It’s been aptly said that political journeys are not marathons, but ‎relays. As such, no public office holder is constitutionally guaranteed to stay permanently in office. Every office holder would have to at some point, pass the baton of leadership to another at the expiration of his/her tenure.

In view of the fast approaching 2015 general elections, many interests are sprouting like mushrooms and people are becoming politically inclined by holding clandestine meeting, galvanising support from the electorate, developing action plans and in some cases, staging public campaign events. At these times, most of the thoughts, actions and inactions of people are almost certainly motivated by the politics of 2015.

It’s been aptly said that political journeys are not marathons, but ‎relays. As such, no public office holder is constitutionally guaranteed to stay permanently in office. Every office holder would have to at some point, pass the baton of leadership to another at the expiration of his/her tenure.

In view of the fast approaching 2015 general elections, many interests are sprouting like mushrooms and people are becoming politically inclined by holding clandestine meeting, galvanising support from the electorate, developing action plans and in some cases, staging public campaign events. At these times, most of the thoughts, actions and inactions of people are almost certainly motivated by the politics of 2015.

Going down memory lane, it would be recalled that the late Chief Solomon Lar held sway as the first civilian governor of Plateau state and then was succeeded by a military junta. Amb. Fidelis Tapgun followed on and did the exact thing, by passing on the mantle. Joshua Dariye again held sway and was democratically succeeded by Dr. Jonah Jang, the incumbent. By and large it can be said that, it is a “sine qua non” for Baba Jang after 8 years to be succeeded by someone who meets the requirements of being Governor under the Constitution of Nigeria.

In Plateau state, the proliferation of gubernatorial candidates to succeed the incumbent has made the race dicey, hot and interesting. For now, almost 20 persons are eyeing the governorship seat under different political platforms, but of course after the respective party primaries, the large numbers would be whittled down to one flagbearer.

Prof. Sambo Wapmuk (the immediate past Director-general of the Industrial Training Fund) has not left anybody in doubt about his intention to succeed Gov. Jang. His campaign posters, billboards and souvenirs are a clear testimony of his readiness and willingness to serve as the number one citizen of Plateau state. Plateau people are looking around and anxiously waiting to see who the pendulum would swing towards. Could it be Prof. Longmas Wapmuk? He rose from a humble background to his current admirable position. He started his career as Accounts clerk at the Electricity Cooperation of Nigeria from Nov. 1966 to Sept 1869. Afterwards, he served as Assistant registrar of Cooperative Society and then went on to be the Senior Assistant Secretary in the office of Executive Governor Jos, Plateau from 15th April 1980 to 14th November 1982. Subsequent to that and as a result of his hard work and dedication to service, he was appointed the Director-General and Chief Executive officer of the Industrial Training Fund from 28th Aug 2006 to 19th May 2014.

As a visionary and an admirable achiever in the course of his career, he was able to achieve the setting up of the Jos Study Centre of the National Open University (NOUN) and also facilitated more than one million people to acquire employable skills through various training programmes, particularly the National Industrial skills development programme (NISDP).

According to Jack Canfield a U.S based author, “there is an enduring axiom of success that says the universe rewards action. Equally, the world doesn’t pay us for what we know. It pays us for what we do. “Prof. Longmas Wapmuk has worked rather diligently, all his life and has taken many decisions and actions that have had direct bearing on the Nigerian society. One of his stella moments was when in recognition to his achievements, was conferred with the prestigious National Merit Award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008.

Again, on Oct. 2011, he was recognised the public administrator of the year by the Centre for Policy Development and Political Studies. He was also awarded with the Global peace diplomat award by Women for Peace International at the WOPIC conference in Kenya among other.

Prof. Wapmuk remains a committed family man, academic and community mobiliser. He has built quite an admirable following on the Plateau (especially in the Southern Senatorial zone) and has left an enduring legacy in his area of service. If he plays his cards well, he may well succeed the incumbent in 2015.

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2015: PROF. SAMBO WAPMUK SUCEEDS JANG? – By Satmak Dapar