Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has sent warm felicitations to his predecessor, former Governor Jonah David Jang, CON on his 79th birthday.
Governor Lalong in a goodwill message congratulated the elderstatesman for marking another birthday in good health and God’s favour.
In rejoicing with him on this special occasion, Lalong used the opportunity to appreciate him for his contributions to the development of Plateau State and Nigeria throughout his military and political careers.
Lalong further charged the former Governor to continue to contribute to the peace, progress and development of Plateau State and the nation at large.
He wished him more years of protection, favour and sound health.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. 13th March 2023.
COACH ABARA DEPARTS PLATEAU UNITED ON MUTUAL CONSENT TO TEAM UP WITH EL-KANEMI WARRIORS.
Plateau United Chief Coach , Abdulazeez Hamza Abara has left his role to join El-kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri as its new Technical Adviser.
General Manager of Plateau United , Pius Henwan who confirmed Coach Abara,s departure , disclosed that coach left on mutual consent.
Henwan explained that Coach Abara departure have the full consent of management of the team and he used the opportunity to thank him for his meritorious service to the Club.
” Coach Abara’s departure left has left a vacuum in our team, which may be difficult to fill. He has brought a lot to the team. But we are happy that the move is a lift on his career and am very optimistic, he will do a good job with his new team” Henwan said.
Coach Abdulazeez Hamza Abara only joined Plateau United in October, 2021 and assisted Coach Ilechukwu to propelled the team to the second spot of the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
The Minna born Coach who joined the Peace boys from Enyimba International of Aba had previously handled Sokoto United as Technical Adviser and Niger Tornadoes of Minna in 2018.
He is expected to officially resumed duties Monday 13th March, 2023.
In Africa, Nigeria and Plateau, the position of an elder is one that is reserved and earned by reason of age, experience and in most cases accomplishments which ordinarily confers respect as well as commands reverence for those who qualify.
Jonah David Jang, immediate past Governor of Plateau State who ordinarily should fall into this category surprised many (except his blind and wailing supporters) with a pre-arranged appearance on his sponsored radio platform Jay FM which he founded and funds primarily to propagate lies, hate, bigotry and division in the State under his desperation for relevance, revenge and political power.
In the pre-recorded interview under the program LET’S TALK which was taken out of the studio to the comfort of his Du home just to shut out audience participation through phone calls which is the usual format, Jang threw caution to the wind by not only trying effortlessly to justify the unjustifiable, but also turning logic on its head and trying to rewrite history.
His objective was simple: push out lies and propaganda to do maximum damage to the the ruling APC and its candidate Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe by disparaging the Government of Simon Bako Lalong and generating sympathy for the lacklustre PDP and his selected and imposed stooge Caleb Mutfwang.
While he failed woefully to achieve his aim, he ended up damaging the little goodwill that remained for his party and candidate ahead of the elections which were eventually rescheduled.
For the record and in the interest of right thinking Plateau citizens and Nigerians, we wish to respond to some of his lies that he tried to peddle on the choreographed interview handled by some of the most biased, inexperienced, amateurish and reckless journalists and presenters in the history of broadcasting in the world. We hope NBC will sanction them appropriately if they have not done so.
1. LALONG HAS NOT DONE A SINGLE PROJECT: We may pardon Baba Jang for this big lie on the basis that he may be suffering from dimensia or perhaps been away from the State since 2015 when he was defeated. If not, how can someone who claims to be a Pastor tell such lies and sleep well? What does he mean by “project”? If he is suffering from dimensia, we can remind him that it is Governor Lalong that completed the Mararaban Jama’a-British America Road and the Secretariat flyover which he left abandoned. What about the Old Airport-Rayfield- Yelwa Club- Bukuru road as well as the Kugiya-Zawan roads? Lalong completed so many other projects which were abandoned even when huge sums were paid without commensurate work. Lalong completed and equipped General Hospitals in Riyom, Kanke and Mabudi and has just finished construction of the longest bridge in Plateau State (Kalong-Angwan Dadi Bridge) in Shendam as well as the British-American Flyover and Dualisation to Lamingo Junction Roundabout. We refer him to (https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02fU4KCBVJgGREnv5Pmz6ceKXbprmJmyQXJ47UzDJMcr7JNLyrtwxmvWK9Urs98srCl&id=100068938338495&mibextid=Nif5oz) for sights and sounds of Lalong’s achievements which no amount of hatred can erase.
We sense that Jang spealizes in trying hard to erase the achievements of his predecessors and successors so that he can be the only “Champion of Plateau”. If not, what project did he complete from former Governor Joshua Dariye? For instance, he brazenly closed down the Plateau State University Bokkos, one of the first State Universities to open on a permanent site describing it as a poultry farm. Today, Lalong has shamed him by opening and developing it to one of the best in the country. PLASU has held 7 convocations, graduated thousands, created 4 new faculties and a Post Graduate School. Still, he says Lalong has not achieved anything despite the fact that he completed most of the projects he abandoned including paying huge salary arrears that crippled the civil service.
