Thursday 20 September 2018

A look at Pauline Talen Senatorial Aspiration


Over the years the positive impact of Pauline Talen in Plateau politics is undeniable, as a former Commissioner, Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ambassador Nominee and a former Deputy Governor of Plateau State among others is a testimony that her presence in the Senate will be a huge benefits to Southern Senatorial Zone and Plateau state at large.
In recognition of Dame Pauline Tallen tract records and wealth of experience the Conference of Plateau Independent Publishers (CONPIP) which comprises of The Beacon, African Drum Magazine, Grassroots News Newspaper, National Rescue and Plateau News, supported her aspiration on representing Plateau South Senatorial District in the National Assembly come 2019.
In a courtesy call on her in Jos on Wednesday, the group led by Shabul Mazadu, called on her not to rescind her decision from contesting the senatorial seat despite the pressure being mounted on her from some quarters of the state, claiming that it's not healthy for the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeing she hails from the same local government with the Plateau State Governor, Rt Hon Simon Lalong and speaks the same language.
In its submission CONPIP, argued that credibility supersedes ethnic sentiments and its credibility Plateau State needs. Furthermore it cited example with the immediate past governor of Plateau State, Jonah David Jang who as governor hailed from the same local government, district, tribe and were related by blood with then Senator Representing the Northern Senatorial Zone, Late Senator Gyang Pwajok and their constituents were comfortable with the arrangement because of the confidence they reposed on them.
There is a growing recognition of the untapped capacity and talents of women and women’s leadership. the meaningful participation of women in national, local and community leadership roles has become an important focus on global development policy. Still, some may ask why it matters if women become political leaders, elected policymakers, or civil society activists. Why does the world need more women involved in all aspects of the political process? Women's political participation results in tangible gains for democracy, including greater responsiveness to citizen needs, increased cooperation across party and ethnic lines, and a more sustainable future.
Women participation in politics helps advance gender equality and affects both the range of policy issues that get considered and the types of solutions that are proposed. There is strong evidence that as more women are elected to office, there is a corollary increase in policy making that emphasizes quality of life and reflects the priorities of families, women, and ethnic and racial minorities.
More than men, women tend to work across party lines, be highly responsive to constituent concerns, help secure lasting peace, encourage citizen confidence in democracy through their own participation, and prioritize health, education, and other key development indicators.


Monday 26 February 2018

I never endorse Grazing Reserves or Cattle Colony in Plateau State, says Governor Lalong

Plateau State Governor Barr. Simon Lalong has on Saturday 3rd February, 2018 disclose to Christians in the State that he never accept or endorse the creation Grazing Reserves or cattle colony as being erroneously insinuated and propagated by the Opposition in the State.
Lalong stated this while addressing Christians during the 3rd Annual Plateau Prayer Day organized by the Christians Association of Nigeria, Plateau State Chapter in conjunction with the Government House Chapel, held at Jos Rwang Pam Township Stadium.

He said his administration has not embrace the concept of Grazing Reserve of cattle Colony as solution to abating the series of clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

“It is therefore worthy of note that there is nothing on the part of this administration like accepting or endorsing Grazing Reserve or Grazing bill or cattle colony related to land grabbing or seizure to be given to a particular group of people by the Plateau State Government as being erroneously insinuated and propagated by the opposition in the State”.

According to him in view of the 21st Century and modern times, the Grazing Reserves or cattle Colony are outdated, unacceptable and recurrent recipe for crisis as the State have been witnessing.

Governor Lalong however accuse the immediate past Governor of the State Senator Jang for establishing grazing Reserves in the State with approved budgetary allocations made for their development.

“Contrary to beliefs and propaganda by some people who have chosen to politicize this issue, this government has never initiated the establishment or creation of Grazing Reserves. Rather, we inherited a Gazette of April, 2009 by my immediate Predecessor that recognized and established Grazing Reserves in Plateau State with approved budgetary allocations made for their development”.

