In light of the current challenges facing Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has described the period from 2015 to 2023 as a “season of the locusts.”
He stated that this period was marked by a significant decline in the nation’s dignity, with Nigeria transitioning from being the largest economy in Africa to becoming the poverty capital of the world.
Mutfwang made these remarks during a statewide broadcast in Jos, the state capital, on Tuesday.
He said, “My beloved citizens of Plateau, particularly our amiable youth, I am grateful for this opportunity to express my sincere and profound gratitude to all of you for your understanding and dignified conduct over the last few days during the ongoing national protest tagged #EndBadGovernance.
“I have never been prouder of the privilege of being your leader. Since the commencement of your constitutionally guaranteed right to protest, you have demonstrated, to the admiration of other Nigerians and even the international community, that the glorious days of the beautiful and peaceful Plateau are back!
“No one should be surprised because I am fully persuaded that the years of strife were imposed upon us by those who fear our unity of purpose. These painful years of distress and poverty do not reflect who we truly are as a peace-loving and accommodating people.
“I am more grateful that the message we have been preaching about acceptance and mutual respect towards one another has resonated! As I have often quoted the great advocate of peace, the legendary Martin Luther King Jr., ‘We either live together as brothers or we perish as fools.’
“I am glad we have chosen to live as brothers because that is who we are, irrespective of our diversity. This is our moment and opportunity to chart a new course for ourselves as we confront the common enemy of poverty, the root of our collective anger. As you know, I come from very humble beginnings and have no arrogant credentials to be your Governor,” he maintained.
According to him, “I know God’s grace and mercy have given me this privileged opportunity to serve you, so I understand your pains and frustrations. From the moment you entrusted us with the responsibility of lifting our state out of poverty, we knew it would not be easy. While we have taken measures to create a peaceful and prosperous Plateau, we must admit there is still much work to be done.
“Our efforts in public transportation, investments in agriculture—including training 20 youths per local government in modern agribusiness—improvements in the health and education sectors, and more, have all been geared towards laying the foundation for poverty alleviation.
“You will also recall that we distributed over 200 trucks of fertilizer and other palliatives in conjunction with the federal government. We are hopeful that this will result in a bumper harvest this season, contributing significantly to food security.
“Furthermore, we have begun the empowerment of several Plateau State citizens with a token of N50,000 through the Plateau State Microfinance Development Agency (PLASMIDA), aimed at supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This initiative is designed to improve the quality of life for MSMEs in the state by providing business development support to those in need. I assure you that we will sustain and build on this intervention,” he explained.
“However, rest assured that our determination to change our story has never wavered. We have committed ourselves to God and will not rest until we see light at the end of the tunnel,” Mutfwang assured.
“I am passionate about ensuring that no one living on the Plateau goes to bed hungry, no child is condemned to illiteracy because their parents cannot afford school fees, and no one dies prematurely due to unaffordable medical bills!
“For these reasons, we have invested in technology to address the orchestrated distractions of insecurity, banditry, and insurgency—distractions that have significantly exacerbated our major enemy: poverty,” he further explained.
Mutfwang continued, “As we continue our fight against poverty and its consequences, we cannot deceive ourselves into thinking there are quick fixes.
“We cannot deny that the period between 2015 and 2023 was indeed the ‘season of the locusts,’ years in which we were stripped of our dignity as a nation, transitioning from the largest economy in Africa to the poverty capital of the world!
“Even at the state level, we inherited a distressing situation, with about 400 billion Naira in debt and no tangible evidence of progress in any sector.”
He added, “We are fully aware that you did not elect us to complain or pass the buck. In the past year, despite the unnecessary obstacles we have faced, we have utilized every opportunity—both locally and internationally—to seek wisdom and partnerships to build a Plateau economy based on the rule of law, equity, justice, and inclusion.
“We are confident that our agricultural investments will soon yield the desired results and lay the foundation for the Plateau economy we envision. That is why we continue to appeal for patience and understanding.”
“While focusing on intermediate and long-term strategies, we recognize that families are enduring difficult times. That is why, in conjunction with the Federal Government and Local Governments, we have made efforts to alleviate suffering by administering some palliatives.
“We will continue to seek more effective ways to procure and distribute these palliatives to the most vulnerable groups, regardless of political affiliation or involvement. I promise to do all in my power to alleviate your suffering and improve life for all citizens.
“I assure you that I have heard you clearly, and we are in this together. I therefore appeal for a temporary pause on protests so we can engage in dialogue with your leaders to enhance our plans for poverty alleviation, as we do not possess a monopoly on wisdom. Once the protests are over, we will meet with youth leaders across the state for further discussions,” he assured.
“My dear brothers and sisters, the longer we continue with the protests, the greater the likelihood of them being hijacked by sponsored criminals and hoodlums, as we began to notice from Sunday evening,” the governor appealed.
“Based on the intelligence at our disposal, we know the lawful protests have been infiltrated by criminals seeking opportunities to loot shops, attack, and rob innocent citizens of their hard-earned belongings.
“We even saw the display of foreign flags by some of these criminally minded intruders. As a responsible government, we had to take proactive steps to prevent further acts of criminality, including imposing a 24-hour curfew on the Jos-Bukuru metropolis starting from Sunday midnight.
“The resistance by hoodlums in some parts of Jos North from Monday morning until late afternoon proves that our decision to impose the curfew was justified.
“Credible sources have revealed that, due to the peace currently enjoyed in Plateau, merchants of violence invited hoodlums from neighboring states to disrupt the peace in Jos.
Mutfwang expressed appreciation to traditional, community, and religious leaders, as well as civil society organizations, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to address the justifiable anger and frustrations of the protesters.
“We urge you not to rest on your laurels until normalcy is restored so we can take further positive steps. I also extend my gratitude to those observing the curfew and assure you that it will be reviewed as soon as the security situation permits.
“I would also like to thank the security agencies for their dedication, professionalism, and emotional intelligence in handling the situation.
“Our administration will not tolerate actions that disrupt our peace and security. I urge all individuals and groups planning to cause unrest to reconsider their actions. The security agencies are on high alert to address any such threats decisively,” he warned.
“To all Plateau citizens, I appeal for continued patience, peace, and lawfulness while the government addresses your concerns. Let us remain united in our efforts to build a prosperous and secure state,” the governor added.
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