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Tag: Jang

  • Plateau Assembly to probe Jang

    Plateau Assembly to probe Jang

    The Plateau State House of Assembly has set up a committee to investigate allegation of financial misconduct levelled against Governor Jonah Jang.

    A group, Plateau Patriotic Front, petitioned the House, alleging financial misconduct of over N20 billion.

    A copy of the petition, obtained by The Nation, titled: “Allegation of gross misconduct against Governor Jonah David Jang of Plateau State” contains allegations of extra budgetary spending, misappropriation, inflated contract sum and unauthorised bank loans.

    The Speaker, Titus Alam, said: “No one in the House is saying the matter will not be looked into but what we are saying is that let the right thing be done, there is a process of attending to any petition in the House.”

    Chairman of the Committee on Public Account Sambo Musa Gondina will chair the investigative committee.

    Chairman of the Committee on Housing and Urban Development John Clark Dabwan and his Finance counterpart, Dalyop Mancha, will serve as members.

  • We’re in war with unknown enemies —Jang

    We’re in war with unknown enemies —Jang

    Plateau State Governor, Jonah David Jang, has described last Tuesday’s bombing in Jos and its devastating impact on the people’s lives and property as war with unknown enemies.

    Governor Jang made the remarks during his visit to the scenes of the carnage shortly after arriving from his oversea’s trip yesterday.

    Jang, who was visibly angered by the incident, said: ”I can now agree we are in a war situation. But the unfortunate situation is that we don’t know the enemies that are fighting us.

    “This type of war is different because the enemies are unknown or are hiding. You don’t know who the enemy is or where he is coming from. You don’t know where to tackle him until he takes you by surprise like in a situation like this.

    “These enemies of Plateau most of the time are coming from outside the state and outside Nigeria.”

    While calling on the Federal Government to bring the perpetrators of these crimes and their sponsors to book, Governor Jang said “those who have made and are making threatening statements should be arrested and questioned.”

    He encouraged the people of the state to expand their level of security consciousness by being alert even when they are sleeping.

    “Everywhere we go, citizens should be extra-conscious because the enemies are around us,” he charged.

    He also cautioned politicians against using every means to gain political advantage.

    Commenting on the abducted Chibok girls, Jang said: “We are all concerned about the missing girls. But rather than protesting daily, we should join hands with the Federal Government and the international communities to address the issues before us, because Africa is looking up to us.”

    Governor Jang charged  journalsts to be professional in their reportage of the twin blasts in a way that will not incite the general public.

  • Jang lifts patients on birthday

    Jang lifts patients on birthday

    It was a day of joy and sober reflection when Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang went to the hospital to celebrate his birthday with the patients. It was a day that coincided with World Kidney Day. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU and EMMANUEL KWAPYEL captured the atmosphere and reports

    The 2014 edition of World Kidney Day fell on March 13, 2014, the same day Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang clocked 70. The governor used the day to lift up the spirits of the less privileged in the state.

    Jang, since his assumption of office on May 29, 2007, has never celebrated his birthday. No one in the state expected he will do so on his 70th anniversary after seven years in office, with just a year to leave office.

    He took his political associates, friends, relations and citizens of the state by surprise when he began to send cards out notifying them of his birthday programme.

    It was hard to believe Jang had friends and well-wishers to invite for his birthday. A lot of people across the country and in Plateau state in particular thought that he was too hard and strict to keep friends.

    But the high and mighty were there. The most memorable aspects of the one-week party was Jang’s decision to start programme with the poor, the sick and the aged in the society. And he got more than enough of such people to celebrate with. He dedicated a whole day to them. The hospital was the aprty scene.

    A week to the day, Governors Jang went into partnership with one of the private hospitals in Jos, Dee Medical Centre to register citizens of the state for free medical services. The state media launched a campaign calling on anyone in the state who has one ailment or the other to come for free treatment at the hospital. The public invitation was also open to everyone for free medical check-up.