2. PLATEAU GOT IT WRONG IN 2015 WHEN IT DIDN’T SUPPORT CONTINUITY: What continuity is he talking about? When did the people of Plateau State tell him that? This is a looser consoling himself with a wild theory when infact the people clearly chose to be on the path of unity, justice, fairness and continuity of harmony rather than his selfishness and stubbornness which was almost tearing the State apart. If the people had followed his “self centred” continuity nonsense, Plateau would have descended into an unredeemable position today. The people got it right by choosing Lalong over his anointed candidate GNS Pwajok. They repeated same in 2019 despite his incitement and propaganda using his Jay FM. On this, Baba Jang again goofed! He is the one that got it wrong not the people. At least he knows better now that he claims to be an advocate of zoning.
3. GOD FATHERISM SHOULD NOT BE ENCOURAGED: Really? Thank God the people of Plateau State have taught Jang a bitter lesson to the extent he now knows that Godfatherism is not good. We don’t even believe him because he has not repented from his old ways since he single handedly picked little known Caleb Mutfwang a Kaduna based Plateau man and imposed him on the PDP. That is after imposing the Chris Hassan led PDP exco in the State which resulted in factions that continues to haunt the party today (they are in the Supreme Court). Jang should not pull a stunt by being hypocritical in this assertion.
4. PDP ZONED GOVERNORSHIP TO CENTRAL ZONE AND MUTFWANG WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN TESTED AND IS COMPETENT: Even though it is heart warming to hear Jang praising zoning which he hated before, we cannot understand what capacity he is talking about Mutfwang. Is it the man that left Mangu LGA in shambles and accumulated huge debts that the local Government Council was shut down untill Governor Lalong settled the bills and reopened it? What about the 8 months of unpaid salaries he left behind? What projects can he show that he executed during his tenure when he operated mostly from Kaduna?
Jang cannot justify his imposition of Mutfwang on the PDP with this lame claim of zoning. Afterall, he has never believed in zoning.The truth is that Caleb Mutfwang who shares the same marital affinity with Jang was just brought because he will be a stooge if elected.
Truth be told, if not that Jang has an alterior motive, should little known Caleb be the best that will come from Mangu who boast of political heavyweights and highly celebrated achievers in education, business, law, governance and politics? With the calibre of experienced people such as Prof. Shedrach Best who was his SGS during his reign, one would have thought he will present such calibre of people who have pedigree in leadership not Caleb Mutfwang who fialed woefully in running a single local government. The only competence he exhibited was the competence of failure!
Jang should note that we know his grand design as the condition for bringing in Caleb is simply so that Ngo Piyo stands in for the first tenure so that should Caleb succeeds in the 2023 election, by 2027 when he will run as incumbent, his son Yakubu Jang will be the running mate. This will then pave the way for Yakubu to contest for Governor when power rotates to the northern zone.
That is his reason for not bringing a younger person be it a man or a woman, because he knows he will grapple with any younger person if he tends to drop him or she for his choice son Yakubu Jang.
5. NENTAWE WILL FAVOUR MUSLIMS LIKE LALONG: Again, Jang was at his best with his religious bigotry and hypocrisy with this assertion. He claimed that the endorsement of Dr. Nentawe by Sheik Jingir is because they think Nentawe will favour them as Lalong did. This is not only a lie but very unfortunate coming from someone who has occupied office of the Governor for 8 years and was expected to be a leader for all citizens irrespective of religion, tribe and political affiliation. If we may ask, how did Lalong favour Muslims over Christians or other faiths? Lalong has simply governed according to his oath of office and the commitment to justice, equity and fairness for all. If this is what Jang terms as favouring Muslims, then his leadership qualities are questionable and very disheartening.
By the way, Jang has dined and wined with Muslims throughout his military and political careers but still wants the gullible to believe that he hates them. Who first brought Buhari to Plateau State under the ANPP? Who made Saleh Hassan (a muslim) Member House of Representatives over Lumumba Da Adeh (a Christian)? Did he not appoint Muslims into his cabinet? Can he swear that he has never solicited for the votes or endorsement from Muslims in Plateau? Who is he deceiving? So he picks and chooses when Muslims are relevant to him. He should be ashamed that Lalong has succeeded in uniting Plateau which he failed to do rather than invoking religious sentiments to seek electoral victory for his chosen stooge. If religious endorsement is bad, how come he is using the Church to endorse his candidate and even insisting on a COCIN-COCIN ticket rather than involving other Christian denominations?