Lalong pledged his administration determination in addressing the outdated grazing issues for the overall benefit of Nigerians, especially in relation to the intractable violent conflicts between farmers and herders as well as cattle rustl

KILLINGS: PLATEAU STATE ON THE NEWS AGAIN


Renewed violent attack came the way of the A people of Plateau State, nearly after almost two years of relative peace.
 Although not anything unusual when compared with some of the experiences of the past, the people were no less alarmed still with the way and manner the latest attack was quick to spread, leaving in its trail, monumental havoc.
 Put succinctly, what happened in the last few days was a clear indication that though there might have been relative peace, the merchants of violence had their mercenaries prepared in the event of the slightest provocation.
 The state has a history of over a decade and a half of violence triggered either by ethnic, religious or political tussle, with attendant destruction of lives and property. And for a state that still prides itself as 'home of peace and tourism', what has been seen in the past over a decade describes it in the exact opposite.
 The crises have been multifaceted, which has made it difficult for successive governments, from the days of Senator Joshua Chibi Dariye to proffer any lasting solution to it. Interestingly, whilst the attacks hardly occur among the indigenous tribes of the state, it has always been the Hausa-Fulani settlers taking on each of the tribes, one after the other. And after their decades of sojourn and business activities in the land, they would rather prefer to be called indigenes, and demand to be given the rights accruable to the indigenes, especially when the issue involved is political.
 One common characteristic of all the crises is that they easily snowball into religious violence, irrespective of their initial causes. This is because the natives, who are predominantly Christians and the Hausa-Fulani, who are predominantly Muslims, would always whip up religious sentiments to attract sympathy and support. In 2001, the sectarian crisis over the ownership of Jos, especially Jos North degenerated into serious mayhem that claimed many lives in the wake of it. It eventually culminated into the razing down of the famous Jos main market in 2002. The market, which was a commercial nerve centre for all the states in the entire Northern region and beyond had since been in ruins. The setback caused by the destruction of the market is one that Plateau has struggled endlessly to overcome 10 years after without success, as no government has been able to re-build it till today.
Successive governments, including the current one, have made frantic efforts without any headway. Not only were lives and property lost in the crisis, it marked the beginning of wounds that have refused to heal as a people that once lived peacefully together now totally resent one another due to mutual distrust. The Yelwa/Shendam crisis of June 2002 and the repeat in 2004 started as inter-communal conflict between the native tribes in the Southern part of Plateau and the Hausa-Fulani in the area. But it soon snowballed into a huge religious crisis, leading to the burning of churches and mosques in the area, with many lives lost in the aftermath, and declaration of a state of emergency by the federal government. This further deepened the already existing suspicion and hatred among the people, leading to many of them relocating to be amongst the people of their faith for fear of being victims of reprisal attacks.
 This gave way to the 2008 post-local government election violence that claimed over 800 lives. It started like a political disturbance, when a group of youths alleged that they were being manipulated during the collation of the election results in Jos North Local Government Area. It soon metamorphosed into a religious riot, leading to full blown crisis that led to the burning of worship places and property including the Bukuru food market. Governments at both the state and the national levels constituted panels of inquiry to unearth the remote causes of the various crises but the reports were never implemented. Among the panels constituted at various times were The Nikki Tobi Panel, Fiberesima Panel, Bola Ajibola Panel, Emmanuel Abisoye Panel, and even the one constituted by the House of Representatives. All ended up on the shelf as none was ever implemented, although it was alleged that some sacred cows were indicted. Sincerely, this has been the bane of the unending crises in the state, as people who felt terribly hurt by the loss of their loved ones and property continued to see those alleged to have been indicted in their misfortune move freely unpunished. In fact, some indicted persons allegedly got juicy federal government appointments rather than being sanctioned.
