February 01, (THEWILL) — From mobilisation to multiple engagements, committee and sub-committees, to the cream of Nigeria’s political elite that found time to grace the occasion, it was clear that a big catch was in the net and the All Progressives Congress, APC, had never had it so good. During the preface to the event proper the masters of ceremony captured the occasion in compound epithets, such as ground-breaking’, ‘ ‘epoch-making’, etc.
Eventually, at about 2.30 pm when the dramatis personae made their entry, it was improbable that the ground was breaking from soldier-like foot falls; and the epoch went beyond mere making to eclipsing the environment and the environs.
Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State welcomed the political development and the event mostly in terms of its huge potential for unity and peace in the North Central geo-political zone, which has been trouble-ridden in recent times.
In his welcome remarks, Governor Sule, obviously elated, celebrated the event as the dawn of political uniformity in the region, describing the event as a template not only for enduring peace and unity but also a socio-political renewal for economic transformation and prosperity of the people and groups of the Middle Belt.
House of Reps Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas said Mutfwang’s decision to align with his brothers and friends in the APC was a great move not only for its political correctness, but because of the superior prospect that it assuages socio-political differences in Plateau State and will go a long way to reconcile age-long differences and reduce the recurrence of crises and sectarian violence.
Reflecting on the recurrent crises and the several peace initiatives, efforts and policies to entrench harmony and enduring peace in Plateau State, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, waxed spiritual and came on prayerfully as he hummed hymns, urging the Almighty to use the event of Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s political realignment to end the infamy and notoriety that have plagued the beauty of Plateau history in recent times; and open a new chapter cast with the beacons of peace and unity, and the pillars of prosperity and growth for a flourishing people working in harmony for their own fulfilment and self-actualisation. However, because God’s blessings and response to prayers can only meet the faithful in the work place, Senator Akpabio urged Governor Mutfwang, in the interest of the realignment and the spirit of a new Plateau to be magnanimous and all-loving so that no man will feel oppressed or left out.
In his remarks on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, used his own case and situation in his home Borno State to illustrate what will ensure peace and resolve conflict of interests as he announced, for the umpteenth time, that in Borno State Governor Umar Zullum is the party leader, despite his own higher political office as vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Accordingly, he saluted and commended the conduct and presence of mind of Senator Simon Lalong who immediately conceded the position of APC leader in Plateau State to the governor upon his registration as card carrying member of the APC.
Pointing to the historical and illustrious exploits of Plateau people in the affairs of Nigeria, Shettima noted that the people of Plateau and Plateau State still have a lot to offer to the emerging Nigeria and the strides of the Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration. Emphasising the imperatives of peace and unity, enabled by the realignment political philosophy which Governor Mutfwang is set to enthrone and catalyse as the emergent paradigm for Plateau politico-economic relations, he noted that there is a lot of hope and great expectations of a new era of zero crises and harmonious social intercourse.
What Governor Mutfwang must do, according to VP Shettima, is to embrace all and forsake none. The pragmatic approach to this, he said, is for Governor Mutfwang to immediately commence a process of reconciliation of the various interest groups within the party laying claim to one issue or the other, pointing out that party cohesion is indexical to electoral performance and good governance. Shettima similarly called on older members and stakeholders to demonstrate fair play and sense of accommodation by offering the cooperation vital for the consolidation of the realignment political philosophy and social paradigm.
In the twilight of the event, the ghost of perceived conflict of interest was laid to rest during the APC national chairman’s remarks preceding the presentation of the official flag and other party insignia to the bride of the day. It was the first time Professor Nentawe Yilwatda will assure the people of Plateau and an international audience that Governor Caleb Mutwang is the unmistakable character for the State number one job come 2027.
According to the APC national chairman, Plateau State Governor is welcome to the APC, and by the spirit, attendance, and letters of the occasion, well received. He noted also that the ensuing challenge and assignment is to cooperate, collaborate, and align with the governor in the task to provide good governance and quality leadership that will evince the contextual value of the details of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
More importantly, according to Yilwatda, this political realignment orchestrated by Governor Mutfwang will birth lots of positives and prolific ideals. Inestimable among the great things to follow are peace and unity. Yilwatda believes this new realignment of political forces, and the douse of tension borne by the successful launch and reception of the realignment philosophy at the Polo Field ground in Jos will impact positively on socio-economic relations among the people of the state with no less laudable implications on how the people perceive and tolerate one another. To rest any possibility for political tensions to begin to build, it was worthy statesmanship that the APC national chairman endorsed and declared unalloyed support for Governor Mutfwang to continue his political leadership of the State come 2027. To this, observers have also added that Mutfwang’s Broom will sweep clean.
For the bride and celebrant of the day, Caleb Mutfwang, this was the inevitable outcome of a necessity that came to bear: hence a realignment. For him this was a significant development to the extent it was for the greater good of Plateau State and in the overriding interest of Plateau people and preservation of the Plateau Project.
To continue to focus on development and industrialization policies and programmes of his administration, Governor Mutfwang remarked that the synergies brought about by this realignment could not have come at a better time. This development, he said, is a saver of political energy which was hitherto dissipated on speculative criticisms, hateful rumour mongering, and wild goose chasing that bore no good for the State and its good people.
Realignment, he said, is not a situational or contextual war song, but a political and leadership philosophy that embodies collectivism and inclusiveness, fair play, justice, welfare, and the actualization of the greater Plateau bonded in harmony, peace, brotherhood, and togetherness. And in the immediate, he said, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 project in Plateau State is a fait accompli.