6. “I WON ELECTION TO SENATE BUT LALONG LOST”: In an attempt to gloat over the results of the 25th February elections and mock Governor Lalong, Jang ended up showing his true character of bitterness and hatred for Lalong as a person. Must all candidates be winners? What is the big deal in loosing an election once in a while? Has Jang never lost an election? Does he think we have forgotten how he lost several attempts to be Governor untill Obasanjo imposed him on Plateau even when he failed to win primaries in 2007? What about his 16 is greater than 19 saga that brought shame to the people of Plateau State in his futile attempt to be Chairman of the Governor’s Forum? Does he think we have forgotten how out of shame and fear of loosing Senate seat to Sen. I.D Gyang he went on a wild voyage in the name of contesting for President? How many votes did be get in the primaries?
Jang can never match the political record of Lalong who has won House Member elections twice, defeated a Federal Government induced and sponsored sham Recall election, Won election as Speaker twice (longest record in Plateau till date) and successfully delivered a President elect for the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Director General of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council. He has been Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum for 8 years even without contesting for it. He cannot be described as a looser by any standards.
Lalong could have lost a bid to the Senate due to several reasons that are not related to religion, but he is a national figure who “won the war after loosing a small battle”. Compare Lalong with Jang, what did Jang become after his tenure as Governor and Senator? Rather than go forward to national political prominence, he has reduced to becoming a local champion who fights to install councillors, party exco and other state politicians. What a pity. Lalong is going higher and will continue to be a big player on the national stage.
7. “I HAVE NEVER RIGGED ELECTIONS, APC WANTS TO RIG”: This is another cry of someone facing imminent defeat. If he has such evidence, what is he waiting for? Can’t he take it to law enforcement or at least expose it? Why make spurious allegations without evidence? By the way Jang and his gang of rejected PDP have the worst record of election rigging in the State and Nigeria. He has rigged several elections but was eventually stopped from rigging the 2015 elections due to the determination of the people who had said enough is enough.
OUR ADVICE: Former Governor Jang should please keep his mouth shut and finally retire from politics like his age mates have done. He should not continue ranting and disgracing himself and eating up what remains of the battered image and goodwill of his rejected party. If he insists on politics, then he should not lie or be a hypocrite since he says he is a Pastor. He should sell his candidate rather than incite the people using religion, ethnicity and bigotry which are his trademarks. Plateau has since moved on and been rescued from ethno-religious crises and wanton attacks which were rife during his tenure. Even if he does not want to give Lalong credit for restoring peace and harmony in Plateau State, he should at least allow the citizens to sleep in peace and elect their leaders on 18th March 2023. Afterall, election is not war and Plateau is bigger than anyone’s ambition.
We look forward to having him attend the inauguration of Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe as the next Governor of Plateau State and Hon. Pam Bot-Mang as his Deputy on 29th May 2023 by the grace of God. His seat as a former Governor is guaranteed and will be waiting for him at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium.
God bless Plateau State as we keep thinking and acting Plateau!
Dan Manjang, mnipr Commisioner for Information and Communication, Plateau State. 10/3/2023
GOVERNOR LALONG INSTALLS MORE TRADITIONAL RULERS IN MIKANG, SHENDAM LGAs; URGES CITIZENS TO REJECT POLITICAL PARTIES THAT WILL SCRAP TRADITIONAL STOOLS & PROMOTE ETHNIC POLITICS
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has presented Staffs of office to more traditional rulers in Mikang and Shendam Local Government Areas with a charge to the traditional institution to sustain the peace and security that has been attained under his administration.
Governor Lalong began the day with the installation of the new Long Piapung, His Royal Highness Lawrence L. Nashal on Third (3rd) Class status.
Lalong said since coming into office, he has done his best in keeping faith with the campaign promises to give the traditional institution place of pride in the governance structure of the State.
This he explained was why the Rescue Administration went back to do justice to the wrongs displayed by the past PDP administration of Jonah David Jang where Chiefdoms and Districts were scrapped with impunity and the traditional institution treated with disdain.
“To the glory of God, we have created 285 new Districts, 36 Chiefdoms as well as restored 3 Chiefdoms scrapped by the previous administration. This is in addition to installing new traditional rulers to replace those who had died and the stools were vacant. We shall continue to give a listening ear to those who have demands for Districts and Chiefdoms in line with the desire for inclusivity and emancipation”.
He said Government has noted and received some complaints arising from the creation of new Districts and Chiefdoms, assuring that those complaints once received will be looked into and treated dispassionately.
