Elections into the Football Associations of five states will take place today.
Chairman of the NFF State Elections Monitoring Committee, Ibrahim Gusau, who is among four chairmen to have retained their seats, confirmed to thenff.com that elections will take place in Plateau, Rivers, Kebbi, Ogun and Delta states.
Elections have already taken place in Jigawa, Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara states, meaning one-quarter of the process would have been concluded by today.
The Plateau State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Gyang Pwajok, unfolded his blueprint for the state at the debate organised for candidates in Jos, the state capital. YUSUF IDEGU reports.
As Plateau State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Senator Gyang Pwajok mounted the podium, there was silence at the auditorium of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Jos, the state capital. The Correspondents’ Chapel had organised a media forum for the four governorship candidates. The others are: Mr. Simon Lalong, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bagudu Hirse of the Labour Party (LP), and Chief Ibrahim Musa Sabiu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The senator identified the various challenges facing the state. On peace and security that had bedevilled the state in recent past, Pwajok said his administration would strengthen the relationship between Plateau and neighbouring states. He added that the administration would also checkmate the infiltration of hoodlums and foreign elements that are used to foment trouble.
Pwajok said that his government would prioritise security of lives and property and that he would to provide logistics and information support to the police and other security agencies. The PDP flag bearer said he would continue to advocate for the creation of state police because he believes that community policing will be the best option to maintain law and order within the state.
He said the Jang Administration inherited a debt profile of over N80 billion from the previous administration in 2007 and he refuted claims by the opposition APC that the current debt status of the state was over N200 billion. He added that the State Debt Management Board will make all information pertaining to the debt stock public in due course.
“It is obvious that factors such as religion and ethnicity, the nature of relationship between the federal and the state government, as well as relationship with neighbouring states have become critical points that must be put into consideration before doing what we need to do as a state.
“I have always observed that because Plateau looks like a miniature Nigeria — with a composition of communities from the North to the South, from the West to the East — everything we do in Plateau has a long term effect on the rest of Nigeria. That is why if anything happens in Plateau State, it affects other parts of the country.
“Before now, when we witnessed crisis on the Plateau and we raised an observation about the porous nature of our borders and the involvement of aliens in the internal security challenges of this country, many people thought it was a mere propaganda. But, today, Nigeria has woken up to the reality of infiltration of our borders and at some moments, we had to close some of the borders to enable us address some of our challenges internally.”
Pwajok said if he becomes the governor, his government will encourage specialisation in agriculture and processing of agricultural produce in an overall determination to make agriculture a viable alternative to the now dwindling federal allocation from oil as the mainstay of the state economy.
He added that the decreasing earnings from the export of crude oil has made it imperative than ever before for government at all levels to begin to diversify the source of their revenue. He said Plateau State is well placed to make agriculture a rewarding enterprise for its citizens, as well as the government.
“The main policy thrust for the realization of the potentials of the state in agriculture is to put in place a collaborative effort involving individual farmers in various communities and the government. This would ensure that there is food security, which will make agriculture profitable and a source of foreign exchange. Thereby, it would help to generate employment and provide raw materials for our industries.”
The candidate said it is imperative to encourage specialization, to make the best of it. He noted that he would specialisation to encourage productivity and value addition. For instance, he said Bokkos farmers in Plateau Central would be encouraged to produce potatoes, which the region is renowned and that it would be processed and given added value, to yield higher earnings for farmers and greater tax revenue for the state.
Pwajok promised that his government will consolidate on the Redemption Agenda of the incumbent Governor Jonah Jang. He added that he would give priority to health, education and also budget about N1billion annually for small scale enterprise to provide jobs for the teaming youths and women in the state.
He added that his government would provide an atmosphere conducive for the media, so that people will be well informed about decision-making to enable the state become a hub of developmental innovation.
He received a standing ovation after his presentation. Even, Sabiu, another governorship candidate, nodded his head in approval of the brilliant points of his opponent.
Pwajok was an university lecturer before entering into the political arena as a director at the Plateau State Government House. Later, he became Chief of Staff within the Government House bureaucracy. But, he entered into the mucky waters of Plateau politics proper when he was elected in a bye-election to represent Plateau North in the Senate, owing to the power vacuum created by the death of his predecessor, Dr Gyang Dantong.
