For the members of the Peoples Democratic Party, citizens of Plateau State, the journey on the tortuous road from March 18, 2023 can only be imagined. However, following the development, it can be safely concluded that the hand of God was certainly available in turning the tide around for good; not minding how long it took to come into effect.
After some eight months of inordinately intractable litigation battle, the toll of it was certainly felt everywhere in the state; particularly in the division that was palpable in its wake. Plateau State, like never before must have been more divided during this period, no thanks to the outcome of the verdict from the Tribunal, Court of Appeal to indeed the Supreme Court. It remains, in many respects, and if it had subsisted; one of the greatest assaults on the nation’s democracy.
The fact that the parties aggressively followed their cases to their logical conclusion at the Supreme Court gave the indication that Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang and his lawyers were in every sense determined to coast to victory despite the technicalities that had inhibited its dancing songs put together for celebration at the Court of Appeal.
That setback, by all intent and purposes did not deter the lawyers of the camp of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang nor his party; the line was open for the fight to a finish at the Supreme Court. The ruling of the Supreme Court put paid to the wrangling that had emanated from the verdict he got from the Court of Appeal, that pre-election matters do not have a place at the election tribunal.
It was an official stamp that reversed the verdict of the Court of Appeal in the governor’s case and brought back the hope of the people of Plateau State, particularly of those who were almost giving up on an arm that is said to be the last hope of the common man.
The return of the governor to the state after his victory at the Supreme Court was anything but massive and symptomatic of a people celebrating. No wonder, the apparent conviviality of the celebration was even more elaborate on Saturday, January 13, 2024; where starting at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang, and ‘protocol and order’ were broken as supporters had to almost enter the runway to welcome the governor back home after his conquest at the Supreme Court, Abuja.
In the history of the state, no state governor had received such large number of friends and supporters, who have come from all over the 17 local government areas to be part of the Governor’s ‘triumphant entry’ into Jos from Abuja. He managed to say just a few words before his security men whisked him away into his vehicle.
Those who didn’t believe in the case the governor was pursuing thought his political star would wane soon, but from all intent and purposes, he is the comeback kid we have always known and admired. Since he would not give up on his case but pursue it to the Apex Court of the land. He did many things that ordinarily would have sent any leader in his shoes wondering whether to go ahead or hang around, until the case was dispensed of.
He chose to be the people’s hero: Be the workaholic governor by setting up construction sites all over the state. Having met most roads in some parts of the metropolis in a total state of disrepair, he initiated action to take those head on by fixing them almost at the same time. By that singular action, his name would for long remain on the lips of the people of the state; who have always identified with the government that works for them.
It is obvious he wants to build a durable Plateau; no wonder a few days after the victory, the governor mobilized several construction companies to some of the most important projects which were started by former Governor Jonah David Jang but abandoned by Governor Simon Bako Lalong government in 2015.
For starters, he became governor during one of the toughest times in the history of the state. Muscled from all sides by a determined opposition to wrest power from and the genocidal attacks which became more pronounced in his local government of birth, Mangu would have slowed his resolve to be the leader the state needed.
More than any governor in the history of the state, he showed determination by sharing in the misfortunes of his people and became their constant companion in the villages and shelter camps in Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos. But determined more than ever before, he became a constant visitor to all who mattered and could help bring peace to the beleaguered state; even as the clergy and congregations were always on their knees for God’s intervention in the Plateau attacks.
No one could fault him in this regard, so long as it was established that help indeed came. Yet, it was also established that the form of the attacks if not approached decisively given its nature and colour would obliterate Plateau communities from the map of the state, and by extension, Nigeria. He had read the signs from what took place in the past, and had rightly defined it as genocide against the people of Plateau State.
No doubt, the battle has been won; there is a lot of catching up to do by the Governor Caleb Mutfwang government. The opportunities for development are not lost to him, he has to, as he has been doing; ‘putting behind the obvious animosity of the past eight months, embrace all citizens across the divides of faith and ethnicity; and carry on with the incredible developmental projects he was able to initiate (some of which have been completed) even under the great stress and tension he had to operate’.
– Bere is the Director, Press and Public Affairs to Governor Mutfwang
