The Northern Governors Forum has commiserated with the people of Auchi Kingdom, Government and people of Edo State and the Nigerian media industry over the demise of Prince Tony Momoh who passed on at the age of 81.
In a statement, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong said the death of Prince Tony Momoh is a great loss to the nation considering the impact he made in various aspects of Nigeria’s polity.
Lalong said Prince Momoh was a man of many parts who started as a teacher before making his mark as one of Nigeria’s versatile journalist, administrator, politician and lawyer.
He said the former Minister of Information and Culture was a giant in the Nigerian Media industry and played a great role in promoting freedom of the press as well as the opening up the media space which eventually culminated in deregulation that saw the emergence of many media outlets.
Governor Lalong also described him as a political strategist and mobiliser who at various times coalesced with politicians from across the country to push for improvement in the political process and governance in general. His emergence as the Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the role he played in the subsequent formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) according to the Governor accords him a special place in Nigerian’s political history.
Lalong also commended his leadership and achievements as Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, University of Jos where he led a leap in the academic performance and general development of the institution which is now a leading University in Nigeria and Africa.
While praying God to grant his soul eternal rest, Governor Lalong asked his family to be consoled with his testimony of honesty, hardwork and patriotism.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman, Northern Governors Forum. 2nd February 2021.
Approval has been granted by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Education for the establishment of Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau State.
The approval was contained in a letter dated 29th January, 2021 titled “Approval for the establishment of Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau State” signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Engr. Sonny Echono and addressed to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Gov. Simon Lalong.
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alh. Muhammadu Buhari also approved a takeoff grant of N2 billion for the commencement of the Polytechnic.
The letter reads;
“l write to inform Your Excellency that, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Ngeria, has approved the establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Shendam, Plateau State.”
“Mr. President also approved a takeoff grant of N2 Billion for the new Polytechnic from the funding resources of TETFund for the provision of core facilities for immediate take-off. This has been duly conveyed to TETFund for implementation”
“In view of the above, A Technical Team from Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) will soon visit your State to Identify the site in Shendam and assess its readiness for commencement of academic activities in October 2021.
GOVERNOR LALONG APPLAUDS PRESIDENT BUHARI OVER ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC SHENDAM
Governor Simon Bako Lalong is full of praises to President Muhammadu Buhari for his approval of the establishment of Federal Polytechnic Shendam, describing it as cheering news for citizens of the State and a catalyst for the development of the State and the nation. Governor Lalong who received a letter from the Federal Ministry of Education conveying the approval of President Buhari for the establishment of the Polytechnic, said the gesture shows the love that the President has for Plateau State and the desire to ensure the technological development of the State and nation at large. Lalong said “the establishment of Federal Polytechnic Shendam comes at a time when we are redefining education in Plateau State and focusing on technical education to give our youths skills that can help them use their talents to create jobs and solve day-to-day problems of the society. We are excited that this new institution will connect seamlessly with the new Technical Schools we are building in Pankshin, Shendam and the upgrade of the Technical School in Bukuru, all meant to move our students away from education that leaves them stranded after graduation”. Governor Lalong also expressed delight that approval has also been given for the release of N2 Billion naira through the TETFund for the provision of core facilities towards the take-off of the school within the shortest possible time. He promised that the Plateau State Government will play its part by giving all necessary support for the commencement of the institution, assuring the host community will also be mobilised for support and collaboration. He also thanked the leadership and members of the National Assembly especially those representing Plateau State who pushed for the passage of the bill for the establishment of the Polytechnic. Others are the Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education Arc. Sonny Echono, and all those who in various ways supported the establishment of the Polytechnic. It will be recalled that Governor Lalong recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari to appeal to him for intervention over various issues concerning Plateau State including funding for the reconstruction of the Jos Main Market.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. 1st February 2021.