Pwajok got to the Senate at a time the national budget was being considered. He contributed to the debate on the issue, having been involved in the preparation of the budget at the state level. It gave him a platform to make an immediate impression of the stuff he was made of in such an important area of national discourse.
Also, being a former university lecturer, the Senate floor was reminiscence of a lecture hall; a large audience of people listening to a proponent.
Thus, in his short time in the Senate, he was able to achieve a lot for his constituents. In the less than one year that he served, he gave the people a good idea of what effective representation means, by maintaining regular contact with the constituents and taking into consideration their views and opinions on key issues, such as the constitutional review process.
He had opened a constituency office in Jos, where he held regular meetings with the people. The sessions provided him the opportunity to understand their positions on national issues to represent them adequately. On the peace and security, the Senator had instituted a framework which constantly brings warring factions together i.e., Fulanis, Beroms and other tribes into one forum where grievances were aired, ironed-out and reconciliation effected.
Through this forum, leaders of these warring factions have come together, and pacts have been sealed to eschew violence and embrace dialogue and forgiveness. This has in no small measure restored lasting peace to the restive Plateau North zone since his emergence as the senator.
In terms of constituency project, Skills Acquisition Centres were set up in a variety of areas in the zone that have benefited constituents with lifelong skills to equip them with and enhance income generation capability. He had, during this short time in the Senate, brought the Senate President, Senator David Mark to Jos to chair the presentation of a donation of various items worth over N150 million to empower the people of his constituency.
A jobs training exercise is afoot for women in Plateau State. No fewer than 170 women have been selected for the first phase of a workshop on skills aimed at raising their economic profile. Wife of the state governor, Ngo Talatu Jang is behind the training, supported by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office.
At the end of the exercise, the selected women would supported to start up small-scale businesses.
Mrs Jang has been running a project known as Women in Agriculture and Youth Empowerment (WAYE) since 2008 and has the required facilities to train the women, hence the skill training at the WAYE Foundation in Doi village in Jos South Local Government Area of the state. Over 5,000 women have been trained at the Centre.
In her welcome address to the participants on the opening day, Mrs Jang said, “I am delighted to be here to witness the flag-off of the skill acquisition programme organised by the MDGs Office, Plateau State, in collaboration with WAYE Foundation. I am also proud to be associated with this project because it has to do with women and the less privileged which was why I established this foundation. Indeed, the 170 women assembled for the training is unprecedented. It is a clear indication that the present government at federal and state level is so concerned with issue of women empowerment.
She said, “I am aware of the MDGS achievements in Plateau State particularly in the construction of classrooms, hospitals, potable drinking water, books, drugs, etc. I was so impressed with one of MDGs’ most recent programme, which is a free medical care to citizens of the state particularly women and children. I also need to applaud the efforts of the MDGs in areas of poverty alleviation through its empowerment programme.
“Personally, I consider this skill acquisition training for 170 women of Plateau State as a vital instrument for the empowerment of women. I urge all the benefiting women to dedicate their time for the training so as to make maximum use of the training for their economic independence.
“I must thank the President of the Federal Fepublic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan for lifting Nigerian women through political appointments and various economic empowerment policies and programmes. Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang also deserves commendation for funding of MDGs Office for the running of rural development programmes. Governor Jang has also opened so much opportunity for women in the state to explore their potentials and contribute to the economic growth of the state.
“Let me also comment the state coordinator of the MDG Barr. Peter Nyam Gai for providing quality leadership to MDG in the state, I am not surprised that the Plateau state MDG emerged the best in the North Central in performance assessment conducted by the House of Representaive Committee on rural development.
In his remarks, State coordinator of the MDGs Mr Peter Nyam-Gai, a lawyer, said, “Today marks another epoch event in the history of the MDG in Plateau state with the training of 170 women in skill acquisition in the field of Catering, Beads Making, Knitting, etc. it is imperative to note that the selection of the women were carefully selected from all the 17 local government of the state. The women will undergo intensive training in various skills after which they will be given the incentives to practice what they learn.
He said, “At the end of the training, these women will be provided cash to rent a shop for them to start a small scale business of their own. Within the duration of the training, the women will be paid N10,000.00 training allowance and be offered feeding and free accommodation for the two months the training will last.
“It is my expectation that participants will take the training seriously as it will guarantee their economic independence. Since the participants will be given funds to begin their own business, there will be a monitoring mechanism to avoid diversion of funds or mismanagement.
