Tag: Mutfwang

Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Plateau governorship candidate in the 2023 election, has accepted the Supreme Court’s judgment that affirmed Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s election.

It would be recalled that Yilwatda challenged the election of Mutfwang, and was declared winner by the Appeal Court on Nov. 19, 2023, but the judgment was reversed by the apex court on Friday.

The APC governorship candidate, in his reaction, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Jos, congratulated Mutfwang over his victory.

He said that they had reached the final destination of the 2023 General Elections process, and they had accepted the decision of the Supreme Court with humility and gratitude to God.

“Let me thank our supporters for their resilience, courage, and unwavering belief in the Generation Next Movement.

“Never before have I seen this bond of organic fraternity and personal sacrifices by supporters in a course they believe in.

Read Also: Supreme Court: Yusuf, Mutfwang, Lawal survive

“This is a testament to why, even in the darkest of times, the light of your hope and faith still shines.

“While I congratulate my elder brother, His Excellency Caleb Mutfwang, I must also appreciate and commend the peaceful and calm disposition of our supporters,’’ he stated.

Yilwatda appealed to the citizens of Plateau and their numerous well-wishers to ensure they kept the peace in the state.

He urged them to collectively work towards the secure, united, and prosperous Plateau of their dreams because their resolve to build a cohesive and peaceful community is non-negotiable. (NAN)

For the second time in less than a week, Governor Caleb Mutfwang openly lamented the Christmas Eve attacks on some communities in Plateau State.

Muftwang said he was peeved that the latest mayhem, which he described as   a  “genocide,”  was like the previous being  given the “traditional narrative of   farmer-herder clash..”

“It is a misrepresentation of facts to describe these needless and unprovoked attacks on our people as a farmer-herder clash as has always been the traditional narrative. Let us call a spade a spade; this is simple genocide,” he said in an emotion-laden voice.

The governor stated this during a live broadcast to the people of the state to mark the New Year yesterday.

He  declared a one-week of mourning across the state in respect of  “over 160 people killed in the recent Christmas genocide.”

During the mourning period (January 1 to 8), flags will fly at half-mast in honour of the deceased. Official state mourning will be held on Monday.

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The governor enjoined Muslim clerics to dedicate Friday as a special prayer day for lasting peace in the state and Christian leaders to do the same on Sunday.

He acknowledged the resilience of the people and called on them to use the mourning period   “for intense prayers to seek the intervention of the Almighty God in defending our territories and against wicked men that have risen against us.”.

The governor said despite the adversity, he was optimistic that this year “would bring hope and opportunities in reflection of the inner strength of the people.”

His words: “I welcome you to 2024, our year of hope in the midst of conflict, our year of deliverance, restoration and progress.

“While it is true that we ended the year 2023 on a sad note because of the many precious lives we lost, including but not limited to over 400 between April and June 2023 as well as the over 160 in the recent Christmas genocide.

“From small eruptions of conflict sometime in 2001, no one could have imagined that our dear state would witness such unquantifiable bloodshed of innocent lives, some known and others unknown. It is quite grievous to my heart that Plateau State has become the cynosure of the whole nation and the world for the wrong reasons.

“These unprovoked and simultaneous attacks in different villages were premeditated and coordinated. These series of attacks on our people are a clear case of criminality, insurgency and terrorism and must be seen and handled in that manner if we must succeed in halting this wanton destruction of lives and property.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is a misrepresentation of facts to describe these needless and unprovoked attacks on our people as a farmer-herder clash as has always been the traditional narrative. Let us call a spade  a spade, this is simple genocide

“Let me use this medium again to commiserate with my dear Plateau People on these monumental killings, especially the affected communities and the families of the deceased. My heart goes out to you and be assured that my family, the entire government and I deeply share in your grief.

“We will not rest on our oars but will tirelessly collaborate with the Federal Government to bring an end to these tragedies and bring succour to affected persons and communities.

“As a mark of honour for the memory of the deceased, I wish to declare a week of mourning from January 1st  to January 8th, 2024. During this period of mourning, flags will fly at half-mast. I urge all citizens to use these days for intense prayers to seek the intervention of the Almighty God in defending our territories and against wicked men who have risen against us.

   ‘It is gratifying that despite these onslaughts, our spirits are not broken. Our resolve to defend our land and prosper therein has remained unshakeable.