In Shendam, Governor Lalong coronation and presentation of staff of office to the Five upgraded Chiefs in Shendam Local Government Area, their Royal Highnesses Long Goebou, Miskoom Kenneth Kwaptoe, (2nd Class Status); Long Mekaat, Miskoom Manu Danjuma (3rd Class); Long Pol, Miskoom Bolnaan Bawa (3rd Class); Long Manbial, Miskoom Yakubu Longshal (3rd Class); and Long Jiban, Miskoom Ali Zemlong (3rd Class).
Again, Lalong assured them that his administration will continue to give all necessary support to the traditional institution to enable it perform its duties within the governance structure.
He said “Since the coronation is coming ahead of the State and House of Assembly elections, I know that Plateau people will choose wisely by voting for the candidate of the APC Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda and his Deputy Pam Bot-Mang who have promised to sustain our legacy of fairness, justice and inclusivity. We know that a loud statement will be made when the elections are held. Without mincing words, I hope the people of the various Chiefdoms realise that the only person that will safeguard this stool and enhance it is the person that the APC is putting forward to take over from me. I cannot guarantee same from other parties especially the PDP that has the record for scrapping traditional stools illegally. I know Plateau people will not vote into office the PDP again who will come and abolish Districts and Chiefdoms like they did before we came to correct it”.
He reminded their Royal Highnesses that their installation puts a lot of weight upon their shoulders as they are required to work for the good of their people and in the general interest of Plateau State.
In his remarks the Long Gamai of Gamailand HRH Miskoom Martin Shaldas III praised Governor Lalong for his deep respect for the traditional institution which he said has given them the confidence and comfort to support the government in all its programmes and projects.
He expressed sadness over the blackmail propaganda fuelled by politicians who claim that the Governor has not performed despite glaring evidence of projects executed in all parts of the State including Shendam.
The Royal Father commended Lalong for putting behind him the recent setback which he said will not last long as he has a great future and role to play in the governance of Nigeria at the highest level.
Chairman of Shendam Local Government Miskoom Alex Naantuam and his Mikang counterpart promised to work with the traditional rulers in ensuring that they serve their people without fear or favour.
The newly crowded traditional rulers thanked the Governor for finding them worthy to serve their people and promised to work for the interest of all people irrespective of their backgrounds.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. 9th March 2023.
Barring any further extensions, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reached a decision to postpone Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections to March 18, 2023,
the postponement was due to the commission’s inability to promptly commence reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines utilized during the February 25 presidential election to enable their use in the state elections.
INEC was earlier restrained from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until due inspection was conducted and Certified True Copies (CTC) issued to candidates who are challenging the outcome of the presidential election.
GOVERNOR LALONG INSPECTS PROJECTS TO BE COMMISSIONED BY PRESIDENT BUHARI SOON.
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has inspected some of the projects expected to be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari soon.
Lalong was at the British-American Flyover and Dualisation to Lamingo Junction Roundabout where he expressed happiness with the level of work and its quality.
He commended the contractor for sustaining the tempo of work and urged him to ensure that the few aspects remaining are finalised in order to enable him give the President an official date for the commissioning.
The Governor then proceeded to the Plateau State Specialists Hospital to inspect the remodeling of structures to accommodate the newly acquired ultra modern Hospital equipment which include Superstar MRI Machine, CT scanner, 4D Ultrasound Scanner and Digital X-Ray Machine among others.
He was also at the High Court Headquarters Complex Jos to inspect the work where he was received by the Chief Judge Hon. Justice David Mann and other Justices.
He inspected the 9 courtrooms, conference rooms, libraries, Judges Chambers, furnishings and associated services. He expressed delight that the Complex will be one of the best in Nigeria when commissioned.
Lalong also visited the Plateau Multidoor Court House which is completed and ready for commissioning.
The Governor was also at the NUJ Secretariat Complex Jos to inspect the remodelled facility which is completed and awaiting commissioning.
He was recieved by the Plateau State NUJ Chairman Mr. Paul Jatau and other officials who expressed delight that the Governor has kept his promise to reconstruct the centre.
Governor Lalong who spoke to journalists thereafter said there are many projects in the three senatorial zones that are also ready for commissioning.
He also spoke on the Gubernatorial elections which he said his party the APC was optimistic of victory because of the support it enjoys among the citizens who has seen the performance of the party in restoring peace to the State, completing inherited projects and implementing new ones that are ready for commissioning soon.
He urged citizens to avoid any action that will divide the State or cause disharmony, saying that Plateau State belongs to all.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. 7th March 2023.
NENTAWE DENIES BEING AN AGENT OF THE FULANI CALIPHATE.
The Generation Next Campaign Council has described as wicked and laughable the allegation that the APC governorship Candidate Dr Nentawe Yilwatda is an agent of the Fulani caliphate.