“May I use this opportunity to state that MDGs has done well in other sectors in the state, for instance in 2014, we constructed 64 class room blocks across the state, we also constructed 23 standard primary healthcare centers, we provided two bore holes as well as instructional materials. We have recruited 90 women as village health workers and they are been paid monthly for the services. This year alone we have engaged the services of 60 other women as village health workers bringing the total to 150 numbers of women trained to serve as village health workers.
“One major intervention aimed at alleviating poverty is approval of grants to cooperatives societies. Last year we were able to disburse N21 million to 30 cooperative societies. This year 2015, we have forwarded names of 30 other corporative societies to the federal government for approval. We have plans to empower each of these cooperative societies with N1 million.
“The MDGs in Plateau state embarked on aggressive medical outreach in 2014 to rural communities in partnership with the Nigerian Medical Association. While the NMA provided the medical personnel, the MDGs provided the drugs and other logistics. We have attended to at least 3, 870 people in sic local governments including Bassa, Kanke, Jos South, Quan Pan, Langtang North and Langtang South. These services will be extended to all the 17 local governments of the state.
“I must commend the First Lady of Plateau State Ngo Talatu Jang who have proved to us that she is a true mother with strong passion to serve humanity.
The participants were full of gratitude to the sponsors of the training, one of them Asabe Musa said, “I am so delighted to be selected for this training, I never expect a poor woman like me will be selected for a free training like this, that is why I will take the training serious”
Mrs. Mary Dadu, a young widow, said, “To me this is miracle in my life. Since my husband died and left me with two kids, life has been so difficult for me and my children. I’ve been told that after this training they will help us start business. This is an opportunity I have been praying for God has provided answer to my prayers”
All the women participating in the training gave the impression that their lives is witnessing a turn around, some said it is turning point of their lives. This is because most of the participants lack the resources and knowledge to start a business of their own.
Taraba State prides itself on being the “Nature’s Gift to the Nation”. A casual visitor to the state will disregard this statement. Quite true, there are a few eye-catching rock formations in and around the country side.
Though it is equally true that towns such as Wukari, the ancestral home of the Jukun people, is steeped in culture that dates back to hundreds of years, one could not from these conclude that the state is the “Nature’s Gift to the Nation”.
Just a casual trip around the state capital, Jalingo, leaves one with the impression that it is just a typical North Eastern state with all the common features one sees in North Central and North East. However, for one to fully appreciate the state, one needs to go further towards Taraba Central senatorial zone where we have two local government areas, Gashaka and Sardauna, where the Taraba as a gift to the nation is authenticated.
Taraba is one of the most endowed tourism states in the country.
It takes about five hours to travel from Jalingo to Serti, the town before the foot of Mambilla Hill. It is also important to know that Serti is the home of the largest national park in West Africa, the Gashaka Gumti National Park. It is from this point that the real journey to Mambilla Plateau starts.
Driving towards the foot of the plateau, it was as if one was heading for the bowel of the hill that has formed a semi-circle round the vicinity. Just at the point that marked the beginning of the ascent, one could see the road heading upwards, suddenly the hitherto hot humid air common to that part of the country suddenly gave way for a cool weather. It was not something that was gradual; it was abrupt. One could actually trace the point where the cool weather started.
Climbing the hill is not for the faint- hearted because of the twists and turns as the road meandered upwards. But a trip to Mambilla without the twist- and-turn road experience would not be complete. It is just like being suspended in the sky, held only by a tread tied to one’s ankle, looking down on valley, one could just come crashing down in deep, sharp valley.
The first point of call is Hawa Biu Da Sisi, meaning two and half shilling hill. The tour guide explained that in the old days, before the road was carved out of the rock, there were men who normally carried loads from the bottom of the plateau to the top. A trip normally takes two weeks from the foot to the top of the hill. The cost per trip was initially two shillings, but having negotiated that amount, on getting to the steep sharp corner, the load carriers would demand for an extra half a shilling, hence the name.
The first corner is Kwanan Gomna, said to be the point where the former Governor of Northen Nigeria, Sir Kassim Ibrahim, reached before deciding to go back.
Other key points are Tungar Gorah, Kwanan Drum and Tungar Ahmedu. Tungar Ahmadu is close to the top of the hill. This point was said to be the point where the former premier of the North, Sir Ahmadu Bello, decided to reach before deciding to go back.
