blood, suffering and mayhem to this land.
When Lalong said at the beginning of his administration that peace had returned to the state (which was far from the truth, anyway), because he had appointed a Fulani man as commissioner, was he not fanning the embers of tribal and religious divisions?
When he announced that the Hausa and Fulani Muslims in Jos North were solely responsible for his 2015 victory at the polls, was he not stoking religious and ethnic hatred?
When he declared that the magnificent Government House constructed by his predecessor, Da Jonah Jang, was built on a cattle route, was he not courting religious and ethnic disharmony?
You can go on and on.
Therefore, for the APC to accuse the PDP of stoking ethnic and religious divisions is simply diversionary, aimed at shifting blame from where it should be squarely placed.
Doubtless, majority of Plateau people are talking about and have placed religion and tribe at the centre of the present elections because these have been the major weapons used to decimate them, through the Lalong administration, in the last eight years.
And this would very likely continue in the Nentawa dispensation.
But citizens are rising up to ensure that they are not deceived into adopting the religious complacency of the past which brought people like Governor Lolang into power.
Merchants of egregious tribal and religious politics, such as Sheik Jingir, would not be allowed to continue capitalizing on citizens’ indifference to their antics to impose their stooge.
After enduring the horrendous violation of our state in the last eight years, Plateau people are still expected to cower in silence and be submissive when the vice-president-elect surreptitiously enters the state to consult a Muslim cleric who has made no pretentions about pursuing an anti-Christian and anti-Plateau agenda in a predominantly Christian state!
Whenever it serves their primordial interests, they play the ethnic/religious card enthusiastically. But when it stands to benefit the majority of the population, it is frowned upon, openly castigated as potentially dangerous and capable of igniting religious/ethnic conflagration.
Given the above scenario, both Nentawe and Dr. Dakum are birds of the same feather. They are soiled by their putrid distinction of either playing a key part in the Lalong administration or being sponsored by the disgraced governor.
Therefore, Saturday’s gubernatorial election is clearly a two-horse race.
It is between the unblemished, patriotic and courageous Barrister Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and others: Nentawe, Dakum, etc.
Kwararafa Reporters 