In a statement, spokesman for the Generation Next Campaign Council Shittu Bamaiyi noted that it is rather unfortunate and myopic that the opposition parties can condescend so low in making such toxic allegations just to poison the minds of the unsuspecting electorate on the plateau.
According to the Campaign Council spokesman, it evidently clear that the opposition particularly the PDP and the Labour party having seen defeat looming, have resorted to falsely labelling Nentawe as an agent of the Hausa -Fulani in the governorship race.
Shittu disclosed that it is an open fact that Nentawe having been adjudged about forty years ago as the second best ICT engineer in the country,he meritoriously became a consultant with the United Nations,UNICEF and the African Union in soft ware application.
He further disclosed that Nentawe has made an indelible mark in INEC as a result of his unequalled expertise in drawing and managing the ICT system in the organisation.
Shittu maintained that it is therefore not surprising that private organizations and some state governments across the country have consulted Nentawe for expert advice on ICT.
On the allegation of Nentawe executing the Hausa-Fulani agenda in Benue state as an INEC commissioner, Shittu disclosed that it was during his tenure that the APC lost its grip of the state to the extend that the former governor and the present minister of special duties Senator George Akume lost his Senatorial seat.
Shittu also remarked that rather than being adversarial, the APC campaign council considers the party’s governorship primary as a non issue and will therefore not be distracted, moreso when it is coming from the opposition.
The campaign council spokesman Shittu remarked that it is therefore not surprising for the opposition to embark on mudslinging or making cheap political capital against the person of Nentawe whom they always consider as their night mare.
Shittu stated that comparatively no governorship Candidate in the state can match Nentawe’s credentials in terms of pedigree, intellect, exposure and foresight for a better Plateau.
Sign Shittu Bamaiyi Spokesman Generation Next Campaign Council.
Former Head of State and elder statesman, Gen Dr. Yakubu Gowon, has described the member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, as a worthy son whose representation has brought unprecedented development to the people of his constituency.
Gagdi was on a thank you visit to the statesman at his Abuja residence to appreciate the father of Nigeria’s unity for his role in the reelection of the member representing Gowon’s native constituency of PKK.
Gowon lauds Gagdi’s legislative prowess and described him as a worthy son of Plateau State whose achievements are in tandem with his botched vision for Plateau State.
The elder statesman pledged to support Gagdi in whatever way necessary to help him succeed in his transformational agenda for PKK.
You will recall that the lawmaker had moved a motion on the floor of the House sometime last year, to debunk a motion by the British Parliament where the former Head of State was described in unpalatable words. Resolution to Gagdi’s motion had elicited an apology from the British Parliament.
Ever since, a father-son relationship had been cultivated between Gowon and Gagdi, where the later constantly looks up to the former for guidance and direction, which culminated in the success story of the lawmaker’s four years achievement in the House of Representatives.
Gen. Gowon had promised to assist Gagdi reach out to the farthest part of the country in order to help him achieve his set out goals for PKK.
Powered by: GAGDI STRATEGIC MEDIA TEAM March 5, 2023
PLATEAU APC GROUP WARNS TINUBU TO BEWARE OF SERIAL TRAITOR AND POLITICAL OPPORTUNIST, DAME PAULINE TALLEN; ACCUSE HER OF WORKING FOR THE OPPOSITION IN PLATEAU STATE.
Just few days after our Presidential Candidate His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban was declared President elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by INEC, those seeking political patronage have started emerging from the shadows to congratulate him and lobby for positions.
While we have nothing against anyone for seeking political patronage, we deem it necessary to warn the President elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu over people like the Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen who despite working against Asiwaju and APC in the Presidential and National Assembly elections by openly and clandestinely working for the Labour Party, has in her usual character activated her machinery to lobby for appointment from Tinubu.
This warning becomes necessary because of the fact that Tallen has been a member of the APC in Plateau State only by mouth and has equally done everything possible to frustrate the Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong with a view to killing the party as well as ensure that the opposition takes over in the State and nation at large.
To buttress our point, we wish to say without any fear of contradiction that Dame Pauline Tallen tacitly, mobilised, canvassed for, and voted for the opposition parties during the Saturday 25th February elections.
Further, we have been vindicated having raised concerns in the past and noted with huge disappointment and disgust the revelation that Tallen is among those working hands in gloves with the opposition to cause confusion in Plateau State APC family by hob-nobbing with the opposition parties having come out clearly to wage war against their party and the Administration of Governor Simon Bako Lalong.
Our disappointment was heightened by available facts that showed that Dame Pauline Tallen is one of those who have been playing an underground role together with the opposition in the various upheavals with the view to destabilising the Government and discrediting the APC in the State.
She played an active role in the House of Assembly Saga involving former impeached and disgraced Speaker Ayuba Abok Her with a view to create adequate confusion that will divide the party in the State to give her an excuse to move to the opposition party officially.