Since the 2008 crisis, Plateau has suffered huge casualties especially in the villages, as those who felt that they didn't get justice in spite of the series of panels resorted to self-help. They mobilised themselves into groups for attacks and counter-attacks leading to more casualties in the villages. While these happened in the villages, Jos the capital city was merely sitting on keg of gunpowder. Any slight provocation easily degenerated into serious mayhem. One of them was in 2010, when a man whose house was destroyed at Dutse-uku in the city centre in 2008, went back to re-build his house, and in the process, he was attacked by his neighbours of a different faith, leading to another round of riot that claimed hundreds of lives. A Berom village of Dogo Nahawa was thereafter attacked and over 200 killed.
 A settlement in Kuru predominated by the HausaFulani was also attacked and close to 200 people were also killed. And the circle continued. Since then, Jos became a hotbed for killings in both night and broad day attacks of men in their farms and women, children and the elderly in their homes. At a point, the government of exPresident Goodluck Jonathan had to declare a state of emergency too in some local governments after a serving Senator, Dr. Gyang Dantong, and a state assemblyman, Mr. Gyang Fulani, died in a village, where they had gone to mourn those that were killed the previous day. They were in the village when some attackers swooped on them, and as they scampered to safety, they met their deaths. The attacks and killings continued until the end of the administration of former Governor Jonah David Jang in 2015.
 Many blamed the crises on Jang, whom they described as stubborn and unyielding to the voice of reason. They added that Jang hated the Hausa-Fulani and did not carry them along in his government, and consequently, they paid him back by embroiling the state in series of crises and making it ungovernable for him. That, unfortunately, was a lame one. The crises had started before Jang became governor. How he was supposed to be blamed for the 2001 and 2002 Jos crises and those of Yelwa/Shendam when Dariye was the governor still beats the imagination of observers.
But Jang's supporters believed that the Hausa-Fulani are a people that are generally difficult to please and who have made crises a lifestyle, and thrive in them. They believe that Jang did well by placing them where they belonged. Now, it is the administration of Governor Simon Bako Lalong, who chose to soft-pedal on the Hausa-Fulani probably to win their favour so as to get the needed peace for the development of the state.
As a way of carrying them along, he gave the Hausa-Fulani some good appointments and got them involved in the governance of the state. The governor also embarked on peace missions to all the tribes in the state, appealing to them to sheathe their swords. But that only paid off for a while. His first two years in office experienced a fleeting peace, with few attacks including the murder of Saf Ron Kulere, the paramount ruler of Bokkos, Lazarus Agai, who was attacked and killed on his way from his farm.
The police promised to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book, but it only ended up as usual – mere promises. The peace became an anthem of achievement for Lalong's government as he claimed glory for the return of peace in the state. To be fair to him, several things began to change as commercial activities seriously sprang up, with investors considering a return to the state. Jos carnival, trade fairs, and several concerts hosted at various times in Jos were a mark of the return of peace. But it was not for too long. The entire peace began to crumble since last month, and has now totally collapsed in the past days with over 50 lives lost in the most gruesome manner. No thanks to whoever murdered a young Fulani boy in a small village of Ancha in Bassa local government area of the state in September. In a reprisal, suspected Fulani killed over 20 persons to avenge the murder. The natives, who claimed innocence of the boy's death, had blamed it on cult activities. They had however appealed to the Fulani for calm, promising to investigate it. But before the investigation could be completed, the Fulani who perhaps became hesitant pounced on the village leaving over 20 dead.