According to the indigenes of Gembu, it was in recognition of the effort of Sir Ahmadu Bello that the whole of the local government area was named Sardauna in honour of the former premier who was also the Sardauna of Sokoto.
One of the signs that one is getting to the top of the mountain range is the cooler nature of the weather and then the presence of well-fed cattle who lazily go along the treacherous road unmindful of coming vehicles. A vehicle had to horn for long before the cattle would shamble off the road. Gradually the climbing ended and what one could see was a stretch of prowling ranches. However, before entering the town, one stopped at a stream. The tour guide explained that every visitor coming to the town is expected to drink form the water before proceeding. The water is cold and refreshing.
On the upward ascent to Gembu, the town on top of the hill, there was a water company. It was said to have been built by a former information minister in the government of President Obasanjo. He saw the natural spring and decided to build the water factory.
According to the guide, immediately the water plant started functioning, the spring water dried up. As such, the factory had to close. Once the factory closed down, the spring water started flowing again. They could not give an explanation for that. The water was not flowing at the time we visited.
The lush lands on top of the Gembu hills were carved out into personal ranches by top former military officers and political leaders. They have exotic cattle on the ranches.
The first major town en route to the council headquarters, Gembu, is Nguroje. From Nguroje to Gembu is a 30-minute drive.
For those who know Obudu Cattle Ranch, the top of Mambilla Plateau could produce 20 Obudu Catttle ranches.
From what one could see, the land simply melted into the sky with no end in sight.
Then, the wonder of nature, right on top of the hill is the town of Gembu. The population of Gembu could be put within the range of 50,000 to 70,000.
Tea farming is the major occupation of the people. And a familiar sight is the women carrying their farming baskets on their backs.
A tourist described Mambilla Plateau as the best place on earth, saying he came to appreciate the beauty of the place which he had heard so much about. “This is the most beautiful natural scene I have seen in my life. It is nature at its best. No word can be used to describe the place.”
Outside the eco-tourism potential of Mambilla Plateau, the area is rich in culture as various cultural organizations in their unique cultural attire enthusiastically rolled out the drums in celebration and entertainment of the huge number of the people that has made it to the top of the plateau to mark the world tourism day.
The biggest asset of Mambilla Plateau as a potential tourism destination in Nigeria is the ability to combine adventure and wildlife tourism at the Gashaka Gumti Park.
However, all these are still in raw state. The place cries for potential investors. There are no decent accommodation facility on top of the plateau, making it difficult for one to fully settle down for relaxation.
The best houses in the area are those owned by past political leaders who built houses that would serve as their places of abode when in the area to inspect their ranches.
Unfortunately the inhabitants of the town are lamenting that the craze for the acquisition of the choice land for ranches has not translated into bringing development to them and improving their economic well being. The tea companies are the only factories in the area.
After the visit, coming down the hill was another experience. Despite the fact that one knew what to expect, it did not make the fear less. Coming down the hill after more than an hour trip, suddenly one felt the two ears blocking as the effect of airplane cabin pressure on one’s ears. It was later that those familiar with the effects said it was as a result of coming from such a high place.
While waiting for investors to come, the government of Taraba State should do its own part by taking care of the infrastructural facilities like the long stretch of road to the plateau. This would help in sending the right signals to potential investors.
For those desirous of floating on cloud, the place to be is Mambilla Plateau. There is no better place to experience this.
The Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened to withdraw from the election peace agreement it signed with other parties.
The pact is meant to guarantee peaceful and credible elections.
But the opposition has expressed concerns about the peace pact because of alleged plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the March 28 and April 11 elections.
APC State Chairman Latep Dabang spoke yesterday in Jos, the state capital, when he led the party’s high-powered delegation on a visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office.
He said: “If the allegations that the PDP in the state is buying off the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and giving out food items are not investigated, APC will pull out of the peace pact.
“The PDP has resorted to underhand tactics, including the purchase of PVCs in the wake of the postponement of the general elections. We in the APC are aware that there are plans by the PDP to rig the governorship election.”
Dabang urged APC members and supporters not to sell their PVCs under any guise.
The chairman explained that it was the only power they had to change their conditions for the better and get democratic dividends from their preferred party.
He said: “Our members have alerted us to the fact that PDP councillors in Plateau State have been collecting PVCs in exchange of money. We saw people queuing to collect bags of rice and fertilisers in exchange of their PVCs.