“I am, therefore, confident that 2024 will reveal our inner strength and resilience in the face of these tribulations.

“Let me state emphatically, that I do not take for granted your unwavering support and confidence in my ability to lead you at this trying period of our evolution as a people. The year ended was a year of fulfilment and tribulations.

“Despite the gloomy end of 2023, I am proud to state that we have recorded some tangible gains starting from May 29th, 2023 when we were sworn into office”

As part of the New Year activities, Muftwang  deployed   pardoned four inmates  of the Jos Correctional  Centre

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) at the weekend told his colleagues that almost 200 people were massacred during the mayhem.

He said: “I was at JUTH (Jos University Teaching Hospital) and you could see a three-month-old with a gunshot wound. Three months! Some were beheaded. This is unprecedented…

“What was discovered is that these marauding bandits were not moving with weapons. Those weapons were domiciled in certain locations.”

We’ll intervene in Plateau crisis, North Central governors assure

Governors in the Northcentral have promised to collaborate in finding a lasting peace to the series of killings in Plateau State.

They said they  would meet with the victims and other critical stakeholders involved in the Christmas Eve mayhem

Nasarawa  State Governor Abdullahi Sule    made this known  after visiting   President Bola Tinubu    in Lagos on Sunday. .

Sule, who is also chairman of Northcentral Governors’ Forum, said: “ I told Mr. President about some of the things happening in our own zone, including issues in Plateau.

“Mr. President is very concerned about the security of the people and about what is happening on the Plateau and what is happening in the Northeast and most especially in the North Central.”

CAN seeks prayers against killings 

The  Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)  urged Nigerians to pray against killings in the country, especially in Plateau State.

It also admonished Nigerians to use diversity as the  “bedrock” for a stronger and more harmonious nation.

President of the association,  Archbishop Daniel Okoh gave the advice in a New Year message yesterday.

He said:”We were shocked to find that, as the year drew to a close, the enemies of progress sought to cast a shadow over our joy with acts of extreme violence in some communities on the Plateau.

“These acts of aggression against innocent lives are a stark reminder of the fragility of peace in our beloved country. It is a recurrent nightmare that we have witnessed far too often.

“In light of these distressing events, our prayers intensify for the souls we have lost and for the bereaved families.

“We pray earnestly to the Almighty God that such senseless loss of life and wanton destruction of property will never plague our communities again. 

“In the face of these adversities, it is imperative that we, as a people, refuse to be discouraged.

“Instead, we must unite and remain resolute in our commitment to build a united, peaceful, and prosperous nation. It is in our togetherness that we find the strength to withstand the trials that beset us. In unity, there is hope, resilience and the power to rebuild.”

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has harped on the vital role of the Church in fostering peace and harmonious coexistence in Nigeria.

He stressed the need for collaborative efforts among religious groups to address the prevalent security challenges affecting Plateau and parts of the Middle Belt.

Governor Mutfwang made these remarks during a condolence visit at New Government House Little Rayfield, Jos, where he received Bishop Francis Wale-Oke, the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).

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Expressing gratitude for the PFN’s visit, he acknowledged its potential to boost the morale for bereaved families and inspire further government action to address the ongoing unrest.

Having entered politics to contribute to Plateau State’s development, Governor Mutfwang urged religious leaders, including the PFN, to support his efforts in making the state a source of national pride.

PFN President Bishop Francis Wale-Oke condemned the recent spate of attacks in the state, describing them as senseless and barbaric.

Mutfwang also welcomed the Northern Senator’s Forum, led by the Chairman, Senator Abdul Ningi.

Expressing gratitude for the visit, Governor Mutfwang thanked President Bola Tinubu for sending a delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, saying this is a demonstration of the political will to combat coordinated violence in Plateau.

Senator Abdul Ningi, representing the Northern Senator’s Forum, expressed deep sorrow over the Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau State and decried the general insecurity in the northern region.

• Northern Senators visit governor

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang called on the Federal Government to provide special support for victims of the attacks in his state.

He made the call when the Forum of Northern Senators paid him a condolence visit in Jos yesterday. .

 The governor, who said that the victims would need to return to their communities without delay, called on the Senate to include funds for the resettlement of the displaced in the 2024 budget before its passage.

He said: “I want to thank you for this visit. We equally thank President Bola Tinubu for sending a delegation to the state, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

”This is a demonstration of the political will to end these highly coordinated killings and mindless shedding of blood in Plateau.