    The response was unprecedented. The old, young, women, children, school children, among others,  trooped to the hospital. It was difficult to manage the crowd. So, before the date, thousands of the citizens had enrolled for the free medical services.

    Dee Medical Centre, a private hospital owned by the Da Bulus Dareng family, specialises in renal (kidney) ailments. It is located in Bukuru, near Jos. The hospital is believed to be the largest private dialysis centre in Africa.

    The hospital management also used that day to enlighten healthy individuals to donate blood for the benefit of ailing people who need blood but cannot afford it.

    An emergency centre was created to collect safe blood from willing donors, and hundreds of donors volunteered and the empty blood bank of the hospital and that of Plateau State Specialists Hospital were stocked.

    On his arrival at the hospital, the crowd went agog shouting “Sai Baba, Sai Baba! It was as if he came to launch a political campaign for a third term. But while the crowd were jubilating and singing birthday songs for him, Jang looked a  little bit downcast. As he went round the canopies to see the patients assembled, he merely responded with a wave of the hand. Then, he began to speak.

    “I’m supposed to be celebrating today being my birthday, but the population of people I am seeing scrambling for medical services has made me too weak to jubilate. I am really touched, I never knew there are so much people who could not afford medical services. I know there is high level of poverty every where in the country, but I never thought I could be this poor.

    “This medical programme is not all about my 70th birthday; it is about World Kidney Day which comes every year. But the question is, as it comes and goes annually, what do patients stand to gain each year? I am proud a private individual could establish a medical centre like this, fully equipped with dialysis facilities. The centre was described by Gen.T Y Danjuma (rtd) as the largest privately owned medical centre in the whole of Africa when he came to commission it last year. Plateau State and the Middle Belt are proud of this private investment in the health sector.

    “I will rather use a day like this to plead with people of Nigeria who are in privileged positions of authority to remember the poor in our society. There are so many wealthy people in this country who do not know there is poverty anymore. There are so many privileged Nigerians who prefer to stock their wealth in foreign accounts rather than investing in areas that benefit the poor masses. I consider those Nigerians who took Nigerian money and hid it in foreign banks as people with mental problems. If not, the country is looking for money to develop its social infrastructure and somebody will pack billions of Naira and take it to countries that are already developed to keep for them; it is a senseless idea, and I think those who do that must be mad.

    “I belief the world is becoming a global village, if you steal money and hide it abroad, it will be discovered. If all Nigerians that stock their money in foreign accounts will bring half of it home and invest it here, this country will become a developed nation in less than 10 years.

    “God deliberately gave people positions and wealth so as to serve God’s people on earth, but some people, rather than serve people of God, they took all the monies away and stocked them in foreign accounts, and hide it from the people you are meant to serve with your wealth. So I am using this opportunity to beg Nigerians that we should love our nation and love our people.

    Jang spoke further, saying, “You all know the issue of health of citizens is one of the 10-point agenda of my administration right from the beginning. That was why I made it as a policy to renovate and expand at least five hospitals in each of the three senatorial zones, apart from the referral hospital in each of the zones. Now that we have local government chairmen in place, I have directed that each local government should construct a clinic in each polling ward in that local government. There should be no local government headquarters without a general hospital. I will also do more to encourage private investors in the health sector for the well-being of our people.

    “I want to encourage everyone of us gathered to treat one health problem or the other to have faith in God, sickness is never a portion of children of God, it is the devil that is trying our faith with God, so we should remain committed to God in spite of our individual health challenges. God is aware of your condition. And particularly the kidney patients, the cost of treating renal patients is huge, I will not stop at assisting the patients on my birthday, I will discuss with my commissioner of health so as to come up with a program that will subsidies the cost of dialysis of these patients.

    “I am looking forward to seeing more private individual invest in public service sector, so that they can use parts of what God has blessed them with to benefit the less privilege in our society, that will go a long way in complementing government efforts in service delivery

  • Jang gets three awards in London

    Jang gets three awards in London

    Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang has received three awards for exemplary and quality leadership.

