By Isreal Adamu, Jos
Hon. Hitler Pwajok, the Special Adviser to Plateau State Governor Barrister Caleb Mutfwang on Youth Development, has condemned the prejudicial statement made by Brekete Family’s Ahmed Isah against Plateau men. He also called on Isah to retract his comment and issue an immediate apology to the citizens of Plateau State.
“It is no longer news that the purported video circulating on social media, in which the leader of the Brekete Family insinuated that Plateau men are lazy, has sparked outrage and widespread condemnation among not just Plateau men but also citizens of conscience and sound upbringing,” Hon. Pwajok said.
“As a peace-loving and accommodating state, globally known for hard work, intelligence, resilience, honesty, and patriotism, we view Mr. Isah’s comments as derogatory, stereotypical, misleading, and tantamount to hate speech, and we demand an immediate apology.”
Hon. Pwajok continued, “We believe that his statements are ill-intended and have the potential to stigmatize Plateau youths within the social networks of their pursuits.”
He added, “Unlike in many places where prostitution among women is seen as a profession, there is no doubt that Plateau women have distinguished themselves in self-development through skills and entrepreneurship as a means to a decent living. These are the same women who have helped raise notable men who have made significant impacts in the country and beyond.”
“As a state, we stand tall as one of the major producers of food crops that have sustained the country over the years, ensuring food security not only for Nigeria but for Africa as a continent. This has been achieved through the continuous labor of our men and women. As the largest producer of Irish potatoes in Nigeria, a significant number of Plateau men have worked tirelessly to meet the increasing demand for this crop. This alone has placed the country in great debt to us as a people.”
Hon. Pwajok also highlighted the contributions of notable Plateau figures, saying, “Mr. Isah’s statement is an insult to the likes of Kelvin Pam, the first Nigerian to win the Big Brother contest in 2009, and Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa, Mikel Obi, and others who have contributed immensely to the football world.”
“The statement is also an insult to Plateau’s vibrant entertainment industry, including Suka Sounds, Jeremiah Gyang, Ice Prince, M.I, Panam Percy Paul, P-Square, and many others who are excelling in their fields.”
“We see the statement as an insult to the likes of Francis James of Plateau, who won the maiden edition of the Zenith Bank Coal City Half Marathon in Enugu, and many others who are making the nation proud.”
“Mr. Isah’s statement is an affront to innovators like Jerry Mallo, a design engineer and founder of Bennie Automobile, who has positioned Nigeria among the ranks of young innovative minds globally.”
“Ahmed Isah’s statement is also an affront to individuals like Mr. David Daser, whose hard work earned him a presidential recommendation and appointment as the President of the Digital Bridge Institute, among others making significant impacts in their fields.”
Hon. Pwajok emphasized that Mr. Isah’s remarks are an insult to the legacy of Plateau’s heroes past, including Chief (Dr.) Solomon Daushep Lar (Walin Langtang), His Excellency, Nde Yakubu Gowon, JD Gomwalk, Dara Jonah David Jang, and many others who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty to defend the nation.
“We do not claim to be infallible, and we welcome constructive criticism as a tool for growth and improvement when delivered with love and dignity. However, we will not remain silent and allow our humility to be mistaken for weakness.”
“In a country where illegal and harmful activities like insurgency and cyber fraud have been accepted in some areas as means of survival, the Plateau man would rather dig kilometers deep to mine tin, tantalite, wolfram (tungsten), kaolin, zircon, and uranium to provide for their families, rather than engage in inhumane practices. Mr. Isah’s statement is a disrespect to these noble citizens, whose struggles are not due to a lack of effort but rather to systems that rarely reward hard work or honesty.”
“As a people, we pride ourselves on reverence to the sovereignty of God Almighty and humility; these traits are culturally embedded in us and have been passed down through generations. This is a blessing, as seen in the lives of great men of God like Apostle Joshua Selman, Pastor Ishaku Chingtok, the late Baba Paul Gindiri, and many others who are constant testaments to these blessings.”
“As a government, the Governor has rolled out several initiatives and policies that will continue to engage the youths productively, and we will not sit back and watch anyone disrespect or mistake the simplicity of the Plateau man for weakness.”
“Therefore, we demand an open apology from Ahmed Isah and advise that such hate speech should never be tolerated in a nation where unity and tolerance are supposed to be promoted, especially by the media.”
“We are Plateau, and we are proud of our heritage.”