”We are also concerned about the humanitarian crisis that these attacks have brought in the state and this is why I’m calling on the federal government to support these victims to return to their communities.

”I want to particularly call on the Senate to include this in the 2024 budget before passing it for assent by the president.”

Mutfwang, who added that his administration had committed huge resources toward supporting the security agencies in the state, said the support of the Federal Government was needed to take care of the displaced victims.

Read Also: Mutfwang: terrorists occupying schools in Barkin-Ladi

He also called on the security agencies to dislodge bandits from all schools in the state.

Senator Abdul Ningi, who led the forum members, said that the visit was to commiserate with the governor over the killings.

He decried the spate of insecurity in the northern part of the country and called for unity and tolerance among the people to tackle the menace.

Ningi said: ”We are here on behalf of the 58 senators from the northern part of the country to commiserate with you and the people of the state over the recent unfortunate incident.

”For us in the forum, we feel sad about these killings not only in Plateau but the entire northern Nigeria and we pray that the end is here already.

”The North is poor and backward, yet we are killing ourselves in the name of tribe and religion; we must put a stop to this.”

Ningi promised to present the request of the governor during the Senate’s next plenary.

Governor Mutfwang criticised what he described as the “lack of political will” by relevant authorities to flush out terrorists in the state.

He said that insurgents had been occupying schools in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area for some years.

The governor added that killings in the state had continued to escalate because no arrest had been by security agents.

 He spoke while being featured on a national television programme yesterday.

His words: “We must stop this carnage. We cannot continue with this reactionary strategy. We have to be proactive.

“As I am talking to you, in Barkin-Ladi Local Government, schools have been occupied by terrorists for some years now. Not less than 64 communities have been displaced and the lands have been taken over by these marauding terrorists.

“I will be talking to Mr President (Bola Tinubu) on this. We need to summon the political will to give instructions to security agencies to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and even the internal integrity of our land boundaries.

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“There are ways of acquiring lands, not through violence and we must be able to resort to constitutionalism in dealing with these issues.

“People who want land on the Plateau are free to approach the communities, negotiate and settle in those communities. I don’t think people will refuse but where they resort to violence to take over those lands, you will be sure that this is a time bomb because it will reach a time when people react, and we are going to have a large-scale conflict. I pray we don’t get to that point.

“Part of the problem we have is that so far, there have been no arrests, no prosecution, and as far as we do not confront this issue headline, some people feel their attackers are being protected.

“Under the last regime, the feeling of the people in Plateau State, particularly the victims of these terrorist attacks, is that it looks as if the terrorists were given official government backing to be able to terrorise them because little or nothing was done to repel these attacks.

“I can tell you, that these schools that are being occupied didn’t start now; some of those schools have been occupied for the last three to five years. Children in those schools have had to relocate, and primary healthcare centres have been abandoned.”

Plateau’s Gov. Caleb Mutfwang has signed the state’s 2024 budget of N314.8 billion into law, his media aide, Mr Gyang Bere, stated on Wednesday in Jos.

The budget is N164.9 billion higher than the N149.9 billion budgeted in 2023.

Christened “Budget of New Beginnings’’, the 2024 budget has a recurrent expenditure component of N162.3 billion and capital expenditure of N152.5 billion.

“As governor, this Appropriation Bill encapsulates our vision to transform Plateau into a citadel of glory.

“We believe Plateau deserves better than what was previously in place.

“We encountered a state of neglect in critical sectors and we are determined to lay a new foundation for a sustainable, excellent, and value-adding future.

“This (budget) reflects a significant step toward the comprehensive development of the state across all sectors,’’ the governor said.

He expressed optimism that the budget’s implementation would improve the living conditions of the people, and urged citizens to support the government for continued progress.

Read Also: Mutfwang sympathises with victims of Jos tanker crash

“We are committed to pursuing development to elevate Plateau among the states in Nigeria. As we begin the budget implementation next year, Plateau will rise to greatness,’’ he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Chrysanthus Dawam, noted that government initially proposed to spend N295.5 billion in 2024.

He said the House of Assembly, however, increased the budget size to ₦314.8 billion.

Dawam added that the budget would be funded through Internally Generated Revenue of N38.3 billion, Federal Government allocation of N151.4 billion and Capital Receipts of N60.2 billion, among other revenue sources.

(NAN)