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT THERE IS GOD I thank God Almighty for bringing us to witness the second month of the year 2021. As we reflect on the past month, we should thank God for his sustaining grace as well as continuing in prayers to him to comfort those whose loved ones transited the mother earth to be with the Lord in Heaven. As we travel the unknown road and seek to relate to God through Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit, I pray that; “Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert” as said by Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 35:6, NIV. There may be times in the new month when things will appear to go contrary to your expectations; business might be down, the medical report might not be good, and it may look as if it is not going to be your season. Be reminded and encouraged, the good news is that God specializes in doing things out of season. He doesn’t wait for the perfect circumstances to line up for you to have the training, or for the right people to believe in you. He does things unexpectedly. He’ll make water pour out in your dry places and cause you to blossom out of season this month of February. Do you feel out of season as though you’re stuck in some areas? Stay encouraged. God has you in the palms of His hands. Get ready for an “out of season” blessing, for a beyond imagination” healing, for an “unexpectated promotion. God is about to do something unusual, something that’s bigger than you dreamt of, and you’re going to say, “Wow, God! I didn’t see it coming!” “Father, thank You that You are not limited by seasons or the right conditions to be in place in order for You to do what You want. Thank You that You’re always working behind the scenes on my behalf. I believe that You will bless your children out of season. “May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you”. Psalm 25: 21 Rev Dr Soja Bewarang
TELESCOPE HOW BAD IS THE APC IN PLATEAU? PHASE III (Shabul Mazadu) Governance does not begin and end with the executive arm (s), but the legislature and judiciary too. In Plateau State the All Progressives Congress (APC) has a Minister, two senators, and five House of Representatives members. MINISTER The Minister is Dame Pauline Tallen of the Ministry of Women Affairs. Prior to her nomination and ascension to the Ministerial position, Dame Pauline Tallen has contributed immensely to women empowerment in the state. In 2018, one thousand six hundred widows (1600) at her instance, benefitted from the Federal Government ten thousand naira (N10, 000) for Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) disbursed by NDE. In 2019, one thousand women in Plateau were trained in Cosmetology through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), and each went home with a starter pack and six thousand naira (N6, 000). Coming on board as the Minister of Women Affairs, she has projected Plateau in good light with her hard work and commitment to duty. Under her watch her Ministry has embarked on the distribution of Seven hundred and seventy four (774, 000), gas cooking cylinders to the entire local government areas of Nigeria. That is, one thousand gas cooking cylinders per local government. Under the Covid-19, Dr. Aisha Buhari, our First lady, sent palliatives through the Ministry of Women Affairs which Tallen did not hoard to Plateau State in May, 2020 and was distributed. Tallen sent trailers load of palliatives to Plateau on three occasions. The third time she brought them along side with the Minister of Disaster Management. But unfortunately terror was unleashed on the palliatives by vandals. She has been a great contributor to orphanages, school for the Deaf in Jos and so many organisations and groups. Her advocacy and fight against: rape, domestic violence and child marriage are remarkable likewise her efforts in the domestication of Violation of Vulnerable Peoples Rights Act, Child’s Rights Act and the quest for girl-child education. She is shouldering the international mantra of the HeforShe in Nigeria as Minister of Women Affairs. Tallen has trained hundreds of people through NDE in various ways to handle their businesses in preparation of Central Bank of Nigeria’s loan of the social intervention program of the Federal Government. Some have gotten the loan, while others are yet to. The nature of her ministry and jurisdiction, when compared to what she does in bettering the lives of women and children, she deserves the utmost respect of all Plateau citizens. RT. HON. IDRIS MAJE Maje is the member representing Wase Federal Constituency and also the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives in the National Assembly. Maje is doing remarkably well in his legislative affairs and empowerment of his constituents. He empowered his constituents with tricycles running to hundreds of thousands, likewise grinding machines, motorcycles, sewing machines and tractors in their hundreds. Maje also constructed roads, provided boreholes and bridges to his constituency. He secured employment to thousands of Plateau citizens without recourse to political party, religion and local government. Maje raised a bill which was passed for the creation of a Federal Medical Centre in Wase. HON. ALPHONSUS LONGGAP KOMSOL Komsol is the member representing Mikang/Shendam/Qua’an Pan Federal Constituency in the National Assembly. He is the first APC member of the House of Reps of the constituency. Komsol passed bills for the creation of a Federal Polytechnic in Shendam, Federal Medical Centre in Piapung and Federal University of Agriculture, Namu. He constructed three classroom blocks and three others undergoing construction. Project of installing solar panels in some communities in his constituency are ongoing, likewise road construction. Komsol sponsored recruitment of some of his constituents into the Police Force, paid JAMB fees for many students seeking admission into the university and purchased hundreds of grinding machines, motorcycles and sewing machines to be distributed soon. During the raining season last year, he provided hundreds bags of fertilisers to farmers, provided relief materials to victims of floods and palliatives during the lockdown for his constituents. He also secured employment in the federal civil service to many of his constituents. HON YUSUF GAGDI