From Gyang Bere, Jos
Again, history has repeated itself in Plateau State, following the emergence of Mr Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor-Elect from the March 18, 2023 keenly contested election. His victory which was celebrated across the state affirmed the fact that no sitting governor in the state has ever installed his successor.
Many agree that based on facts, the decision to install a successor in Plateau rests on the popular will of citizens who have since the return of democracy in 1999 determined the successors of sitting governors.
In 2007, former Governor Joshua Dariye failed to install his successor despite his unwavering effort to remain at the corridor of power through his successor. But Plateau people spoke so loud and enthroned former Governor Jonah David Jang through the ballot. Their decision paid Plateau people due to the developmental strides recorded by the popular government.
The same scenario played out in 2015 when former Governor Jonah Jang was winding up his administration despite the massive infrastructural development bequeathed by his administration. At that period, the PDP primary was contested and won by late Senator Gyang Pwajok, a competent fellow, who hails from Plateau North Senatorial District with the incumbent Senator.
Pwajok had completed a tenure of late Dr. Gyang Dantong and stepped in to contest the governorship election while Jang contested the Senatorial seat. Plateau citizens mobilized against Pwajok during the poll which paved the way for the incumbent Governor Simon Lalong.
Jang failed to install his successor but won his Senatorial election with a close margin against a woman who was very unpopular in the APC irrespective of his political footprint in the state. At that period, Plateau people tagged Governor Lalong election as “Plateau project” with the mindset of correcting the zoning formula that was about to be distorted by the then PDP government.
For many critical observers, eight years later, Plateau people regretted their decision to bring Lalong on board as governor. Their expectations were not met because the state was served with what it did not bargain for. A section of the state was disappointed in the Lalong APC administration which inflicted pains, hunger, poor economic policies and total absence of infrastructural development apart from the completion of some inherited projects from the Jang administration.
His alleged political alignments balkanised respected institutions coupled with his total silence on issues of insecurity particularly when it affected the natives among other factors compounded his situation in the last election that culminated to his defeat in the Plateau South Senatorial election.
Lalong and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase vowed during one of the APC functions in Shendam Local Government Area that nothing would hinder him from installing his successor. But he was shocked with the turnout of events at Plateau South during the February 25, 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections where he lost out.
The same magic repeated itself on Saturday March 18, 2023 where Plateau people irrespective of ethnicity, religion and political affiliation made another history. The people spoke loudly against the APC government which affected virtually all party’s candidates that stood for the election.
Lalong failed to break the Jinx to install his successor as Plateau people took ownership of the process and had the final say on who succeeded which governor in which political party despite the maneuvering by the political class in the state.
Analysts believe that some close allies of Governor Lalong contributed immensely to the betrayal of the APC government both at the Senatorial and governorship elections.
Although Lalong’s political associates and top notch APC stalwarts within and outside the state put together their experience to swing the pendulum in favour of the APC candidate but the masses who bore the brunt resisted the efforts and ensured that the right thing must be done.
Among the APC outstanding personnel who visited Jos to canvass votes for the APC, were the Vice President-Elect, Sen. Kashim Shittima. It was alleged that he arrived the state a day to the postponed March 11 governorship election and met with all respected Islamic clerics led by Sheikh Yahaya Jingir.
He was said to have directed the Muslim community to vote for APC candidate which informed the endorsement of Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda by Sheikh Yahaya Jingir. Jingir’s determination for Nentawe to win the election gave birth to false allegations against respected elders and some ethnic Nationalities which he said were behind the prevailing security travails in the state.
Shortly after Kashim’s visit, Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai allegedly flew into the state with first class political strategies that would help Lalong to deliver the APC candidate. He was said to have engaged key APC stalwarts on the imperative of having APC government in Plateau, having produced the President-elect. But the efforts were rendered impotent by Plateau people who voted and protected their votes until it was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Lafiya, Prof. Idris Amali who announced the result said Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP scored 525,299 votes to beat his closest rival, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda of the APC while the Labour Party candidate, Dr. Patrick Dakum pulled 60,320 votes to take the third position.
Mutfwang beat Nentawe with a margin of 43,939 votes.
The PDP won in 10 local government areas, leaving APC with 7, while Labour Party could not secure even a local government. Also, PDP won 15 seats for the State House of Assembly, while APC secured 8 and YPP got one.
But Mutfwang, who addressed jubilant Plateau citizens at Langfield Leisure Event Center, Jos, where they converged to celebrate his emergence reiterated the commitment of his administration to run an all inclusive government.
“A few moments ago, the election process, which began several months ago, ended with the State Returning Officer pronouncing me as the Governor elect of our blessed state. I am humbled by the confidence you have reposed in me. I want to appreciate the Almighty God for keeping me alive and healthy and for giving me this privilege to serve you for His own purpose.
“The trust you have given me is not going to be taken for granted. The enormity of the task ahead is not lost on me. Knowing that God Almighty supplies grace for every given assignment, I’m confident that we shall not come short of your expectations. I therefore humbly accept this responsibility because the time to rescue Plateau is now.
“As we begin the transition process, I want to assure all Plateau citizens that I’ll be governor of all. I intend to set up an inclusive administration with a clear vision of developing the entire state. By God’s grace we shall be fair and just in all our dealings.
“I therefore call on all of us to rise up together as a united people to confront the challenges ahead. Though the giants of insecurity, debt, mistrust etc are on our way, God will surely give us victory through unity and determination.
“May I therefore call on my brothers who flew the flags of their parties to come let us walk and work together to salvage the Plateau that we all love”, he stated.
Former Governor Jonah David Jang described the victory as a dawn of the new era and said the emergence of Mutfwang as governor-elect brought fresh breath into governance in the state.
“We must confess that Plateau is endowed with people of character, capacity, will and strength to further the cause of the state. This keenly contested election had an array of some of Plateau’s finest crop of politicians and now that the people have decided in favour of the PDP, we rejoice with the winner.
“I am aware that others who participated in the election along with their supporters have mixed feelings but as I have always maintained, Plateau first over personal and provincial pursuits. The wild jubilation which accompanied the announcement of the result of the gubernatorial elections is instructive.
“Plateau people have experienced untold hardship to come to terms with the fact of the need for a change to return home to the PDP which has had a tremendous impact on the lives of the people in the past. I admonish the winner and incoming governor to embrace everyone and bear in mind that he will now be responsible for the wellbeing of not only his party members and supporters across party divides but for everyone who is on the Plateau.”
Similarly, former Governor Joshua Dariye has also congratulated Mutfwang and said the election was not all about him but about Plateau heritage. Dariye pledged to bring into bear his wealth of experience in moving the state to greater heights.
Labour Party candidate, Patrick Dakum congratulated Mutfwang before the declaration of the results. Dakum who made a recorded phone call said Plateau is greater than individual interest.
But the APC counterpart, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the poll despite the support of the state and federal might. He claimed he was rigged at the poll and have resolved to approach the election tribunal.