GOVERNOR LALONG'S EMERGENCE: MY TAKE!

GOVERNOR LALONG'S EMERGENCE: MY TAKE!
                               By:                                                                        
                Nurudeen Dauda
                   May 19, 2019
nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com.
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Your Excellency, Governor Simon Bako Lalong, a peace -maker on the Plateau is the new chairman Northern Governors' Forum ,NGF. In my view, his emergence is a well-thoughtout decision . In my observation, Lalong's leadership style on the Plateau has departed from the previous exclusionist style of leadership on the Plateau.

Ethno-religious and farmers -herders clashes are apart of the major challenges of the North which have been threatening its unity.These two issues are the issues affecting Plateau State for quite sometime. So, any leader capable of managing these issues will make a good leader in the North. In my judgement he has not done bad so far in managing these issues. He has shown a lot of tact in handling the issues against all odds.

However, the recent killings of over 300 hundreds cows in Miango district of Bassa local government area is a very ugly development that needed to be handled with justice for lasting peace. The governor must do all he could in order to manage the situation. 

The North needs a rallying point as its leader. Someone who will carry everybody along. Governor Lalong needs to be supported by all. Governor Lalong has not only recognized the Jasawa community, but has also raised the status of some kingdoms of other indigenous ethnic groups on the Plateau. These have given a lot of communities sense of belonging. 

In my observation, in view of our fragmented unity in the North, electing someone outside the Muslim -Hausa-Fulani-Kanuri cycles will go along way in bring the region back to its once enviable past of unity. Northern region was the envy of all regions in the first Republic in terms of unity despites its ethno-religious diversities. 

However, Governor Lalong will assume the leadership of a North ravage by Kidnappings, armed banditry, Farmers -Herders clashes, cattle rustling, Insurgency, streets begging , poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. So, the task ahead is big! All hands must be on deck towards supporting him! 

It is important to note that, had the Almighty God wanted, he would have made all of us in the North Muslims or Christians or Hausas or Tivs or Beroms or Fulanis. In His wisdom we are not. We must not be all Muslims or Christians to leave in peace. We must not be all Hausas or Tivs or Beroms before we leave in peace with one another . After all, India is the most ethno-religious country in the world yet it is relatively peaceful. 

In my understanding, our problem is not our religion or ethnic group, but the political, ethnic, and religious entrepreneurs among us who use the said factors in dividing us for their selfish gains. All Northerners, political leaders , religious leaders, traditional rulers, and the  business moguls must collaborate with the new leadership of NGF in finding a lasting solution of our various problems.

I have confidence on Governor Lalong in view of his style of governance on the Plateau. I must praise his leadership style which understood that peace on the Plateau is a MUST not an “option” or an “alternative”. His government’s due recognition of the “Jasawa Community” which has suffered a lot from the previous state "exclusionist policy" is a wise state policy.The state has witnessed a relative calm under his watch.

Everyone knows that the Indigenes-Settlers Dichotomy was at least made popular on the Plateau. Too many ethno-relious crises have severely affected the state's economy before his coming. As a student of Political economy I know too well that you must stabilize the economy before stabilizing the polity. The economy of the state suffers a lot due to the Ethno-Religious clashes in the state.

The “Jasawa community” which has a history of being on the Plateau for over 100 years. Has gotten some recognition under him. The Governor has awarded three contracts worth N5 billion for the construction of roads in Jos for communities that were neglected for over 20 years by previous governments.
 
The communities include Anguwan Rogo, Tudun Wada, Tina, Dutse uku and Chanyap all in Jos north local government area of the state. The government awarded a contract of N1.5 billion to Letokem Nig Ltd for the construction of Anguwan Rogo to Ali Kazaure while N1.8 billion was awarded to Jolex Nig. Ltd for the construction of Tudun Wada to Mado village and China’s Chinazhonghao was awarded N1.7 billion contract for the construction of roads around Dutse uku, Chanyap, Tina and others. We hope these projects will be completed. 

Apart from awarding contracts to the neglected areas the Governor has also in included a number of the “Jasawa Community” into his Government including the appointment of late Alhaji Yusuf Gambo Hawaja as his Deputy Chief of Staff in 2015. 

Accept my best wishes sir. May God bring lasting peace on the Plateau, North and Nigeria as a whole.

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