Gagdi is the APC member representing Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam Federal Constituency in the National Assembly. Gagdi built Dr. Sunday Jacob Examination Hall at KADA Special Academy Dengi, a school that is providing free Secondary Education to orphans and children of the less privileged. He completed the building/renovation of the Palaces of some Traditional Rulers across the constituency and some are ongoing. Gagdi constructed three classrooms block with complete furnishing at GSS Kor in Pankshin, secured over 284 permanent federal appointments to his constituents, empowered constituents with Water Pumps with suction hoses for irrigation farming, Grammazone insecticide, Rice Herbicides, Fertilizers, Grain storage Bags and cash Stipends worth Millions of Naira to over 300 beneficiaries within Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency; and amidst COVID19 pandemic, he distributed foodstuff to constituents worth 10 million naira as palliatives. He distributed palliative worth (N700,000.00) to 70 selected social media influencers and bloggers across Party and Constituency lines on the Plateau and N300,000.00 to some selected pressure groups. As part of efforts to sustain Small and Medium Scale Enterprises after the COVID 19 Pandemic, Gagdi distributed refundable soft loan to Entrepreneurs within PKK worth N45 million. He had also paid the medical bills of more than 100 constituents across the three Local Government Areas. He lobbied for COVID 19 loan of N475,000 to 24 constituents each across the three Local Government Areas of the PKK through the Central Bank of Nigeria, empowered constituents with over 20 motorcycles, sewing machines and grinding machines across the three Local Government Areas, and supported People living with disability with 50 wheelchairs. Gagdi built and furnished three class room blocks at a community secondary school at Dungung, Kanke LGA. He is set to empower constituents again with 400 motorcycles, 400 grinding machines and 400 sewing. These are but a few of the achievements of the APC minister and federal legislators in the National Assembly. Add their achievements to that of the Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong and judge how bad is the APC on the Plateau.
GOVERNOR LALONG MEETS APC NATIONAL REGISTRATION COMMITTEE FOR PLATEAU STATE, OPTIMISTIC OF MORE MEMBERS WILL JOIN PARTY.
The APC National registration and revalidation Committee for Plateau State has visited Governor Simon Bako Lalong to brief him on the preparations for conducting the exercise in the State. Chairman of the Committee Hon. Musa Mahmood said the Committee is committed to conducting the exercise within the guidelines issued by the party and will supervise the conduct in all the local governments to ensure that the registration and revalidation is credible and hitch-free. He commended the Governor and the State Caretaker Working Committee for being proactive and carrying out sensitization among members of the party, a situation that will enhance the smooth conduct of the exercise. Governor Lalong welcomed the Committee to Plateau and assured that the APC family in the State was ready for the exercise as the members are eager to revalidate their membership and also welcome new members into their fold in order to ensure that the party continues to grow from strength to strength. Lalong said “this is the time to demonstrate true loyalty and commitment to the party and to increase the fortunes of the APC going forward. There is not going to be manipulation and intimidation in this exercise as those who are found to be pursuing any agenda outside that of the party will not be allowed to succeed. We want more members and this is the time to open our doors and welcome everybody that wants to join the largest party in Nigeria”. The Governor also assured that more members will join the party because of the performance of the APC led administration which has put the interests of Plateau people above parochial interests. This he explained was why apart from initiating various people oriented projects, his administration chose to complete inherited and abandoned projects rather than abandon them like in previous governments did with their predecessors. He said just like the example set by the President, he will be going to his polling unit in Ajikamai, Shendam LGA to register, urging all government appointees to mobilise their people to also register and revalidate their membership, saying that anything short will cast doubt about their loyalty to the party.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State 1st February 2021.
Makaman Langai, Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan Mourns Demise of Sum Langai, Mallam Inusa Yaktor Dajar
31st January, 2021.
I received the news of the eternal call to glory of our King, and Royal Father, His Royal Highness, Mallam Inusa Yaktor Dajar, the Sum Langai of Langai District, Pyam Chiefdom with shock and deep sense of personal loss.
In my years of relationship with the respected monarch as the Makaman Langai, I found him to be forthright, visionary and versatile. His words of counsel and insights have helped me at different times.
His Royal Highness was a distinguished traditional ruler who dedicated his royal duties towards building a united community. He was also a unique bridge builder across tribes and religions contributing to peaceful co-existence and the socio-economic development of his domain.
His demise at this time is indeed a great loss not only to to his subjects but to Pyam Chiefdom, Mangu Local Government Area, and the people and government of Plateau state as well as Nigeria at large.
I offer condolence on behalf of my family, friends and associates to his immediate and extended family, and the entire Pyam Chiefdom over the irreperable loss of the Royal Father, praying Almighty God to grant him eternal rest.
GAGDI COMMISERATES WITH KANKE PEOPLE OVER COUNCILOR’S DEMISE
The member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency and Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Rt Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi has commiserated with the family of the deceased councilor representing Amper Central Ward, the Kanke Legislative Council and the entire people of the local government area over the lawmaker’s demise.