Much as she may want to deny, her recent activities apart from those done under cover of darkness (which are at the tip of our fingers), put her out clearly as one of those who do not wish APC progress in Plateau State and will therefore not hesitate to see the downfall of the Lalong administration.
Shortly after the Southern Senatorial bye-election where she failed to realise her ambition of going to the red chambers, she unequivocally declared a cold war and virtually went underground working with her supporters and the opposition to distabilise the Government of Governor Lalong.
Little wonder, she was conspicuously absent from all the process of the Local Government elections in the State. She neither showed her face, nor mobilised anyone in her constituency and at the local government towards the success of the party before and during the elections.
In addition, she refused to be part of all the process for the congresses of the APC from the unit, ward and State levels. Neither was she part of any stakeholders meeting of the party where all political office holders at the Federal level were present. She did not also see any need to send apologies whenever she was absent which showed that her absence was deliberate.
Just when the party organised a successful State Congress where leaders emerged, the Minister who had jettisoned the process pushed her stooge, one Ishaya Itse (who was her known ally and her former SA) to proclaim that he is a factional Chairman of the APC in the State. This wild dream at factionalisation failed to hold water despite the frutiless efforts of the Minister and her opposition PDP collaborators to propagate the fake assertion.
Her loud silence and absence throughout the period of the attacks in Plateau State was not only suspicious, but another sign that she has severed ties with the APC administration in the State. If not, how could she explain the fact that when top Federal officials including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Lucky Irabor, former CAN President Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar, Former Chairman Governors Forum Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk and many prominent leaders paid visits to Plateau to show solidarity and profer solutions to the disturbances, she was nowhere to be found.
Even before this incident, she had not shown so much commitment to assist the Government in the efforts of managing key challenges such as COVID-19. At the height of the pandemic while many illustrious sons and daughters of Plateau State in the public and private sectors eagerly came forth to make donations to provide succour to the most vulnerable people, our dear Honourable Minister representing Plateau State in the Federal cabinet remained aloof. She only surfaced when she was heavily criticised for her deafening absence.
With these and other facts which we don’t want to share at the moment, we are convinced that the Honourable Minister is guilty of working in cahoots with the opposition party in Plateau State to pull the rugs off the feet of the APC and her kinsman, Governor Simon Lalong for her selfish political ambition.
For her political ambition and desperation to run for Senate in 2023, Dame Tallen threw caution to the wind and embraced the opposition in fuelling the uproar in the Plateau State House of Assembly by instigating and joining forces with the former impeached Speaker Abok Ayuba in working against the the APC in Plateau State.
When her shanainigans failed, she shifted her attention to the national primaries of the APC where she hoped to do further damage to the party. She never contributed to any activity towards the convention and only sneaked in after the convention to visit the winner Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with her co-travellers in sabotage, Dasuki Nakande and Hon. Komsol Alphonsus Longgap.
In that visit to Asiwaju as candidate of the APC, Tallen and her cohorts tried to poison the mind of Jagaban that Lalong did not work for him and should not be considered for Vice President position. We refer you to the statement issued by Nakande on behalf of the group (https://dailytrust.com/why-tinubu-should-not-pick-gov-lalong-as-running-mate/).
After listening to this act of witchcraft by Tallen and Company, Asiwaju ignored them and ended up giving them a shocker of their lives by appointing Governor Simon Bako Lalong as the Director General of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council.
Lalong did his best depsite the acts of sabotage, backstabbing and betrayal from Tallen, her cohorts in active connivance with the opposition, he delivered Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President elect with Senator Kashim Shettima as his Vice.
As usual, the over ambitious Tallen ran immediately to Abuja after ensuring the defeat of Tinubu and APC candidates in her pulling unit in Shendam and Plateau State by Labour Party and the PDP which she funded and openly to pay a fake and hypocritical congratulatory visit to Asiwaju where she launched another campaign for either a Ministerial post or appointment as SGF. Vintage Tallen!
Those who don’t know the political history of madam Minister may be surprised, but we are not. For the records, her history of pulling down others in order to rise to positions is legendary. For example, she holds the record of being the first Deputy Governor to contest against a sitting Governor during contest for re-election after first term in office. She did it to Governor Jonah Jang in 2011.
She also holds no record of electoral success despite all her attempts as she has never won even Councillor position. All she has done is to run up and down destroying people and crawling on the ground begging for appointment after people have fought hard to win elections. Her politics is best described as “Food is Ready” and “Come and Chop”.
While she is already restless and running helter skelter in her desperation for appointment under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we wish to advice his Excellency the President elect to distance himself from her and ignore her desperation.
He can never trust a character like Tallen and hwr group who after pulling the roof off the APC which revived her from political oblivion and gave her yet another seat at the Federal Executive Council where she sits and dines with our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, decided to work against it in broad day light.