villager in Ancha said the gunmen invaded the community at about 1:45 am when his kinsmen were fast asleep, and attacked the people randomly, adding that the attack lasted for over an hour without resistance from the community and the security men, until the gunmen completed their mission and disappeared into the nearby hills. Police Commissioner at the time,
 Peter Ogunyanwo, said the attackers were suspected Fulani on reprisal, “who went from house to house killing innocent people.” He said the Fulani had written to the Police to complain that one of their boys was killed, beheaded and buried in a shallow grave in the bush, adding that the boy had ran away from home after committing a mischief, and that after three days his headless body was found in a nearby bush.
Ogunyanwo said the police quickly swung into action and arrested five persons in connection with the murder, but that he did not expect anyone to take the laws into their hands to go on reprisal after reporting to the police and investigations had commenced. Since then, it has been series of attacks and counter attacks as the crisis easily spread. The most worrisome, however, was the recent reprisal against the Igbos in Jos by the Hausa over the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South-east leading to the death of at least two.
The development led to the imposition of a dust-todawn curfew on the state. And according to the governor, the crisis nearly deprived the state of the hosting right of NYSC National Management conference that was scheduled for that period. A fortnight ago, one-time Head of Service in the state, Da Moses Gwom, was attacked and murdered in his own house at Dorowa in Barkin Ladi Local Government of the state by unknown persons. His murder was just one of the several killings in the state in recent days. The development forced the state government to impose an indefinite dusk-todawn curfew on Bassa local government area, where the killings became frequent. But it never solved the problem as killings continued daily in the area in spite of the curfew. The security operatives were therefore accused of complicity. The people of the area alleged that they thrive in the crises, wondering why attacks and killings should continue daily in a local government, where curfew was imposed with more security men on the ground.
The alleged complicity of the security agents, especially the soldiers became more likely with the recent attack on Nkiedonwhro village in which over 27 persons were summarily killed by gunmen in a primary school classroom next to the one used as operational base by soldiers on the same block. One would wonder what exactly happened that 27 persons were shot dead in one classroom when the very next classroom on the same block was occupied by soldiers, where they used as their operational base, and no none of the attackers was killed nor arrested. Did the soldiers sleep off? Were they sedated? Did the gunshots that killed the 27 not make any sound? Did the victims not at least cry out before they were all killed? Did the soldiers go on patrol from the block and left their unarmed neighbours at the mercy of the attackers? These remain some of the unanswered questions. National President of Irigwe Development Association (IDA), Mr. Sunday Abdu, indicted the soldiers and said they gathered the villagers for the Fulani to kill. “How can the same soldiers who gathered the villagers in one classroom next to their own claim they didn't know when the attackers came and killed all of them in one night?”, he queried. He said the soldiers had gathered the victims to the primary school in the village to protect them from persistent attacks in the area, adding that while the soldiers occupied one classroom, where they use as their operational base, the women and children occupied the next classroom. “How then did the attackers come and killed the women and children without the soldiers knowing? It is either that the soldiers are conniving with the attackers to annihilate our people or they ran away and left our people to their fate.
It is even more worrisome that the same local government was under curfew imposed on it by the state government when this happened.” The fact remains that there are still unhealed wounds from past crises which need to be treated if Plateau must know a lasting peace. This cannot be covered by offer of appointments. Such will only give a temporary peace that cannot stand the test of time. The reports of the various panels of inquiry must be re-visited and those indicted punished. Then the people that have been hurt will feel that justice has been done. That way, the persistent crises would be resolved from their roots. Glossing over it will only amount to further postponing the evil days