Hon. Gagdi describes the late Hon. Gaklime Yohanna Goshit as an astute politician and a staunch APC stalwart who has paid his dues in entrenching strong democratic tenets at the grassroots.
Gagdi prayed God to grant the immediate family, the people of Kanke local government area as well as the entire APC family in PKK the fortitude to bear the irreparable lost.
The parliamentarian posits that every living soul most taste death; hence encourages the family to be strong and put their trust in God alone as their comforter and provider.
In my Phase 1 of this write up, I used Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s submission on governance where he defined it as all about the welfare of the governed which includes: security, health, education and job creation. I will use the above yardstick to analyze the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration on the Plateau to see how bad or good the administration has been. It is worthy to note that the party is in its sixth year in power, unlike the PDP which governed for sixteen years. When the APC came on board as a government, it found only N93m in all the coffers of government, inherited 7 months of salary arrears of civil servants, more than a year pension arrears of pensioners, six months of salary arrears of security operatives allowances, skirmishes between the Fulani and the Berom in some parts of Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom, refugees in some parts of Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom, uncompleted gigantic road project from Secretariat Junction to Mararaban Jama’a, uncompleted Secretariat Junction Fly Over, uncompleted roads in other parts of the state like Mangu to Gindiri road, comatose Plateau State University, abandoned fertilizer blending plant in Bokkos, abandoned hospitals started by the Dariye administration, eight years of unemployment into Plateau Civil Service, dark state capital with scanty street lights and lots of others. The APC administration cleared all the salary and pension arrears including the No Work, No Pay, mantra of the PDP administration and remained consistent in the payments of salaries such that the civil servants nicknamed Governor Lalong, Governor alert. On the issue of peace, the APC administration set up a peace and reconciliation committee headed by Chief John Gobak, which waded into the skirmishes between the warring factions and to a large extend drastically reduced tension and restored normalcy. The efforts of the administration yielded results such that there was peace in the first three years of the government. This infuriated the PDP which fumed at the accolades being showered on the Lalong administration, and could no longer hold it, but vented it in its Democracy Day Speech of May 29, 2017, saying there was no peace in Plateau instead the state was sitting on a keg of gun powder; and boom! In April 2018, crises broke out in some parts of Barkin Ladi between Fulani and the Berom where there was a road blockade from Barkin Ladi to Jos South by irate youths. While the fight was ongoing, Sheik Abubakar, a Fulani Koranic scholar saved 263 Christians from his irate kinsmen on slaughtering spree in Garshish. In October 2018, some unrests brewed again at Gada Biu where some irate youths attacked STF over an uncleared allegation as smokescreen which pundits opined was politically motivated because it came at a period the APC and the PDP were carrying out their party primaries. The unrest spread to Tina Junction axis, and then senator representing the Northern Zone, Jonah David Jang, went on air trying to escalate the unrest with the assertion that Plateau Citizens should come out and protect themselves saying the Buhari administration cannot protect them. The peace witnessed under the APC is much better than the one under the PDP. The Lalong administration has returned all refugees to their ancestral homes, enacted a law against land grabbing, set up a mobile police barrack around Kurra Falls, set up Mobile Police Barrack in Shendam, Air Force base in Kerang, Mangu LGC, and Security Watch Tower at Dutse Uku in Jos, all in his efforts to bring lasting peace on the Plateau. Unlike the PDP that attacked and refused to complete the projects inherited from the Dariye administration, the APC led administration proved that governance is continuum. It has completed the highway which the PDP started in 2012 but could not execute one-tenth. It also completed the Fly Over Secretariat Bridge. It has revived Plateau State University Bokkos, and had its first convocation in 2017. Today the graduates of the institution have gone for youth service, and the school has become a pride of the state. Lalong administration has also completed the roads in some parts of the state like from Mangu – Gindiri. The hospital started by Dariye in Riyom and the fertilizer blending plant in Bokkos were all completed. Massive employment into the Plateau Civil Service, was carried out by the Lalong administration. He reconstructed the road from Miango Junction to Dong and linked it up with the road to Bassa. He constructed the round about at State Low Cost and Domkat Bali Road and others within Bukuru and Jos Metropolis. His zero pothole policy has reconstructed many roads in Jos and Bukuru Metropolises. The entire state capital glows with lights beautifully at night with the solar lights mounted by his administration. In carrying communities along, the administration has promoted some traditional institutions to First, Second and third class. The Afizere got their paramount chief denied them by the PDP administration, likewise the Anaguta of Jos North. Lalong has improved civil servants minimum wage. His legacy projects in all the seventeen local government areas are ongoing. Unlike the PDP administration which got N778bn from the federation account outside IGR, had no project worth N100bn for its eight years in power, the Lalong administration came at the period of economic recession and Covid-19 pandemic. Loans were collected from bailouts and inherited over N222bn debt from the last administration. As the administration pays back the loans, it is confronted with the challenges of bettering the welfare of the citizens and infrastructural development with meagre resources.
