By Ibrahim Ishaku
With the swearing in of Nentawe Yilwatda as a Minister of the Federal Republic, it is unarguably a win-win situation for Plateau State and its people.
The State’s two gubernatorial candidates with the highest number of votes in the same election in 2023 have got an uncommon opportunity to partner as lead agents in the quest for development.
It is a sweet and delightful end of a stormy start that emitted tensions and pitched stakeholders and stake holding bitterly opposed to each other. It is also an end that interestingly begins another chapter: a development thesis in which a unique partnership of the duo promises to transform and multiply the fortunes of the State and launch it into the actualisation of its development dreams and aspirations.
It is regrettable, as it was widely reported, that the appointment of Mr. Yilwatda as Minister and assigned the Ministry for humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction was not only well received by the people, but was celebrated along partisan lines by a political flock who imbued, or attempted to colour the assignment of Mr Yilwatda as President Tinubu’s investment in the prospect of APC takeover of political control of the State come 2027.
The emotion and misguided rhetoric of this lot is that of reducing the national assignment of Yilwatda to a chauvinistic Plateau State affair, with the Minister using his portfolio as a blank cheque to underwrite the cost of resuming and sustaining political hostilities; and refurbishing exhausted and perspiring foot soldiers mongering and speculating from the fringes.
Granting this expectation is counter-productive to the extent that it negates and foregrounds all prospects of prolific leadership, constructive engagement, promotion of collectivism, inter-ethnic cooperation and cross cultural collaboration vital to forge and sustain unity in diversity. Like the Israelites and their tortuous journey, the way forward for the Plateau is certainly not in going back to Egypt!
Recent history is evidential and provides sober advisory for Plateau, particularly those perching on the embers of ‘opposition’ to brim heavy weather where there is no storm. It will be recalled that Plateau people made that mistake between 1999 and 2007 when Joshua Dariye was Governor of the State. Personality issues festered by unbridled political ambition fomented frosty relations between Joshua Dariye as Governor, and Damishi Sango who was President Obasanjo’s Minister of Sports.
Matters degenerated from an embarrassing faceoff between the two at Mairana in Mangu on April 30, 2000, to a sustained campaign of calumny against the Sports Minister in the mass media which misrepresented his leadership ability, cast him as a misfit, and discredited him until he was sacked for ‘poor performance’, and pre-emptively replaced by Dariye’s Manfriday, Ishaya Mark Aku.
This was the beginning of a cacophony of intrigues and the rage of subterranean forces that seized Dariye’s government and held it perpetually in distraction and instability, while Plateau’s quest for development was the prized casualty. Plateau cannot afford to walk the same road again!
Nentawe’s preoccupation – which should also be the concern of well-meaning people around him, is consider his position as Minister not as mere political appointment shaped and made possible by political association and affinity, but as a national assignment to serve the entire country in truth, honesty, dedication, and integrity that will mark out Plateau as a destination of national heroes and home of statesmen.
He needs the understanding and prompt attention of the President as well as the cooperation of Governor Mutfwang to deliver on the onerous and solemn charges of humanity and poverty that are the main charge of his Ministry. At a time hunger and poverty have plunged the average Nigerian to the nadir of hope, the expectations of Nigerians are high and urgent, and the ingenuity, not politics and politicking, are on call to turn around the situation.
It is good for the people of Plateau that Governor Mutfwang is not only a humble man, he maintains a robust and healthy relationship with Mr President irrespective of Party leaning; and this, the new Minister can explore and take advantage of for a smooth take off.
It is a huge opportunity for the two sons of Plateau to distinguish themselves through effective combination and synergy to impact positively on the humanitarian crisis and the poverty of the citizens. Luckily, earlier in the year, Governor Mutfwang exhibited transparency and demonstrated faith and the fear of God in responding to the humanitarian crisis generated by the Christmas Eve invasion and massacre in parts of the State by ensuring that relief materials got to the victims and affected communities without recourse to tribe, religion, or political party. The same structure and methodology was applied in administering the five hundred million naira intervention by the wife of the President and First Lady, Remi Tinubu.
Yet, the State still arranged and disbursed its own intervention packages to contend the refugee and humanitarian crises that confronted the State since the Mutfwang administration came into being in the State. These items were branded typically, to separate their identity from items received from the federal government or any other group or donor agency.
The records are well kept for transparency, proper accounting, and referencing. The State intervention is continuous; and a dutiful partnership between the State and the federal government with Nentawe as Minister will truly and greatly alleviate the peculiar humanitarian pangs the State has been grappling with.
Thus, the appointment and swearing in of Nentawe Yilwatda as the Minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction should mark, and enthrone an era and consolidation of human dignity through humanitarian uplift and elimination of poverty rather than the retrogressive politics of distraction and incendiary engagements that will deconstruct cooperation and keep development at bay.
For the greater good of Plateau people, the new minister must appreciate that he is an officer of the federal republic; and his mandate is to use his character and savvy to service the nation and upgrade its potentials. Thus, he should frown at, and shun those who celebrate his appointment and posting as a declaration of war against the constituted authority in the State.
The most important thing for all good-spirited leaders of Plateau are the happiness, security, contentment, and dignity of Plateau people. Nentawe was appointed to work against poverty, for Nigeria and humanity. Not even Mr President has set 2027 as an objective for him. He has got to prove his mettle in public administration and good governance.
* Ibrahim Ishaku is a Plateau indigene resident in Lagos