Taraba State prides itself on being the “Nature’s Gift to the Nation”. A casual visitor to the state will disregard this statement. Quite true, there are a few eye-catching rock formations in and around the country side.
Though it is equally true that towns such as Wukari, the ancestral home of the Jukun people, is steeped in culture that dates back to hundreds of years, one could not from these conclude that the state is the “Nature’s Gift to the Nation”.
Just a casual trip around the state capital, Jalingo, leaves one with the impression that it is just a typical North Eastern state with all the common features one sees in North Central and North East. However, for one to fully appreciate the state, one needs to go further towards Taraba Central senatorial zone where we have two local government areas, Gashaka and Sardauna, where the Taraba as a gift to the nation is authenticated.
Taraba is one of the most endowed tourism states in the country.
It takes about five hours to travel from Jalingo to Serti, the town before the foot of Mambilla Hill. It is also important to know that Serti is the home of the largest national park in West Africa, the Gashaka Gumti National Park. It is from this point that the real journey to Mambilla Plateau starts.
Driving towards the foot of the plateau, it was as if one was heading for the bowel of the hill that has formed a semi-circle round the vicinity. Just at the point that marked the beginning of the ascent, one could see the road heading upwards, suddenly the hitherto hot humid air common to that part of the country suddenly gave way for a cool weather. It was not something that was gradual; it was abrupt. One could actually trace the point where the cool weather started.
Climbing the hill is not for the faint- hearted because of the twists and turns as the road meandered upwards. But a trip to Mambilla without the twist- and-turn road experience would not be complete. It is just like being suspended in the sky, held only by a tread tied to one’s ankle, looking down on valley, one could just come crashing down in deep, sharp valley.
The first point of call is Hawa Biu Da Sisi, meaning two and half shilling hill. The tour guide explained that in the old days, before the road was carved out of the rock, there were men who normally carried loads from the bottom of the plateau to the top. A trip normally takes two weeks from the foot to the top of the hill. The cost per trip was initially two shillings, but having negotiated that amount, on getting to the steep sharp corner, the load carriers would demand for an extra half a shilling, hence the name.
The first corner is Kwanan Gomna, said to be the point where the former Governor of Northen Nigeria, Sir Kassim Ibrahim, reached before deciding to go back.
Other key points are Tungar Gorah, Kwanan Drum and Tungar Ahmedu. Tungar Ahmadu is close to the top of the hill. This point was said to be the point where the former premier of the North, Sir Ahmadu Bello, decided to reach before deciding to go back.
According to the indigenes of Gembu, it was in recognition of the effort of Sir Ahmadu Bello that the whole of the local government area was named Sardauna in honour of the former premier who was also the Sardauna of Sokoto.
One of the signs that one is getting to the top of the mountain range is the cooler nature of the weather and then the presence of well-fed cattle who lazily go along the treacherous road unmindful of coming vehicles. A vehicle had to horn for long before the cattle would shamble off the road. Gradually the climbing ended and what one could see was a stretch of prowling ranches. However, before entering the town, one stopped at a stream. The tour guide explained that every visitor coming to the town is expected to drink form the water before proceeding. The water is cold and refreshing.
On the upward ascent to Gembu, the town on top of the hill, there was a water company. It was said to have been built by a former information minister in the government of President Obasanjo. He saw the natural spring and decided to build the water factory.
According to the guide, immediately the water plant started functioning, the spring water dried up. As such, the factory had to close. Once the factory closed down, the spring water started flowing again. They could not give an explanation for that. The water was not flowing at the time we visited.
The lush lands on top of the Gembu hills were carved out into personal ranches by top former military officers and political leaders. They have exotic cattle on the ranches.
The first major town en route to the council headquarters, Gembu, is Nguroje. From Nguroje to Gembu is a 30-minute drive.
For those who know Obudu Cattle Ranch, the top of Mambilla Plateau could produce 20 Obudu Catttle ranches.
A chieftain of Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Godfrey Miri, has denied dumping the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Miri, who contested the governorship seat but lost in the primary, reportedly planned to join APC.
But a statement yesterday in Jos, the state capital, by his campaign coordinator, Chaplain Gideon Yoila, said the PDP chieftain had not dumped the party.
The statement said: “It has been reported in the media that my boss, Mr. Miri, has defected from the PDP and joined the APC. That report is malicious and unfounded.