In politics, opposition is a vital ingredient depending on how it plays the game. An opposition which constructively criticizes the incumbent is doing a great service to the country, but one which does not, instead uses vulgar and insults without facts, is nothing but a braying ass. There are so many innuendos propagated against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on the Plateau in attempts to demonize the party and all those that support it, but the question here is how bad is the APC? Is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) better in terms of governance? Let’s go memory lane to see, before coming to analyze the APC. Chief of Obafemi Awolowo said, “Leadership is all about the welfare of the people.” Welfare encompasses security of lives and properties, job creation, education and health. Let’s take security. Since after the Emergency Rule slammed on the state by the Olusegun Obasanjo led Presidency on May 28, 2004 to October 28 of the same year, ethno-religious crises ended on the Plateau. But after the palace coup the chased the Dariye led PDP out of the party, and the Jonah Jang/Ibrahim Mantu faction formed government in the state, it ushered in a terrible divisive administration that has set the state on ethno-religous crises since October 2008 to 2015 when it abated. What led to the crises were the undemocratic party primaries conducted in 2008 by the Jang administration where he imposed his candidate for Jos North Local Government chairmanship election, Timothy Buba. Jang was advised by stakeholders and DSS against conducting the elections in Jos North due to the rising tension, but blatantly refused until he rigged the elections, and the local government went on flames and the crises spread to some parts of Jos South leading to so many deaths. The following year, that was 2009, witnessed terrible attacks on villages in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South, where citizens were made refugees in their local governments. The attacks continued into the second term of Jonah Jang, where Goodluck Ebele Jonathan slammed emergency rule without suspending democratic structures on Six Local Governments of the Northern Zone, for six months but to no avail. In 2012, a peace parley was held at Hill Station Conference Hall where Jang was advised to hold a meeting with religious leaders and stakeholders in Jos North and South to douse the incessant crises, but he replied saying the Gbong Gwom can do that, as for him, he will not. And that when the Operation Rainbow comes in place, peace will be restored. In the same 2012, most elder statesmen from the Central and Southern Zones agitated for the creation of South Plateau State because of the oppressive policies meted to them by the Jang administration. The same administration brought out a policy of forcing all local government employees to go back to their state of origin and work but could not implement it before the expiration of his tenure. All communities which were given new districts, local government development areas and promoted traditional institutions by the Dariye administration, were deprived off the dividends by the PDP administration, when Jang dissolved them. That compounded anger and bitterness in the mind of the affected indigenes of the communities. The same Jang who made bogus claims that his Military experience will restore peace in Plateau, lamented in 2014 that he did not know why God made him governor, as he woke up every morning to the news of the attack on his people. On May 27, 2013, at Faithway Chapel in Jos, Jang said If you rig elections and succeed, God approves it. It was rigging that plunged the bloodbath in Plateau in 2008. The PDP failed in tackling insecurity because of its style of leadership. Gov Lalong inherited it, and drastically reduced it. EDUCATION The PDP administration did not value education if not, why did Jang close down Plateau State University Bokkos, until he was defeated in court by Professor John Wade and was forced to reopen it? How many schools did Jang construct? How many teachers did he employ for his eight years in power? Teachers in the primary schools went on strike for three solid months. There was no improvement on the schools he met on ground aside repainting few of them without equipping their laboratories. HEALTH The PDP has no record of constructing and completing hospitals under Jang. The one he tried was that of Barkin Ladi. During the Ebola saga, he was foot dragging until it was over without making preparation eventually it reaches Plateau. EMPLOYMENT Over 1500 youths lost their job at MTN when their station in Jos was closed as a result of Jang’s policies. Many companies left Jos and closed due to the incessant crises under Jang, thus making a lot of people to lose their job. No ministry or local government made employment under Jang except silent replacements. JIB was not totally grounded when Jang came to power, but he left it dead. The PDP left seven months salary arrears of civil servants, three months of no work, no pay, six months of security operatives allowances and over year arrears of pensioners. These are just a few of the anti people led administration of the PDP on the Plateau. TO BE CONTINUED
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