    A statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, James Mannok said the awards were presented to Jang in London.

    “Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang has received three awards from GLEEHD Foundation, Commonwealth Democratic Institute (CDI) and Nigeria International Merit Award (NIRMA) in the United Kingdom.

    “The awards are: Medal of distinction in Public Administration (GLEEHD) Exceptional Life in Public Service (CDI) and Lifelong Achievement in Governance and Public Service (NIMRMA).”

  • Jang withdraws cases against opponents

    Jang withdraws cases against opponents

    Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang has withdrawn all libel cases against various individuals and media outfits.

    Jang has pending cases in courts against several national newspapers and some local publishers.

    A statement by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edward Pwajok, said the governor has forgiven all his ‘enemies’ within and outside the state.

    The statement reads: “As part of his 70th birthday celebration, Governor Jonah Jang has decided to forgive all persons and media organisations that defamed his hard earned family reputation and personal pedigree.

    “He has been led by divine spirit to show magnanimity to his detractors by directing the immediate discontinuance of all cases filed by him and on his behalf in different courts.

    “However, Governor Jang expects that this unprecedented gesture will be appreciated by the individuals and media organisations concerned, all of whom the governor considers to be his good friends and partners in progress.

    “The governor uses this opportunity to advise media organisations to verify their facts properly and thoroughly before publication.”

  • Jang: Something jangling at 70

    Jang: Something jangling at 70

    First, it is fulsome congratulations to a Nigerian elder, former Air Force general and current two-term governor of Plateau State, Jonah D. Jang. Mr. Jang has shown rare biological and political staying power.

    To attain 70 in a clime where average life-expectancy is no more than 50 is a great achievement. May Pa Jang at 70, a young old man, live many more years yet, to the joy of his family and the glory of a strong and united Nigeria.

    Politically, he has shown even more staying power, transiting from two-time khaki governor of Benue State (August 1985-August 1986) and defunct Gongola (August 1986-December 1987) to two-term elected governor of his native Plateau State.

    But in the celebration of Pa Jang’s 70th birthday, a particular advert in the March 13 issue of this newspaper particularly jangles. In that advert, Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam and wife Doorshima Yemisi Suswan enthused: “Hurray! Our Chairman is 70!” Nothing wrong with that, as the chairman, to the hailing folks, appears a good old fellow.

    It happens, however, that the chairman Suswam and wife were referring to was the chair of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF)! Now, on what basis might that be — that 16 (Jang’s tally at the election lost and won) was greater than 19 (which the rightful claimant, Rivers Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, polled)?

    More than enough perhaps, has been written about this impunity of turning logic upside down, simply because of the illusion of wielding a power that is simply not there. Indeed, Jang himself engaged in the scandal of profaning the church thanksgiving. He went to church to celebrate an election which he knew damn well he lost fair and square.

    It was such a charade unbecoming of the church and of the high office of governor. It was even more unbecoming of the higher office still of the President, which impunity of purporting not to accept an electoral loss was powering the whole nonsense. Still, all these have been over-commented on.

    What is new here therefore is the sacrilege in relation to young and old age.

    The Benue gubernatorial couple are young and dashing. Other things being equal, they have many more years yet to go on wilful adventures — pronouncing a loser winner of an election and vice-versa. Sure, in a democracy, which runs on the blood stream of sane elections, that ought to be a cardinal crime. But then, other things being equal, they have enough time to change and make up for past misdeeds; don’t they?

    But Pa Jang — what time does he have? At 70, he is closer to his creator than to his cradle. Even on the terrestrial plane, his governorship term is running out. How then can he live with the sacrilege of wilful self-deceit, both to his Creator (whenever he is called, though Hardball wishes he lives very long still) and his kit-and-kin after his gubernatorial years?