“I was told that a man, posing to be Miri’s campaign director-general, at the beginning of APC’s governorship campaign in Jos, announced that he had moved to the APC with Miri’s blessings and that Miri would do same on his return from Abuja.”
Senator Gyang Shom Pwajok is the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s), governorship candidate in Plateau State. He spoke with reporters in Lagos on zoning, succession battle between ruling and opposition parties and his chances at the polls. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.
There is the allegation that your emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Plateau State violated zoning. How are you resolving it?
I have reached out to quite a number of those that we stood election with. I have also reached out to even those that lost election that I was not involved in. That is, those who lost House of Assembly elections, those who lost House of Representatives election and those who lost Senate election. I have called quite a number of them and a number of them said that, that was the first time that somebody was reaching out to them, especially for those who had contested in the past and lost. Even the deputy governor, I have had cause to sit down with him in the process. I find it clear that in the course of a contest there are bound to be those who win and those who lose elections or those who don’t win because it is not really losing per se.
The bottom line is that when people begin to throw up issues in the course of a competition, definitely people will look for sentiments and variables that will be conducive to them. For me, zoning was actually a campaign tool by those who contested. The simple answer to the issue was that we had aspirants from all the zones. So, apparently, there was no debate about zoning. If there was actually an issue about zoning it would have been very much settled that some would not have even emerged at all.
Apart from that, when I was canvassing for votes, I went to all the zones, all the 17 local governments of Plateau State and I can tell you that I had a complete feeling of what the outcome would look like because I was very much accepted in all the zones. In fact, I was shocked by the response. Instead of going to see 10, 20 or 30 delegates, I was actually in a rally because most of the people who came to see me in other zones did it in a manner that was difficult to believe. So, while some were busy shouting zoning, the voters were prepared to choose who they wanted because they were quite prepared that what they needed was development and not zoning for the sake of zoning. At any rate we have not had a history of documented direction in that order.
No doubt, the sentiments for zoning which was quite strong among some candidates, however, did not reflect in the primaries. So, it was just argument for the sake of argument. My slogan in the course of the campaign was that we can only be greater if we work together.
And of course these zones are really administrative boundaries which further divide people rather than what unite people and were mostly drawn for convenience. Senatorial zone is for senatorial election, governorship is for the entire state in the true sense of it. The House of Representatives has its own constituency. My constituency as far as my aspiration for governorship was to cover the entire state and the support came from the entire state and is a nail on the coffin of the argument for zoning and the voting itself showed that the people were departing from that argument.
How do you expect to manage the governor, who is your godfather, if you wins the election?
The truth of the matter is that God is our godfather including those who have influenced our lives in one sense or the other. It is all about human relations and I truly believe that because the current governor has not just goodwill, but he has good intentions in terms of governance, he would be a supporter of any genuine efforts towards further development of the state. That is his dream and we are keying in into that dream because we believe strongly that he is also a genuine, patriotic statesman that has played his role within the space of time.
But you must also realise that the legacy that has been brought to bear from the past needs to be properly harnessed so that you can move for a better tomorrow. Not necessarily look at things from the negative perspective. We intend to cash in on a very positive note to take stock.
What are your chances in the election?
I always go by the dictum that the future is as bright as the promises of God. The truth of the matter is that I couldn’t have been where I am today but for God taking me through where I am today. From being a lecturer in the polytechnic, to DG research and chief of staff to the governor and then senator within a short span of my life means that I am a living testimony of God’s work in progress. What will take me to victory is God Himself because He has a way of influencing the hearts and minds of people to support an aspiration and I believe that this is also God’s agenda to impact on the challenges that we are facing on the plateau which also have a repercussion on the rest of Nigeria.
What is your position on the security challenges in your state?
We are very realistic we know that security is a global challenge, it is no longer a Nigerian problem per se. Each time you turn on the television, the first thing you hear is the breakdown of law and order in one place or the other and the increasing trend of terror is also very global. The forces that tend to unite and the forces that tend to divide are actually at play at the same time and that is the challenge that we are facing in Nigeria. For me, security is top on our agenda. Even for Plateau and most parts of Northern Nigeria it is a challenge.
How is the issue being resolved?
