The goodwill that shadowed the advent of the Simon Lalong led administration in Plateau State is being ebbed by multifarious challenges. By Marie-Therese Nanlong Eight months ago, after winning the governorship elections in Plateau state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governor Simon Lalong began the journey of governance by constituting different committees to look into the various activities of his predecessor, Jonah Jang, now senator representing Plateau North in the Senate. Many in the state had applauded the steps taken by the governor at that time, while others saw the exercise as a waste of time, energy and resources. Even some others were in between opinion. Huge debt profile However, the applause for the governor quickly began to plummet when the governor embarked on a borrowing spree despite the huge debt profile he inherited a situation that was worsened when he took more than six months to constitute his cabinet. Even more touching was the fact that it took more than seven months to clear the arrears of salaries of civil servants. Now, fresh issues are being raised to portray the governor as having seemingly failed to sustain the goodwill with which he came to office. Among the fresh issues entangling the governor include the sack of the elected local government chairmen last year, the choice of his cabinet members, the administration’s sour public relations, the alleged expenditure of about N600 million in the celebrations of Sallah and Christmas, accusation of suppression of some tribes in the state, the purported face-off between him and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung and the lopsided appointments among others. Though the Governor and Dalong have denied any face-off between them, feelers, however, indicate that there is more to it as it appears a cold war is already raging in the factions of the APC in the state. Among those disenchanted with the governor are the Anaguta Youths Movement and the Plateau Unity Forum, Abuja who have accused the Governor of a ploy to “seize their ancestral lands to give to non-indigenes” as well as his “refusal to consult other stakeholders in appointment of Commissioners and his alleged insensitivity to those that assisted him to power.”
LalongThe President of Anaguta Youth Movement, AYM, Emni Nyam allege that previous administrations both civilian and military recognized the status of the Anaguta people and accorded them their rightful place but the reverse was the case now. “Previous administrations in Plateau State have recognized the Anaguta people in terms of political appointment especially as regards to membership in the State Executive Council as well as other sensitive appointments in the State and Jos North local government area. “The present administration of Governor Lalong has deliberately and craftily failed, refused and neglected to follow the right and proper precedent and solid foundation laid by the previous administrations in recognizing and honouring the Anaguta people. The outburst follows the choice of three persons from the Hausa community in Jos North to fill the three major positions allocated to the Council which include the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Governor’s Office, the Secretary of the Transition Committee of Jos North as well as the Commissioner representative from the local government area. Reacting to the issue, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Mark Longyen denied the allegations stressing that the governor is committed to carrying all the tribes in the state along in governance. According to him, “The Anaguta people are not being marginalized; we are calling on them to be patient because all the tribes in the local government are entitled to be appointed. Governor Lalong is applying principle of balance and is not marginalizing any tribe; they would also be carried along in government.” Similarly, an Abuja-based group, Plateau Unity Forum which claims to have mobilized about N100 million for the governor’s campaign hinted that more trouble is on the way as they decried the frosty relationship between the governor and the three Senators from the State saying it portrays lack of unity. Fund raising dinner The group’s spokespersons, Pastor Jerry Datim and Mrs. Dikkof challenged stakeholders in the State to “rise to the rescue and bring the leaders together before Plateau disintegrates.” The assertions were immediately dismissed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Emmanuel Nanle who said, “I am not aware of any group called Plateau Unity Forum mobilizing N100m for Governor Lalong during the electioneering campaign. “The Plateau People in Abuja came together in Abuja to host Gov Lalong to a Stakeholders’ Meeting and fund raising dinner which gave several of them the opportunity of contributing their widow’s mite to the rescue campaign.” In all of these, relative peace has been observed to have set in; perhaps, due to the appointment of the “non indigenes” that, the people have alleged to be responsible for the crises that have bedevilled the state in the past years. Indeed, the killings in Riyom and Barkin Ladi, which occurred almost on daily basis have ceased, and some allege that it may be a result of the “all-inclusive style of governance”, Lalong has introduced to involve the so called non-indigenes; at least to give them a sense of belonging.
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