    That is what that jangles with Pa Jang’s three-scores-and-ten anniversary. He will do well, forthwith, to remove that dissonance of self-deceit.

    But will he?

  • Jang seeks better life for rural dwellers

    Jang seeks better life for rural dwellers

    Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang has advised local government chairmen to concentrate on programmes that will make life better for the people.

    He spoke in Jos, the state capital, while signing into law the 2014 appropriation bill and swearing-in of newly elected local government chairmen.

    He said: “These two events signify a beginning, a beginning for the tenure of local government chairmen and for the budget, beginning of a new financial year 2014”

    Addressing residents of the state who converged on Government House for both events, Governor Jang said: “My dear compatriots, I have just signed into law the 2014 Appropriation Bill of N225, 058,026,306.00. The driving force behind this budget is our administration’s conviction that service delivery and the honour of our covenant with the people is the ultimate, while time is of the essence. We are resolved on working on our projects till the last minute of the administration. We remain committed towards completing the numerous projects. That is our focus.

    Speaking on the challenges of government in its effort to meet the needs of the people ,the governor said: “While we strive to better the lot of our people, we are challenged by resources. We have had to reorganise all our revenue generating agencies towards mobilising sufficient funds to finance our projects. As we intensify internal revenue generation initiatives, we equally appeal to our citizens to cooperate and pay all taxes such as land levies and water rates among others.   In addition, we are exploring all avenues for revenue including the Federal Government and the private sector.

    The governor urged ministries,departments and agencies to strictly comply with budgetary provision as poor monitoring remains the bane of the budget implementation . He said: “A major bane of budget implementation is poor monitoring. I, therefore, wish to direct the State Planning Commission to ensure MDAs strictly comply with budgetary provision. In line with this, I charge all ministries, departments and agencies to immediately commence the process of budget implementation so as to avoid last minute rush”.

    Sustaining his government’s fight against corruption, Governor Jang said: ‘’All expenditures should be carried out based on budget approval. It equally means financial prudence should be upheld in all government dealings.This is because we will not relent in our fight against corruption. I wish to caution MDA Heads to ensure this implementation is not only on paper, but is carried out to the later. MDA’s are therefore advised to strengthen their internal monitoring machinery.

    “At this point, I wish to appreciate the State House of Assembly for the deep interest they have shown in the budget proposal and the value they have added to it. I count it a worthy partnership.

    The governor said the event opened another chapter in the entrenchment of democracy at the third tier of government as newly elected chairmen were sworn in. He congratulated the chairmen on their victory at the polls.

     

     

     

     

     

    He noted that a large portion of the population resides in the councils and they are yearning for improved governance and service delivery. He urged them to perform creditably, “ As part of our desire to propel development at the local government areas, we have made some savings from the Value Added Tax which will be released to the council chairmen for the implementation of capital projects.  We also look forward to a synergy with the Three Pillar Policy at the state level as both tier of government are to complement each other. We are all partners in the development of our dear state’’.

    The governor said that a strategic plan for the local governments has been designed by the state government and GIZ to fast tract development at the local government while appreciating the peculiarity of rural development.  He promised to organise a retreat for the new council chairmen to realign their visions with the Redemption Agenda.

    Explaining his expectations from the chairmen, the governor said: ‘’Under your leadership, I envisage a local government administration where service and development will be your motivation, where corruption will be tackled, where primary health care centres will be manned by qualified personnel with required medicaments, where communities will have access to clean water, where children will seat on chairs to receive lessons, where communities will not be separated by mere lack of a culvert or a box culvert, where workers will not be owed salaries for months, where chairmen will not go into hiding running away from the people!

    ”Indeed, I dream of local governments where the leadership will truly wake up to their constitutional roles in the overall interest of our people; leaders that can stand tall at the end of it all and give account of their steward.

    The governor added that the state government had undertaken a biometric exercise to ascertain the actual strength of its workforce both at state and local government levels. The effort is aimed at sanitising the local government system especially regarding workforce and wage bill.