For us on the Plateau, we have actually gotten to the point where some peaceful resolutions and peace building efforts were carried out and we have reached a point where people were resolving to forget their differences and live peacefully. However, the externalised dimension of the attacks raises a fundamental question. You know in the past we used to talk about our porous borders. This is a state that is in the hinterland, the middle of Nigeria, yet sometimes you find foreign elements involved in the attacks and we have raised this issue in the past. But nobody seemed to have cared, people thought it was sheer propaganda, that we often find Nigeriens, Chadians involved. People at that early stage of the crisis said it was sheer propaganda, but today the dimension we are seeing the crisis in Northern Nigeria shows clearly that there is a serious push in that order.
You are all aware of the climatic challenges that we are having and of the desertification that is going on and the need for greener pastures even for those who are cattle herders and they come from across border situations outside Nigeria and some of them are actually looking for better lands to occupy. Unfortunately, the way and manner the boundaries of this country were carved out, you find that Kanuris can be found in the Borno axis and on the other side. Fulanis can be found in other parts of West Africa and this tendency allows for easy infiltration by non-Nigerians into areas of conflict. So, there is a serious collaboration that is going on. There are people who are particularly interested in maintaining the peace and there are forces that are interested in moving towards greater harmony and they come from both sides of the divide and gradually realising that this challenge may even be external to them and as such there is the need for collaboration. You would have noticed that there has been some relative peace.
For me there is the need to work further on enriching this understanding among the communities so that they can also be protective of themselves collectively so that rather than assume that each time there is attack, you just assume that it is this my neighbour that is directly responsible. It could be somebody else outside his immediate domain.
Senator Gyang Shom Pwajok is the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP), governorship candidate in Plateau State spoke with reporters in Lagos on zoning, succession battle between ruling and opposition parties and his chances at the polls. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.
There is the allegation that your emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)governorship candidate in Plateau State violated zoning. How are you resolving it?
I have reached out to quite a number of those that we stood election with. I have also reached out to even those that lost election that I was not involved in. That is, those who lost House of Assembly elections, those who lost House of Representatives election and those who lost Senate election. I have called quite a number of them and a number of them said that, that was the first time that somebody was reaching out to them, especially for those who had contested in the past and lost. Even the deputy governor, I have had cause to sit down with him in the process. I find it clear that in the course of a contest there are bound to be those who win and those who lose elections or those who don’t win because it is not really losing per se.
The bottom line is that when people begin to throw up issues in the course of a competition, definitely people will look for sentiments and variables that will be conducive to them. For me, zoning was actually a campaign tool by those who contested. The simple answer to the issue was that we had aspirants from all the zones. So, apparently, there was no debate about zoning. If there was actually an issue about zoning it would have been very much settled that some would not have even emerged at all.
Apart from that, when I was canvassing for votes, I went to all the zones, all the 17 local governments of Plateau State and I can tell you that I had a complete feeling of what the outcome would look like because I was very much accepted in all the zones. In fact, I was shocked by the response. Instead of going to see 10, 20 or 30 delegates, I was actually in a rally because most of the people who came to see me in other zones did it in a manner that was difficult to believe. So, while some were busy shouting zoning, the voters were prepared to choose who they wanted because they were quite prepared that what they needed was development and not zoning for the sake of zoning. At any rate we have not had a history of documented direction in that order.
No doubt, the sentiments for zoning which was quite strong among some candidates, however, did not reflect in the primaries. So, it was just argument for the sake of argument. My slogan in the course of the campaign was that we can only be greater if we work together.
And of course these zones are really administrative boundaries which further divide people rather than what unite people and were mostly drawn for convenience. Senatorial zone is for senatorial election, governorship is for the entire state in the true sense of it. The House of Representatives has its own constituency. My constituency as far as my aspiration for governorship was to cover the entire state and the support came from the entire state and is a nail on the coffin of the argument for zoning and the voting itself showed that the people were departing from that argument.
How do you expect to manage the governor, who is your godfather, if you wins the election?
The truth of the matter is that God is our godfather including those who have influenced our lives in one sense or the other. It is all about human relations and I truly believe that because the current governor has not just goodwill, but he has good intentions in terms of governance, he would be a supporter of any genuine efforts towards further development of the state. That is his dream and we are keying in into that dream because we believe strongly that he is also a genuine, patriotic statesman that has played his role within the space of time.
But you must also realise that the legacy that has been brought to bear from the past needs to be properly harnessed so that you can move for a better tomorrow. Not necessarily look at things from the negative perspective. We intend to cash in on a very positive note to take stock.
What are your chances in the election?