Instead of working for the crucial Gubernatorial elections and supporting the APC Candidate Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda and State Assembly candidates, Tallen and her team have never been associated with Nentawe and the APC either openly or secretly, but have been seen and touched by the opposition PDP and Labour Party.
However, we assure her that we will win and get Nentawe to succeed Governor Lalong with a full compliment of House of Assembly Members from the APC.
Finally, we call on the APC Chairman in her unit, ward, LGA and Plateau State; Chairman, Plateau State Governor; APC National Chairman; and President Muhammadu Buhari to take note of the grievous travesty of the Honourable Minister and act accordingly to save our great party the APC from being destroyed by people like the Minister who is APC in the day, but collaborator with the opposition in the night. She should be suspended, investigated and expelled immediately.
Nentawe: Quest for secured, united and prosperous Plateau
By Katdapba Y. Gobum
For those who know, the quest for the occupation of the office of the governor of a state cannot be taken lightly. Therefore, anyone interested in the challenge must be well-prepared for the journey ahead; as no ill-prepared leader in the present age can succeed in leadership. For those who know, ‘governance comes with adequate preparation’; it does not come by happenstance.
The question to ask is: Is the APC gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe prepared for the task ahead of him? There cannot be any genuine preparation more than what he has exhibited for the office he seeks to occupy.
Since 2013, except if it can be proven otherwise, realizing that he had an eye for the number one position; Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe started on a small scale what he would do if he was entrusted with higher responsibilities someday. It is common knowledge that since then, more grounds have been covered in building bridges across different divides between people and different communities.
If no one took him seriously then, he was not bothered; Nentawe had made up his mind to change how things in the womb of the future for the people and state should be. First, he needed to change the course of doing things by making certain provisions; which, when considered would be the springboard to the ascension of power one day by him.
Over the years, several things, particularly such that will create the needed platform for youth, women and PWDs took place. He had dreamt that one day he would be improving and developing agricultural value change, opening up the economy; but more importantly help in creating credit lines for SMEs in their support. His years and activities in the ivory tower blossomed and changed the trajectory of what God wanted him to become.
Little wonder, he ran with the humility that has become his hallmark. After all, the race was not jumped into it. A need that was observed and shared with a broad spectrum of individuals and groups irrespective of party affiliation bought the idea and he started running with it.
A prepared candidate can easily connect with the mass of the people. For those who know and have followed Nentawe’s engagements with the citizens over time; and indeed having studied the challenges of Plateau State, it is understandable why it can be safely said that workable solutions are possible for them.
One of those challenges that have faced the state is insecurity. Many of us may recall that in the last two decades and running, a disturbing number of people have been killed, even as we know that the people’s lands were grabbed in the most despicable manner. It is in this regard that if he wins the race, a ‘Security Trust Fund’, where money can be contributed to secure it, as well as to amend the Operation Rainbow bill and activities of the vigilantes and hunters that would accommodate certain peculiarities of the state, that are able to properly take care of the envisaged security architecture. Interestingly, to be able to assess the funds, which he promised 10 percent, Vulnerable Trust Fund for people living with disability, women and youth will be established.
In the course of being an academic, God showed him mercy; President Muhammadu Buhari on a recommendation appointed him a Resident Electoral Commissioner. Upon being confirmed by the Senate, he was posted to Benue State as the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner. He did not just prove his mettle in various assignments, it was apparent God imbued him with lots of solutions to human challenges; so much so that his ‘service to humanity is exemplary’.
It is not in my purview to review his performance while he held sway as Resident Electoral Commissioner from 2017 to 2021. However, one of the high points of his reign, while it lasted was ensuring that Internally Displaced Persons were not disenfranchised, INEC created avenues for them to vote. To date, his conduct while he served as INEC Resident Commissioner has not been called to question.
That was not all: He was dutifully engaged when the national headquarters saw the need for him to use his experience to get some states’ elections off the ground. These elections became test cases for the nation’s electoral process, as their nature appeared seemingly problematic.
The fact that he succeeded was enough to add a feather to his many caps and resolves that were needed to create value and deepen democracy in Nigeria. Therefore, as difficult as the Plateau State political terrain had assumed, Nentawe did not take things for granted.
The calculations, interactions, persuasions and meetings over the years with community youth leaders, opinion moulders, rural traders, unions, community-based groups, faith-based groups was the avenue he needed to assess the infrastructural deficit available in the rural communities.
Every political party and its candidates have identifiably unique ways of canvassing for and winning support from the electorate during election. While it is possible to create such an important environment by the party, it is by far the responsibility of the candidate to sell his person to the people.