Plateau Gov. Lalong Swears in Acting Grand Kadi and 2 Transition committee Chairmen


Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong Today swore in The acting Grand Kadi Hon. Justice Umar Ibrahim Abdullahi and two Transition committee Chairmen of Mikan LG Hon. Gwotbit Bakshuet Boniface (KSM) and Hon. Garba Hassan (Wase LG).

 Held at the Banquet Hall Government House, Little Rayfield Jos. 10th February 2018.
Governor Lalong said “the swearing of the Acting Grand Kadi follows the established sequence of Judicial Precedence, which is in line with the time tested tradition of succession by seniority on the bench; owing to the official retirement and exit of my Lord Justice Adamu Shuaibu Musa Kanam, OFR, MDRI, after putting in the mandatory 35 years in service”.

He said for the Management committee Chairmen of Mikang and Wase Local Government Councils, the vacancies that were created on account of the  exit of the former Chairmen who opted out to contest election in the forthcoming Local Council Polls, it has become imperative to get replacements so the full complement of the management committees can be established for the two councils.


Pimping: FGGC Langtang principal sets up panel, urges victims to speak out


A panel has been set up to investigate the abuse of students of Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Langtang, Plateau state.
 The national executives of the Old Girls Association of the Federal Government Girls College (FLOGA), Langtang, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
 The Cable had done an undercover investigation that exposed how security guards employed to protect students pimp them to strangers. One guard had given an insight into how he organises “runs” for the teenagers for a fee, and how this is a common practice. The old students confirmed that they had received reports about the illegal act but there was no means of confirmation.
 “There has been a lot of furore raised by the recent publication made by The Cable Newspapers about the pimping of students by a security guard at FGGC Langtang,” the statement read. “The exco would like to state the following: Rumours of pimping of students at the school were rife and got to a head early last year, 2016.
 Several efforts made by the exco to investigate; including engaging with the former principal proved abortive as there was no substantiating evidence to prove these claims. “Subsequently, the exco approached the leadership of USOSA with a report of the rumours and obtained their commitment to investigate.
 USOSA worked with the undercover journalists at The Cable and the publication is a result of their investigative efforts. “While the investigation is inconclusive and stopped short of actually indicting anyone directly, the story has thrown up quite a number of issues too grave to be handled with levity. “FLOGA has been in touch with the school authorities and the principal, Mrs Laura Dogo, has constituted a high powered panel to investigate these claims. Being a mother herself, she is appalled at the claims and will do all that is in her power to get to the bottom of things.” The association also urged victims or “anyone with evidence” to speak out. “Having conducted a walk during her AGM, which held recently, to create awareness and drum up support for victims of domestic
violence and child rape, the exco are aghast that such an issue should even come up in the first place,” the statement read. Therefore, we will continue to work with the authorities and push for far-reaching investigations into this matter. If the claims are substantiated and any person or groups of persons are found culpable, then the full force of the law must be brought down upon them. “In keeping with our drive to break the silence, FLOGA wishes to commend those amongst us who have come forward to share their experience.
 We do not condemn anyone. In fact, we welcome others to speak up if indeed they have had a first-hand experience of sexual harassment while in school. “Anyone with concrete evidence of pimping or any such activity in the school should please come forward.
Each case will be treated with the strictest confidence and identities of victims protected. “The exco would, however, crave the indulgence of everyone to refrain from sensationalising the issue. “Other issues thrown up by the publication including the state of infrastructure at the school and

Forgery: Court admits documents against Plateau lawmaker


The Federal High Court II, sitting in Jos, has admitted documents against an embattled Member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Baba Hassan, who is standing trial for presenting an alleged fake diploma certificate in the last general elections.
 Hon Hassan (Defendant) who represents Jos North Constituency was dragged to court by Abdul Nasir (Plaintiff) who contested against him in the last All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election ahead of the 2015 elections.
During the sitting on Friday, the Judge, Justice Musa Kurya, admitted the payment receipts presented by the plaintiff's counsel, Ahmad Garba, said to have been obtained from the University of Jos on the request of whether the lawmaker had graduated from the university or not.
The counsel to the defendant, Nanfwang D. Gwaison, had earlier argued that the receipts were fake. The court also admitted another written document issued by the Deputy Registrar of the University of Jos, Caleb Mwansat, which stated that the alleged credentials presented by the lawmaker did not emanate from the university.
Justice Musa Kurya had earlier rejected the application of the lawmaker whose counsel, Nanfwang, objected to the admission of the document that said the certificate of the lawmaker did not emanate from the University of Jos.
 It would be recalled that during the court's sitting on October 12, 2016, the Registrar of the University of Jos, Monday M. Danjem, during his oral statement, told the court that Hassan did not graduate from the university and he further affirmed that the certificate did not emanate from the university.
 Justice Kurya ruled out the objection of the defendant's counsel for lack of merit, affirming that, “The University of Jos is the only University of Jos in Nigeria and its registrar is the one and only registrar of the institution” and thereby admitted the documents against the lawmaker. The judge, however, adjourned the sitting to November 13 for the presentation of the remaining witnesses by the registrar and cross examination of witnesses.