    Equally as part of human capital development and empowerment, a financial literacy training aimed at establishing micro finance banks has been carried out in the local government targeted at mainly women across the state.

    He said the government is not unmindful of the strategic role of the traditional institution is playing in society and the need to have an enabling environment for them to operate.

    “In this vein, we have captured the building of palaces for our first class rulers and vehicles in the 2014 Budget which I have just signed into law.  The long-awaited creation of new chiefdoms and districts, where desirable, will soon be done ‘’.

     

  • Jang: blame Kwankwaso for NGF crisis

    Jang: blame Kwankwaso for NGF crisis

    Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang has said Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso should be blamed for the crisis, which led to a split in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    Jang, who chairs a faction of the Forum, accused Kwankwaso of deceit by nominating him as the candidate of the northern governors for the NGF election held in May last year.

    According to Jang, Kwankwaso deceived him into believing that he was the choice of the northern governors, only to join forces with the Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who defeated him at the election. Amaechi defeated Jang by 18 votes to 16.

    He said: “When he (Kwankwaso) proudly made it public that he was being smart by nominating me and leading others to vote against me, what was he expecting?

    “That deceit and dishonesty were the beginning of playing politics with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and now he is not happy with what he created. He can always come back to the forum of the chairman he nominated.”

    In a statement yesterday by his faction of the NGF, signed by Kassim Yakubu, the Plateau governor also refuted an allegation by Kwankwaso that President Goodluck Jonathan gave N2 billion each to some governors to scuttle the NGF election.

    “The dishonesty and deceit of Kwankwaso are directly linked to the present division among the governors and not the Presidency.

    “If anybody received any bribe, it must be Kwankwaso, as he was the one who nominated Jang for the chairmanship of the NGF when the northern governors met to agree on a consensus candidate.”

  • Jang, Maigari, Elegbeleye to grace Giwa FC reception

    Jang, Maigari, Elegbeleye to grace Giwa FC reception

    Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, President Nigerian Football Federation, Aminu Maigari and Chairman, Nigerian Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, are expected at the reception for the officials and players of Giwa FC of Jos.

    The Proprietor of the club, Chris Giwa, is organising a reception for the players and officials of the team for gaining promotion to the Globacom Premier League.

    Giwa was promoted from the Nigerian National League (NNL) Group A at the end of the 2012/2013 season and later emerged the winners of the NNL Super Four Cup.

    A statement jointly signed by the club’s Media Officer, Yemi Matthew and the Chairman of the Reception Planning Committee, said the event was to appreciate the efforts of the players.

    “Chris Giwa is expected to appreciate the team for doing Plateau and Nigeria proud through their hard work and commitment,’’ it said.

    According to the statement, the events for the grand reception would start on Friday with Jumat prayers, while a church service would be held on Sunday at COCIN Church, Kuru at 9 a.m. It said the reception would hold at HBC Resort at 2 p.m.

  • Confab findings should be implemented – Jang

    Confab findings should be implemented – Jang

    The Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, has said the findings of the National dialogue, when concluded should be implemented and not abandoned like many findings from past conferences.

    Jang said this when the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, paid him a courtesy call on Monday in Jos.

    Jang lamented that Nigeria has had so many conferences whereby the results of such confabs were never implemented.

    “If conferences were a successful way of running a country, we would have been the best country in the world.

    “Unfortunately, once such confabs are over we push it to the archives without ever implementing them,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying during the visit.

    He said that national dialogue was very timely; however, the results from it “must” be implemented this time around.”

    Jang appealed that, as we dialogue, Nigerians must first embrace each other and do away with their various differences.

    He said the conference would help solve some of the disagreements we have.

    The governor further said that for a balanced federation, the disparity in revenue sharing must be addressed so that all states could be fully developed.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Femi Okurunmu, told the governor that the committee’s mission was to consult widely with the people.

    He urged that people should be free to air their views to the committee.