06 Jul 2009 |
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Re: Who Are The Heroes Of Plateau?
Yakubu Dati
The elliptical conclusion drawn by Chris Gyang, the Special Assistant to Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State in the piece with the above title first published in the Daily Trust of June 24 2009, and subsequently in other papers is surely a pointer to the mindset of his boss in governing Plateau since May 29 2007 which has resulted in Plateau unfortunately becoming a pariah state.
To him the whole of Plateau is always wrong once the views of others do not tally with that of his boss.
Of concern to Gyang is the fanfare that accompanies former Governor Dariye at both secular and religious events. Jang probably has forgotten that politics is all about people and therefore where majority of people throng to a person, it’s a clear demonstration of who inspires the people and understands democracy.
Its time for Gyang and his hackers to accept this fact rather than try to play the ostrich. The apparent democratic deficiency of Jang is why Gyang is unashamedly pleading with the people to give him more time to perform.
One wonders how Fashola who had never been “military” Governor like Jang and now making a success of governing a bigger and complex state like Lagos and the “experienced” Jang is pleading for time and wanting to be schooled by Fashola. Gyang needs to do a rethink.
Fashola’s heroic feats is not rooted in pulling down the legacies of Tinubu but embedded in the time tested principle of building from where his predecessor stopped. Governance is a continuum.
Until Jang embraces this cardinal truth, his feeble attempt at leadership will at best remain colourless and uninspiring.
But to prove their point they must recycle the oft repeated but expired claims to paint the former governor in bad light of conviction and corruption.
Again this reminds one of the lack of appreciation of the tenets of democracy and principle of the rule of law which the present administration has made its mantra. For the information of Gyang and his “oga”, Dariye’s case is still pending in the courts and no matter how Jang feels about it, he is still innocent.
As for the comment about Dariye’s return to Nigeria after the state of emergency on the Plateau, it is only Jang and his cohorts that still nurse the ‘pain’ of Dariye’s return to the country even when the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled as illegal the entire charade called Emergency Rule.
The worn out phrase that “Dariye run down the state” is laughable when analysed with present day realities. The administration of Jonah Jang received over 32 billion naira from federation account alone in its 1st year in office, a figure higher than what Dariye received in his first term of 4 years, but he has not been able to commission a single project!
When President Yaradua launched his 7-point agenda, Jang reacted with a 10-pointer, as if in competition. Today, using his criteria for assessing his administration, the 1st point on his agenda – Peace and Security is a dismal failure. Jos the Plateau State capital has been under an excruciating dusk to dawn curfew for the past 7 months with no hope of possible solutions from Du.
Not even in the Niger Delta has there been such endless curfew. Here Gyang could include Governor Amaechi of Rivers on their list of Mentors so they get lectures on Tips to maintain Peace and Security. Rather than seek genuine reconciliation with God and his fellow man, the occupiers of Government House Du would rather cover up these failures by antagonising almost everybody in the country.
He is at war with The Presidency, The Senate and The House of Representatives. He is at war with 22 Permanent Secretaries whom he arbitrary retired, all Local Government Directors of Personnel and Heads of Administration, Directors of Finance etc who suffered the same fate.
He is at war with former Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Local Government Chairmen and their councillors whom he has refused to pay their entitlements.
He is at war with his own party, the PDP, and others who dared to contest with him. Wars based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.
The question is if Dariye had adopted this kind of belligerence to critics of his government, where would Plateau have been today?
The most mischievous aspect of the piece by Gyang is when he tries to underplay the charge that Jang does not carry everybody along by trying to link it with corruption.
But despite the spin, the people of plateau are aware that apart from a certain ethnic group, no other is favoured into any key or sensitive position in the state.
Even within that ethnic group his Du kinsmen operate as demi gods. While alluding to the fact that he is wont to favour his kinsmen in appointments, placing them in key strategic financial positions takes the issues beyond tribalism. It smacks of corruption. In the Finance Ministry for instance, The Permanent Secretary and Chief Accounting Officer, The Accountant General, The Director of Treasury, The Director of budget and even the Cashier are all his tribesmen.
What about the known fact that, like the sons of Eli, his children are now the “Due process Office” for contractors. It will be interesting for Gyang to figure out what happens to the upfront interest accruing from LGA excess crude funds deposited in the banks.
It may also be heroism in the eyes of Gyang to have a Governor abandon his official residence and remain in his personal house and undertake substantial infrastructural upgrade befitting of a government house with the speed of light.
We are told its his personal funds. Hmnn... The juxtaposing of govt house infrastructures on the personal home of Jang should be a good case study in heroism. The picture of the house before-and-after is a comic relief for another day.
Now that the clay foot of Jang is being exposed, Gyang should rescue his boss from ending up the way of all petty dictators, in the dustbin of history.
Jang should read the handover notes of Dariye, build on the achievements of all past Plateau Governements and give honor to whom honor is due. The local market woman, the local farmer, the civil servant are all heroes and so also are leaders like General Gowon, JD Gomwalk, Chief Solomon Lar, Sir Fidellis Tapgun, Senator VK Dangin, Amb Yahaya Kwande, Ngo Elizabeth Pam, Hannatu Chollom, S.B Atukum, Generals Domkat Bali, Shagaya, J. T Husseini, Late D.B. Zang, Alh Yakubu Husseini and Hosts of Clergy amongst others. Men and Women noted for feats of courage and nobility of purpose, even at great risk to their lives.
“He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones”. Like the Shakespearian tragic-comedy, an end of hubris is imminent. It is time for Gyang to realize this and so advice his Principal that he is dancing naked in front of the market square.
Yakubu Dati is the former Commisioner for Information, Plateau State
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