Group Urges Mutfwang To Deliver Dividends Of Democracy To Plateau Citizens

The Citizens Observers Hub/ Executive Director CYPA Africa, Ambassador Chris Iyama has charged Plateau State Governor-Elect Barr Caleb Mutfwang to hit the ground running with people of good standing in his cabinet that will be constituted after taking over power on the 29th of May 2023.

According to Iyama, the victory of Mutfwang is a reflection of the trust and confidence the people of Plateau State have in him.

According to him, now that the elections are over and Mutfwang will be sworn in on May 29, 2023, it is pertinent to bring to his attention certain important issues.

Iyama in a statement in Jos made available to Sunday Independent, said now that people are pouring into Mutfwang’s residence to congratulate him over his victory at the polls, Mutfwang must be mindful of the fact that most of those visiting at this point may just be praise-singers and sycophants who harbour future requests and favours.

“We urge you to be blind to praise singers, deaf to sycophants while sourcing for the best brains into the right offices in your cabinet to facilitate delivery of the expectations of Plateau people.”

Iyama advised Mutfwang to ensure the selection of personalities into his cabinet will be interpreted as a reflection of his intellectual prowess and resolution to the implementation of governance philosophy and programmes.

“We implore you to hit the ground running without delay in order to save time and attract the goodwill of the electorates.”

According to him, their proposition is drawn from the failures of previous administrations arising from delays in the constitution of a cabinet and other key executive and administrative positions and thus, wasted time on internal politicking on who gets what, where the person came from, and the office to be occupied.

“Resultantly, it took months before the administration of Lalong took off fully while the electorates waited in dwindling hopes.”

He charged Mutfwang to realize that time is of the essence and as such Plateau Governor-Elect, must begin implementing his blueprints for the people of Plateau State from the first day he assumes office to ensure that Plateau people do not experience the pains and frustrations the outgoing administration brought on the State for eight (8) years.

He suggested that it is important to look at those critical projects like the National Library – Abattoir Connecting Bridge and road networks which the outgoing administration refused to complete throughout their eight (8) years in office, stressing that these projects when completed, will ease traffic and make navigation easy for Plateau people within Jos Metropolis.

‘We wish to also bring to your attention the dilapidated state of the most used in-road into Plateau State, the Kuru-Riyom road linking Plateau State to Kaduna State. We kindly request that you use your influence to enable the repair and/or dualization of the road while considering other funding options and raw materials in road construction.”

He added that as evidenced by security and safety reports issued by government agencies, the road has become a death trap in relation to fatal accidents and security breaches.

” As contained in your Policy Thrust, there is a need to immediately revamp the state security outfit, the ‘Operation Rainbow’ to quickly dominate trouble spots, flash points and security risk areas in our rural communities. This is important to ensure that lives and property are protected proactively and not reactionary responses after the damage has been done.”

He added that already there is a ready army of young people who can be integrated to protect lives and property on the Plateau.

” You will recall how young people applied the same motivation and endurance in resisting attempts to manipulate results at various collation centres.”

Iyama hinted that there is an urgent need for massive employment in the Civil Service upon Mutfwang’s assumption into office, adding that the youths who came out to defend Barr Mutfwang’s mandate are mostly unemployed, hence the need to engage them in fruitful ventures for the overall security and economic prosperity of Plateau State.

“drawing from your Governance Philosophy and Programmes on the need to boost the State’s economy through investment in the agricultural sector, you will recall that the Agric Services Training Center and Marketing Limited (ASTC) packed up immediately after the Lalong- led administration took over, stressing that rather than continuing from where the Jang-led administration left off, equipment and farm supplies were left to rot away by Governor Lalong administration..

“Farmers were left to their fate in subsistence farming which had little capacity to meet the daily food consumption requirements of the State. Thus, rejuvenating the ASTC will give ample employment opportunities in agriculture for Plateau people.”

He also suggested that there is the need to re-visit the Greater Jos Master Plan in order to open up other areas of Jos through massive road infrastructure to bring more development and ease of urbanization.

“Throbbing in the heart of Plateau residents is the Jos Main Market project which should be looked into with a view to addressing the issues through confidence building among Plateau residents.”

He noted that from the results at various levels of collation and computation and the merry ambiance and jubilations which heralded the election of Mutfwang, it is evident that Plateau youths came out massively to vote for Barr Mutfwang.

“To this effect, they ensured that there were no interferences from foreign interests at various collation centers across the State, these youth stayed under the sun and in the rain, endured brutalisation by state-sponsored security operatives and slept at collations centers to ensure that Mutfwang mandate did not suffer premature termination.”

He pleaded with Mutfwang not to betray the trust of the Youths as the outgoing administration did and recommended that thirty percent (30%) of slots in Mutfwang cabinet be reserved for young people, young people that are experts in their field of endeavours should be appointed into his cabinet.

“Young persons are weary of their usual appointment as Special Assistants (SAs) or “data boys” with no portfolio or job description attached to those appointments.”

Iyama advised that In the outgoing administration on the Plateau, there were young people who distinguished themselves in various leadership positions, advising that Mutfwang should kindly consider engaging them to continue their good works.

“We make bold to say that there are young persons from Plateau State or affiliated to the Plateau course who are making impact in various fields in Nigeria and abroad, and those are the brains needed for quality governance.’

Iyama added that now that time for politics has ended, this is the time for leadership and governance for Plateau people.

He disclosed that Citizens Observers Hub is a coalition of civil society organizations working on credible Elections and deepening democratic Governance in Nigeria.

” In fulfilling our mandate, we will not fail to raise red flags when your government decides to abandon governance for frivolities. To this effect, we are committed to tracking every penny and every project at all levels in Plateau State, including the conduct of persons who will occupy office in your administration.”

He added that It is not going to be business as usual, reminding Mutfwang that his mandate as Governor of Plateau State from May 29th 2023 came from the people and not godfathers.

“Hence, we will follow your administration every inch of the way to ensure that you deliver on your mandate and do everything possible to develop Plateau State, deliver dividends of democracy and secure lives and Iyama stressed.