Jos East ADP Chair Assassinated


Plateau state chapter of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) condemns the GRUESOME MURDER of its Jos East party chairman Mr. Waziri Isua Forsum. In a World Press Conference Sign and Read by the State Chairman Plateau State Action Democratic Party (ADP) Chief Amb. Nanyah A. Daman (JP) Held At The ADP Secretariat Jos on Saturday 4th N o v e m b e r, 2017. He said “It is with deep sense of loss and painful heart that we receive the sad news of the g r u e s o m e murder and assassination of the Jos East ADP Chairman, Mr Waziri Isua Fursom on Thursday 2nd November 2017 around 9:00 in his village Bayan Dutse-Fursom, Jos East LGA of Plateau State. “The late Jos East ADP Chairman was assassinated by wicked Daredevil's that pumps 16 bullets into his body. The villagers heard gunshots but because of reverberation they couldn't come to rescue the victim”. He said “The ADP Plateau State totally condemn this heinous crime against humanity and call on the Plateau state Government and the Operation Save Haven to swing into action by
apprehending the culprits using all security agencies as soon as possible”. “We will not accept anything short of arresting those behind the killing of our quiet and unassuming LGA Chairman. We demand for fortified security protection to all ADP leaders in the country as the APC see us as a threat” he added. Chief Daman lamented that it is very unfortunate that while the APC Government describes itself as restoring peace in Plateau, we are witnessing political assassination and the killing of farmers by Fulani Herdsmen in the land. This is one killing too many and it must stop forthwith. He said “The ADP Plateau state strongly believes that no blood of a Nigerian should be shed for any Political consideration or position because power comes from God and not man. The killing of an innocent soul is not a guarantee for winning elections”. “We send our deepest condolences to the Wife, Children, Family, the members of the ADP and indeed the entire peace loving people of the Izere nation over the untimely demise of an astute, viable, amiable, focused, purposeful and powerful politician in Jos East LGA in particular and the state at large. We shall miss his advice and doggedness”. Adieu Mr Waziri Isua Fursom Signed: Chief Amb. Nanyah A. Daman (JP), Chairman Action Democratic Party (ADP) Plateau state.

GARAM RIVER A DEAD TRAP

Garam District in Kanke Local Government of Plateau state has been cut off from the rest of the state for over a month due to the incessant rainfall witnessed recently. The farming community a l w a y s f o u n d themselves traps whenever the river that passed across the across the locality is over flooded.
Speaking to the Newdawn reporter, a community mobiliser Mr. Godwin Biliwer said, Garam people are increasingly becoming helpless whenever raining seasons sets in, he noted that usually the months of August, September and part of October is a period of great agony and distress because they are completely cut off from the rest of the world; a time when some farmers could not gain accessed to their farms or carry their farm produce to markets, a time when even health personnel coming for immunization or other engagements could not gained accessed to the community.
Mr. Godwin said “the farming communities on several occasions could not carry sick ones and most especially pregnant women across the rivers, a situation that has cause serious health implication for the sick ones and expectant mothers”. He said, recently personnel of the Nigeria Army nearly lost their lives as they attempted to cross the rivers; if not for the timely intervention of the locals, it would have been a great tragedy, and this is just one case among many. He said, the river which is about 30 meters width and several kilometers long, has remained the community's night mares; i t h a s consumes loves ones, properties destroyed and farm produce w o r t h millions of n a i r a perished, it continued to wreaked havoc on the farming community unabated. Mr. Godwin said, Garam people have tried all they could in finding a means of addressing the problems, but it always ends in futility because the rivers always overwhelm their efforts. He noted that Nde Augustine Gopep raises some funds and mobilizes the Garam Community un-which Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) funding and intervention was sought for, this efforts led to the grading of the road from the Garam hills to the river, he said “Dr. Jurbe, G. Yilji, Nde Semshak Semlek, Brig Gen Aaron Danpome (Rtd) and many others sons and daughters have contributed enormously to make sure that something is done on the river and also to make the 23 Kilometers road to Sharam and about 17 kilometers to Baban Lamba motorable. He said, “We are appealing to the rescue administration of Governor Simon Bako Lalong to kindly look at the plea of the Garam district and come to their aids by constructing a bridge across the rivers, to enable us carry our loved ones and pregnant women whenever they are sick to the hospital and also transport our abundance farm produce”. “We are equally seeking and appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aids of Garam people” he added. He said “Garam people are well-known for their rich cultural heritage with a great tourism potential and above all they are the food basket of the state; their rich fertile land produce rice, yam and millet with other assorted fruits in great quantity. We are equally calling on the governmentto revisit the abandon Sharam, Lanshi, Garam, Baban Lamba road; its construction would help in great measures to ameliorate the hardship face by numerous farming communities across the route. He said, the road if constructed would serve as a shortest link for motorist travelling from the North Eastern states of Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa, and Bauchi to the Federal Capital Abuja and the southern part of the country.


CONSTITUTIONALISM, PATRIOTISM AND HOPE IN NIGERIA: LESSON FROM USA

By Ayuba Yilgak'ha No nation could attain meaningful and sustained development in the atmosphere of turbulence and chaos. For a nation t...