As a progressive, this piece is written out of sheer concern and never intended at massaging the ego of any interest, individual or group.
It is no longer news that the social media has been agog with reactions from both sides of the divide as a result of the interview granted by Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Member Representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.
During the interview, Gagdi made certain statements that to a large extend, were quite embarrassing to the state government, thereby, putting it in bad light in the eyes of the country and the World at large. One amongst the statements was that the federal government’s presence in Plateau State is more than the state government’s presence itself across the state. He percentage it to an 80% Federal presence and a paltry 20 percent state government’s presence.
The interpretation of this statement therefore, means that Governor Mutfwang, according to Gagdi has done little or nothing for the state since assumption of office, thereby, only relying on the 80 percent glory of President Tinubu’s presence in the state.
Before going further, let me state in unequivocal terms that for whatever reason (s), even if the claim is true, Gagdi as an enlightened legislature is expected to have known that such statements or claims shouldn’t be made on a national television with just the singular aim of demarketing the state all in the name of politics.
Without a doubt, politics and sentiments aside, in terms of performance, Gagdi is one of most performing members we have on the Plateau (even with all the unfinished and unfulfilled projects/promises).
By his position, one would expect Hon. Gagdi to rally round the Governor to support him to provide a unified dividends of democracy to the people of Plateau State than just going to the media to grant demeaning interviews.
By now, with all of Hon. Gagdi’s experience in politics and leadership, I expect him to know that exercising restraint on certain issues without necessarily wanting to proof or score a political point is wisdom and it is profitable to direct.
The state government on its part, after Gagdi’s interview, became so restless and tried to use every medium to reply/get at Hon. Gagdi, thereby making it looked like a battle between an individual and the entire government. As smart as Gagdi is, I know that to a large extend, government’s reaction (s) to the claims he made has/have satisfied his intentions as to why he granted such interview.
Ordinarily, one would expect that an entire state government will not stoop so low to banter words or try to compete with an individual but sadly, the reverse is the case.
Government’s reactions to the claims which included media response, trying to get back at Hon. Gagdi with some of his unfulfilled promises and even visiting some of the sites are, without a doubt, disgraceful and embarrassing to our system. Through these actions taken by the state government, it has made the government look like it is now competing with Hon. Gagdi and not working hard to provide dividends of democraticy to the people who elected them.
Of course, anyone who is from Plateau does not need a soothsayer to prove to him/her that various projects are ongoing in several local governments including my own Jiblik road, in Pankshin LGA. Therefore, stooping so low to compete with a house of Representatives Member is to say the least, very unnecessary. I had expected the government to simply reply Hon. Gagdi with silence of words or just real out the projects it has completed or embarked upon since assumption of office.
The argument has metamorphosed into an unnecessary comparison between Hon. Yusuf Gagdi and Hon. Bagos who also appeared on the national television where he called on Hon. Gagdi to apologize to Plateau people for the claims he made.
In truth, we have been more divided on the Plateau because of politics and I think it is time for us to go back to the drawing board to discuss in sincerity, what our issues are with the aim of proffering solutions. Our political class have succeeded on many occasions, in washing their dirty linens and that of the state outside and I think it is time to STOP!
They (Political class) must realize that there’s every need for them to rally round each other after elections to ensure that they work in synergy for the development of our state and people.
Conclusive, Hon. Gagdi is performing well and all that he needs is to learn to exercise restraints on what to say, where to say it and when to say it. The Government on its part must know that it is a government and must not be seen stooping so low to compete or reply to an individual.
On the overall, both the claims by Hon. Gagdi and the response by the Government are unnecessary and have only succeeded in overheating our polity and projecting the state in bad light before the World!
Caution must be taken going forward!
~Yours in struggle
~Amb. Kumwen Walshak Musa
~13th February, 2027
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