I always go by the dictum that the future is as bright as the promises of God. The truth of the matter is that I couldn’t have been where I am today but for God taking me through where I am today. From being a lecturer in the polytechnic, to DG research and chief of staff to the governor and then senator within a short span of my life means that I am a living testimony of God’s work in progress. What will take me to victory is God Himself because He has a way of influencing the hearts and minds of people to support an aspiration and I believe that this is also God’s agenda to impact on the challenges that we are facing on the plateau which also have a repercussion on the rest of Nigeria.
What is your position on the security challenges in your state?
We are very realistic we know that security is a global challenge, it is no longer a Nigerian problem per se. Each time you turn on the television, the first thing you hear is the breakdown of law and order in one place or the other and the increasing trend of terror is also very global. The forces that tend to unite and the forces that tend to divide are actually at play at the same time and that is the challenge that we are facing in Nigeria. For me, security is top on our agenda. Even for Plateau and most parts of Northern Nigeria it is a challenge.
How is the issue being resolved?
For us on the Plateau, we have actually gotten to the point where some peaceful resolutions and peace building efforts were carried out and we have reached a point where people were resolving to forget their differences and live peacefully. However, the externalised dimension of the attacks raises a fundamental question. You know in the past we used to talk about our porous borders. This is a state that is in the hinterland, the middle of Nigeria, yet sometimes you find foreign elements involved in the attacks and we have raised this issue in the past. But nobody seemed to have cared, people thought it was sheer propaganda, that we often find Nigeriens, Chadians involved. People at that early stage of the crisis said it was sheer propaganda, but today the dimension we are seeing the crisis in Northern Nigeria shows clearly that there is a serious push in that order.
You are all aware of the climatic challenges that we are having and of the desertification that is going on and the need for greener pastures even for those who are cattle herders and they come from across border situations outside Nigeria and some of them are actually looking for better lands to occupy. Unfortunately, the way and manner the boundaries of this country were carved out, you find that Kanuris can be found in the Borno axis and on the other side. Fulanis can be found in other parts of West Africa and this tendency allows for easy infiltration by non-Nigerians into areas of conflict. So, there is a serious collaboration that is going on. There are people who are particularly interested in maintaining the peace and there are forces that are interested in moving towards greater harmony and they come from both sides of the divide and gradually realising that this challenge may even be external to them and as such there is the need for collaboration. You would have noticed that there has been some relative peace.
For me there is the need to work further on enriching this understanding among the communities so that they can also be protective of themselves collectively so that rather than assume that each time there is attack, you just assume that it is this my neighbour that is directly responsible. It could be somebody else outside his immediate domain.
Former Minister of Sports Mr. Damishi Sango has declared that the people of Plateau State will vote for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the general elections because the ruling party was conceived and delivered in the state.
Sango spoke when he led a group of senior citizens on a courtesy visit to the governorship candidate Senator Gyang Nyam Shom Pwajok in Jos.
He said: “We are here as members of Plateau Elders Forum to express our support for the ruling party PDP and all its candidates for the general election next month.
Sango added: “Plateau people cannot abandoned PDP for whatever reason, we can’t destroy the house we built because of certain disagreement.
“We want to let the world know that Plateau is the home of PDP, the ruling party was conceived in Jos by the founding fathers in 1998; the name of the party and its logo and colours were selected and designed in a meeting of stakeholders in Jos.
“That was why the first national chairman of the party was given to a plateau man as the pioneer national leader of the party. The party went into political contest with other parties in 1999 to earn it a major national victory and made it a rulling party in Nigeria.
“Given these indisputable facts, even if every one abandoned the party, Plateau people will remain in the party because the party is our baby.”
The PDP chieftain said: “The elders forum under my leadership will take it upon itself to embark on a reconciliatory mission in the state to make sure the opposition parties will not take advantage of the little disagreement among the party stakeholders as a result of the last governorship primaries.
“We have resolved to vote Senator Gyang Pwajok as the party’s governorship candidate, we will vote President Goodluck Jonathan again and all other candidates of the party in the general election because we can’t afford to be in opposition against the party we labor to build” adding that the so-called disagreement in the party is a family affair.”
Senator Pwajok said, “The visit of the elders forum has brightened my hope in the election. I thought I have been left alone in this struggle but I now know the young and the old are behind me and I feel encouraged.
“I pledged not to let Plateau people down after supporting me to become governor”