Professor John Wokton Wade,The Direcror General, Research and documentation in Plateau state has clearly stated that the recent action of the members of the Plateau state house of Assembly in world press conference is on bad faith as Pankshin elders meet to dissociate themselves from the actions of their member who spearheaded the exercise.
In an exlcusive interview with Farmhouse reporters correspondence in Jos, he also cautioned Plateau people that are wrongly accusing the efforts of government towards finding lasting peace out of the security challenge.
we understand that there’s a meeting that was held with stakeholders cum elders from Pankshin.Sir, can you hint us on the significance of the meeting?
Prof. Wade: Oh yes, it is true that a meeting of elders and stakeholders was held and when we talk of stakeholders, we mean elders, women and Youths. We looked at issues affecting our local government and how it affects the state and our representatives.
You’re aware that in the past couple of weeks, our state has been through a lot of challenges which has to do with clashes, destruction of lives and properties. Unfortunately, you find the state going through this kind of situation. Just two weeks ago, we were trying to quell the situation about what happened between the Irigwe and the Fulanis and shortly after that, this resulted to the killing of quite a number of people. That has led to some concerns and agitations and people expressing a lot of feelings. The government has been very disturbed about it and it has been trying to do its best within its purview to pacify people, to console them, to support them in terms of medical treatment, burial and so on.
As time goes on, along the line, some people, particularly, our legislature, passed a resolution, which is okay- it’s within their constitutional purview to do that and that resolution has some far-reaching effects. A resolution from an honourable house should not extend to press conferences. The press conference that was conducted has series of contradictions that contradicted even the legislatures in regards to their mandates, roles etc. which, again, we found very embarrassing and the lead man in that world press conference happened to be one of us, Hon. Sule…. who is a representative from Pankshin North local government. In concern with that, the stakeholders called a meeting to make some observations in respect to the presentation that he made which have far-reaching implications.
Usually, when you’re elected as a member, he is to represent you and where there are issues or controversy, he should come back home and get clearance before doing that. And so, in our meeting here, we made some observations and expressed some concerns and displeasures; denouncing it and not to associate ourselves with it. Of course, naturally pronouncing our unalloyed support and loyalty to the government.
Sir, in climax, the essence of this meeting, is to say that Pankshin people are not in tandem with what the House Member did?
We are not in tandem because most of the contents are very, very embarrassing. I mean, you don’t go and be talking from the point of view of legislature and dabbling into what is an executive function. Again, you don’t place a demand on somebody and turn around and give him ultimatum even when he has failed. This is like an ambush which is not fair and it is not in our character in Pankshin local government.
So, in summary, what can you say about what the people are saying, that the governor has not been talking; that the governor does not share in the sentiment of the people. People want to even compare him with Governor Ortom of Benue State, saying, eventhough Ortom has not done any projects, but sides with his own people. Lalong on the other hand has done so many projects, which you have in your archives as a D.G. Research, yet does not stand with his people
Let me be very frank, while I appreciate the sentiment expressed by Plateau people, which is a fundamental human right, but some of these things are overblown, blown out of proportion in the sense that…in fact, the poorest thing you can do is to compare Ortom with Lalong or compare Lalong with Buhari or anybody else. Ortom merely grandstands. Ortom uses the issue of crises to try to dribble himself into continuity in governance by way of securing second term. But when you look at it from in terms of peace; has he really brought peace to his state? But this is without prejudice to this state.
But coming back to Plateau State, like I said, again, there is no basis for comparing Lalong with Ortom. There is no match in that. The truth is that Lalong has a lot for Plateau, going six years down the line and even before then, when he was a speaker, look at his historical antecedents. He has played a significant role in terms of peace building on the Plateau.
Then God permits him, making him governor. For the past six years or so, he has entrenched peace in this state. The state has not enjoyed peace before we came to power and it is this initiative of dialogue and pacifying people that led to the resolution of conflicts between Fulanis and Berom; that also led to the establishment of Peace Building Agency which is the first of its kind; resolution of blueprint, also, the first of its kind. It is also the process of peace building that during the Irigwe crises, this same governor, between January and June, has had over 36 consultative meetings with these groups, all in the name of bringing peace. I stand to be contradicted, if you can show me anybody, even amongst the governors who have made that difference. Even this one that has happened, just the loads of grandstanding, the sentiments expressed, either from the opposition and other things that you find the impression given as if nothing is happening, but this God that has created us, sees everything and judgement, as we always say is with the Lord. Thank you.
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