There are strong indications that the recent hostility
in some parts of Plateau State where over 160
innocent people, including two lawmakers,
were killed has further worsened the relationship
among Northern governors and caused a sharp
division among them.
It would be recalled that a group of terrorists
suspected to be Fulani herdsmen from neighbouring
Niger and Chad republics invaded some parts of
Barkin Ladi and Riyom local govenment areas of the
state and snuffed lives out of the inhabitants,
including Senator Gyang Dantong and Majority
Leader, Plateau State House of Assembly, Honourable
Gyang Fulani.
A source close to the Plateau State government
revealed that through out the mourning period, only
a handful of governors from the North visited or
called to commiserate with the state government
over the calamity.
It was gathered that many eminent and senior
citizens of Plateau State have been wondering if
there existed love and unity among the governors.
A senior retired military officer who spoke with
Sunday Tribune on condition of anonymity said the
posture of most of the governors was quite
disturbing and wondered if they considered Plateau
as an integral part of the North.
"I have found out that majority of them did not come
or call to sympathise with us over the calamity. So,
what is the essence of the forum if it is not to be our
brothers' keepers? I believe it is high time the
objectives of the forum was redefined," he said.
It was further learnt that there is a subterranean
move in the North-Central, especially in the area
considered as Middle-Belt, to prevail on the
governors in the zone to resuscitate their own forum
which had been dormant for some time.
Sunday Tribune further learnt that tbe statement
credited to the chairman, Northern Governors'
Forum, Governor Babangida Aliyu, over the military
operations in the affected communities in Plateau
State with the aim of flushing out the undesirable
elements that perpetrated the dastardly act further
compounded the situation.
It was learnt that there were some governors who
shared this sentiment and condemned the alleged
lackadaisical posture of some of their colleagues
towards recent happenings in Plateau State.
A source close to the recent Northern Governors'
Forum meeting told Sunday Tribune that Governor
Jonah Jang raised the issue, especially concerning the
statement credited to the Niger State governor at the
meeting and the governors apologised.
Meanwhile, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has
debunked the insinuation doing the rounds in certain
quarters that he hates the Hausa/Fulani and Muslims
with passion, saying it is a misconception by those
who want to create enemity between him and the
Hausa/Fulani community in the state.
The governor, who made the clarification during his
visit to some parts of the state capital affected by the
recent flood that claimed many lives and property,
said out of the whole nation, it was only Kano State
that surpassed Plateau in terms of sponsoring
pilgrims to the holy land.
"If I dont like Muslims and deride the Hausa/Fulani,
as a Christian governor, how would I have sent such
large contigent of Muslims to the holy land? Our
contingents from Plateau are always the second
lagest in the country, and the Saudi Arabian
authority always commend us for adequate welfare
of our pilgrims.
"I am a governor for all irrespective of religious
background, there is no way a part of the state will
be in pain that I, as a governor, will not feel it. I care
all for all, all I need from you all is your cooperation to
move the state foward," he said.
He said the problem in the state was not caused by
the Hausa/Fulani resident in the state but by
outsiders, urging them to join hands with others to
bring about lasting peace in the state.
Governor Jang attributed the flood in the affected
communties to lack of drainage system, adding that
the government was ready to open up the areas to
aviod reccurence of flood disaster.
He said, "I am going to direct surveyors to come and
survey the affected communities, because we are
determined to open up Jos city for development.
"To carry out this development, we need to demolish
some houses. But I can assure you that we will pay
compensation to those who would be affected by the
demolition."
He stated that the recent ban of comercial
motorcycles in the state was not meant to witch-
hunt anybody but to bring sanity to the state.
According to him, the government has over 300
vehicles and triycles to share to people in order to
cushion the effects of the ban.
The governor directed the representatives of the
communities to liase with the state government for
immediate supply of tricyles and vechiles to youths
in the affected communities.
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