Somewhere in the local communities that make Plateau State, the APC gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, and his running mate, Hon Pam Bot Mang had engaged the people of the state in what has been revealed as frank discussions on the way forward to being enthroned as governor and deputy.
Good intentions are good but, if we must move ahead, certain changes must be made to get rid of the state’s challenges. One of the challenges of Plateau is revenue generation that would be used for the purpose of development. The state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) cannot be said to be sufficient as the monthly subventions are, if anything, only enough to pay salaries with very little left to be used for development purposes.
There are a number of issues that are instructive for rebooting the manner government does business. There are minerals in the state whose laws have to be amended, that is if we must not allow criminals take advantage to mine our resources at night while they kill the people at night
He had said at one of the meetings that, ‘I don’t want to borrow more money, I want to reverse the tide; by opening the state economy’. Competence has its advantage, and it cannot be traded for anything else. The fact that some others may not have been successful means they did not prepare well.
Government must exist for all, which is that people must feel the presence of those who lead. To unite the people for prosperity is a task which has to be done. The promises are many; they remain what we have been waiting for.
Politics is the only thing you may not need a certificate to go into, however, it should be known that power comes from the proper understanding of the issues that make a state prosper through people. Having exchanged ideas in order to propel the state, the people of the as other Nigerians need to be told to accept outcomes.
If politics is for service, Nigerians must need to be oriented to accept what should work for them and to accept the consequences of their actions. The reward system must help access the capacity of the gladiators in the contest. It is only the voter who has been properly educated on what can be offered to him/her that can make the right choices. Going forward, during the visits to the 17 local government areas, a number of things came to the fore. These issues may have remained bottled up without venting them out for solutions to be sought for; the fact that they spoke their minds to a man willing to find solutions to them.
Increasingly, the state has been inundated with certain issues that relate to ‘democratic rights, functions and decisions’, which regrettably many people have tended to support, so long as leaders in the past took them principally based on ethnic and religious motives. To enable young people remain nationalistic and pass it on to the next generation, let it be known that ‘a record of bad tribal democratic governance which many tribes on the Plateau have adopted as a precedent’ remains our bane.
It is on record that during the interactions Nentawe had with nationalities in the 17 local government areas, it was clear, the people mattered; the youth, women and people living with disabilities were highly placed as never before. Such leaders as the late Joseph Dechi Gomwalk and Chief Solomon Daushep Lar have always remained top above others as they were not considered as ’bandits of tribal governance’. It is time, Nentawe, had always maintained, we cannot be local champions in a state that he wants to take to higher heights. To walk out of our current predicament, tribalism, must be killed if we want a new Plateau.
A few months ago, it was apparent that a faceless group had insisted that there was a problem between the gubernatorial candidate with the ruling party. Since then the party through its state Publicity Secretary, Hon Sylvanus Namang said, ‘there is no activity he embarks upon without the tacit approval of the party’s leadership in the state.
‘The workaholic, diligent and composed gubernatorial candidate who is more than prepared for the job, has met with the leadership of all the indigenous groups on the Plateau known as PIDAN and all other ethnic nationalities residing in Plateau state to solicit their support which has given the opposition parties in the state sleepless nights.
‘The APC would want to advise those who think they can stop the APC awesome winning machinery not to waste their time an energy and are advised to key into this winning team for a better, united, secured and prosperous Plateau State instead of these unhelpful and vain distraction’.
It must be noted that, the party had carefully designed its programme to fit into the electoral time table by INEC. Therefore, when Dr Nentawe Yilwatda first embarked on a one-on-one reconciliation visits to all the gubernatorial aspirants he contested with to pacify and solicit their buy-in to key into his campaign programme; it was herculean, even as it was seen as one which may not see the light of the day. It worked out. He then followed it with a Thank You visit which took him to all the 17 local government areas of the State with the party’s leadership.
It was the Citizens Engagement which saw him visit all the 17 local government areas with all strategic blocs in the state took about three weeks to conclude also had the full approval of the party in the state. Those involved in the engagement included representatives of religious leaders, leaders of development associations along with their women and youth wings, strategic community stakeholders, Ardos, leaders of market association among many others.
In sharing the ‘social contract of a Secured, United and Prosperous Plateau of our Heritage’, to the people who comprehend what the state has gone through has been rewarding, if not revealing to the citizens who have longed for what they have not heard in a long while. If they yearned for it, it because they have in him a man prepared to lead the state.
The ACEES Agenda of Agriculture, Critical Infrastructure, Economic, Youths and, Education, and Security, by any stretch of imagination tells anyone of his preparedness to rule Plateau State. It is hoped that the youth, women, people living with disabilities and indeed men would buy into the whole gamut of what he has in stock to develop Plateau, when he gets to Little Rayfield.
Freelance Reporters 