Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau state has asked stakeholders to unite and work in unison devoid of religion, ethnicity or political party affiliation towards protecting and preserving the State’s heritage.
He said he has no other vested interest but to ensure that not an inch of Plateau land is lost.
He said: “Let’s think together. Let’s act together. Let’s speak together so the world knows that Plateau has reached a turning point. Let’s reclaim this land, preserve it, and nurture it for the benefit of future generations.”
He made the call on Monday during an emergency stakeholders meeting, held at the Government House Little Rayfield, Jos to map out modalities for addressing security breach experienced in the state in the past three weeks, resulting in the death of over 100 innocent lives in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas.
Mutfwang lamented that there is no senatorial zone of the state that is without its share of conflict as the instability persist for over two to decades.
He said: “Why us? Who is behind this? Where are they coming from? Who is sponsoring them? What is their aim? These are questions I thought I should not answer alone. I felt I should gather the leaders of Plateau so we can put our heads together. For how long shall this continue?
“Yes, as Governor, I know that I owe the people of this state the responsibility of working in tandem with federal security agencies to bring about peace. We have never rested on our oars. Apart from engaging community leaders, we have also made kinetic interventions—supporting security agencies with logistics to help them carry out their constitutional responsibilities. Yet, we are still not out of the woods.
“Perhaps one reason this has persisted is because we have, for a long time, failed to come together as Plateau people to speak with one voice. When this crisis started, it was seen as a Tarok problem. Later, it became a Berom problem. Today, none of us has been spared—but it seems we are still acting like every man for himself”.
While commending those who stood for the defence of Plateau in face of adversity, he said, “Our people are bleeding. Our people are crying. Our people are weeping.
“Despite our best efforts, we have not yet been able to focus on our main objective in governance. For me, my main objective in government is to break the cycle of poverty and lift our people into prosperity. But we cannot move forward unless we tame this elephant in the room that has haunted our state for the last two to three decades.
“I believe the time has come. We must rise together and ensure that this blessed land God gave us is preserved and that we maximize the blessings embedded in it. I don’t know any state more richly blessed in mineral resources, arable land, and hospitable people. But we must restrategize.
“My leaders, I appeal to you: please let’s talk freely and agree that there is a way forward. I will listen to your counsel, your suggestions, and your inputs.Be rest assured: standing before you is nothing more than a servant to push your agenda—the agenda of Plateau.”
The meeting was attended by former governors, past and present National and State Assemblies members, religious leaders, traditional rulers, local government chairmen, top government functionaries among other stakeholders.