From Leo Zwànke, Lafia
As the preparation for Local government elections enters top gear in Plateau state, the Tehl PDP Vanguard in Mikang Local Government Area of the State has called for urgent intervention of the Executive Governor Bar. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, the State Executive members of the PDP and other leaders of thought to address the injustice that is gradually brewing in Mikang local government.
According to a statement by Dafum Titus Naangap Chairman Tehl PDP Vanguard the injustice is being fueled by one man’s desire to decide who gets what, noting that if not checked and nipped in the buds, it is capable of throwing the local government into serious confusion either now or in the future.
See extract of statement below:
“For tharity, it is pertinent to restate what is perhaps already in the public domain about Mikang. The Local government has four (4) districts and below were the votes cast in favour of Mr. Governor during the last elections viz:
1. Montol 51 polling units 6,353 votes
2. Garkawa 23 polling units 2,015 votes
3. Piapung 24 polling units 2,375 votes
4. Koenoem 13 polling units 1,284 votes
(The above statistics are from the 2023 general election)
The local government has a gentleman arrangement whereby positions (both elective and appointment) are shared equitably amongst the districts for the purpose of fairness, equity and justice.
It was because of these ideals that we resisted and worked against the 3rd term bid of Honourable Naanlong Gapyil and we made sure that he was defeated at the polls in 2023.
However, we noticed that after the election, there has been a subtle albeit deliberate attempt to alienate a certain district for reasons best known to those who are taking undue advantage of their proximity to the governor.
As it stands today, Piapung has the member of the House of Assembly (following the court of appeal ruling), an adviser to the governor, a member of PLASIEC management.
Garkawa has a Liaison officer to the governor, a Permanent Secretary and Executive Secretary of Local government Pension Board.
Koenoem on the other hand, has a Commissioner and the Transition Committee Chairman while Montol district in spite of the 52 percent vote cast in favour of Mr. Governor can only boast of an adviser .
One would have thought that steps will be taken to correct this injustice but we were shocked when we reliably gathered from the grapevines that these same persons that are close to the Governor are already plotting to zone the chairmanship position to Piapung district which already has a member of the state house of assembly. Haba!!! where is the justice? where is the reward for our 52 percent votes in the last election ? Why are those with the least vote getting more rewards than those who gave out their all to the Party PDP?
We call on the Governor, Party leaders and leaders of thoughts to ponder and have a deep introspection and see if the Montol district has been treated fairly and just.
We sincerely hope this will be corrected so as to strengthen the unity and equity that makes us “Mikang”.
We appeal to all political stakeholders to resist the temptation of taking advantage of their being close and having the ears of the governor “today” to sow a seed of discord which is capable of setting booby traps that has the propensity of jeopardizing the unity and political harmony that we all have enjoyed over the years.
We appeal to the Executive Governor to look at these issues with his fatherly disposition of fairness and justice with a view of correcting these anomalies
It therefore, behoves on all leaders to rise above petty and parochial considerations to ensure that justice is not only done but must be seen to be done”
