Declaration Speech by General Jon Temlong (Rtd), Gubernatorial Candidate Action Democratic Party (ADP)

10th December, 2018

Putting Plateau First: Towards Security and Sustainable Peace, Good Governance and Development Through an ADP Citizen Centred Government.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Providence has beckoned on me at this critical moment in our history. Many would certainly ask why I am coming out now to join the gubernatorial race for Plateau State. Let me without much ado, clear the climate of doubt surrounding my interest to contest for the governorship of our dear state. Mine is a divine project aimed at salvaging our state that has been drifting for long. The convoluted security environment in Plateau state is a common knowledge to all keen observers and patriots.

The well-known security situation characterised by persistent unrest and deadly asymmetric conflicts in Plateau state calls for urgent and decisive intervention. As you are well aware, Plateau State is crying seriously for good governance and development. The complicated security situation in the state has robbed it of socioeconomic and political development. It is pretty clear that the current government in the state lacks the capacity to articulate effective response to the worsening security situation. Plateau people are helplessly at risk of deadly attacks by armed bandits, particularly marginal communities. I have carefully analysed the asymmetric threats to the security of the state but lack the entry point to offer advice to help in neutralizing them.
One of the key components of good governance is the active participation of citizens in the process and this painfully is lacking under this current government.

My motivation to contest for the governorship of Plateau State is to restore security and sustainable peace, provide good governance and foster inclusive and equitable development in all the constituent parts of the state. My vision is to build a Plateau State that is peaceful and secured; socially inclusive and cohesive; politically stable and progressive; and economically vibrant, resilient and equitable.

This is not a decision that I made lightly. More so, as a General who has led men in battle, alongside my accumulated post military experiences consulting on security matters, the Plateau situation has been worrisome to me. I was inundated with visits and calls by respectable men and women of good will from all over Plateau, expressing concerns about the grave security situation on the Plateau which has led to incessant killings and displacement of communities from their ancestral lands, underdevelopment, unemployment, etc. Various stakeholders from diverse sectors who were concerned about the wellbeing of the People and land of Plateau, made a beeline to my residence asking, demanding, even insisting in some instances that I throw my hat into the gubernatorial race. The highest common denominator which was the central element of their concerns were hinged upon the sweeping need for security, sustainable peace and good governance.

I prayed over the situation, I did a lot of thinking, and carried out many consultations and I came to the conclusion that indeed my security credentials make me the best qualified person at this point in the political history of Plateau to step up and offer my experiences as a military strategist, an astute administrator and a security consultant with over 40 years of experience at the local, national and international levels.

I have a proven track record of domestic conflict prevention, management and crisis resolution. I have a Master of Military Arts & Science (MMAS) from the USA and I am a Fellow of the War College (fwc), Abuja. I have also been Director of Policy, Department of Army Policy and Plans at the Nigerian Army headquarters. While serving as Commander 23 Armoured Brigade, Yola, I helped design the security architecture that incorporated the citizens as the key drivers of security at the community level which required local intelligence gathering in a joint collaborative effort with the citizens especially the local hunters who were instrumental in locating the camps of bandits in remote areas. Under my command, I successfully curbed the menace of armed banditry in Adamawa, Taraba and parts of Borno States. While commanding the 241 Recce Battalion in Kaduna, my Battalion was instrumental in maintaining peace and order in Kaduna. Throughout the period I was in command there were no sectarian crises from 1987-1990. My Battalion was adjudged the best in the Nigerian Army during the period of my command.

I was appointed as the first commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force from 1998-1999. During my stint as commander, I was charged with the mandate to flush out Chadian and Nigerien rebels from the Lake Chad basin, to restore the territorial integrity and civil administration. I succeeded in fulfilling this task with minimal casualties, reducing attacks while saving and protecting lives. I obtained the unconditional surrender of all elements of the Chadian rebels in the Lake Chad Basin. Due to this feat, I was recognized by the President of Chad who honoured me with the National Honour of “D’Officier de l’Odre National du Tchad’ (OON), the second highest national honour in the Republic of Chad. While serving as the Multinational Joint Task Force, I established schools for Nigerian children in the liberated islands using soldiers as teachers. I also made available medical facilities to the citizens and inoculated over 40,000 children as part of Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC).
I have written several papers on the significant subject of “Civil-Military: Toward Domestic Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution.”
I was also a leading vocal member at the 2014 National Confab that helped shape the document that have Nigerians still yearning for its implementation. I have organized several capacity building programmes on community security and conflict resolution some of which are “Conflict Prevention on Expanding Networks for Early Warning System in Plateau North Senatorial District” by the Institute of Governance and Social Research (IGSR), “Developing Network for Conflict Prevention for Functional Early Warning and Response System in Plateau State” by IGSR

I could go on and on and on…suffice it to say, that I will bring my vast experience in managing complex national security challenges to the fore as Governor of Plateau State come 2019.

The effectiveness of government is determined by the extent to which citizens radiate happiness and contentment. When there is no citizen centred government, no people oriented policies, and no putting of Plateau First, we end up with a people deeply disenchanted by the many broken promises made by desperate past politicians who often used the people and soon forgot about them once they got to the government house. I promise you today – that will not be me.

This is why my promise to put Plateau First to restore the dignity of Plateau state through a Citizen Centred Government is anchored on a 3 point agenda:
• Security and Sustainable peace
• Good governance
• Development.

Security and Sustainable Peace
It is accurate to say that without Security and Sustainable Peace, the development of Plateau state and its people is greatly hampered. My military and post military background has equipped me with an extensive understanding and grasp of security matters which in turn provides me with unassailable credentials to make Plateau a safe haven.

Under my leadership, our approach to tackling the security challenges in the Plateau will be based on clear perception and understanding of the strategic environment of Plateau State. Responses to insecurity will not only be based on an articulated understanding of the ethno-religious, cultural, economic, social and political dynamics of the state but will be proactive. The geography of the state will also be factored in developing appropriate and effective citizen centred security architecture to respond to the state’s numerous security challenges.

I will not back down from ensuring that I work relentlessly to give Plateau people a secured enabling environment to thrive and prosper. All displaced communities will be returned to their ancestral homes with adequate security provided to protect them from experiencing the horrors they went through.

Good Governance
One of the critical challenges of the state has been weak capacity for good governance. Governance has to do with the capacity to mobilize and utilize both tangible and intangible resources toward improving the conditions of the people. Under my administration, policies and programmes will be driven by citizen centred governance. Every action of my government will be aimed at making the conditions of citizens better. When citizens are well equipped and empowered, they can always participate in the governance process and are not likely to be short-changed by their elected representatives at all levels. Deliberate efforts will be made to give citizens a sense of inclusion and belonging in the governance process regardless of their religion or socio-economic standing in the society. Governance will be driven by the values of ethics and accountability, transparency, efficiency, rule of law, due process, participatory, etc. Under my administration, all interests will be adequately represented at both formal and informal levels. There will be no discrimination and exclusion of any kind from the governance process and the distribution of the benefits.

Development
We cannot have a State that has great capacity for boundless wealth on one hand competing to be a State that is gradually turning into a place of extreme poverty on the other hand.
Look around you. We have too many energetic, intelligent and unemployed Plateau youths and women in abundance. We need to create jobs for them. We have an abundance of human resources that have been left idle for too long. We have an agriculture sector that needs to be fully supported with policies, programmes and funds that will make it overtly productive and yielding maximum output. Under my administration, Agriculture will be given primacy in the political economy of the state. If the resources of Plateau state are optimally accessed and our potentials fully harnessed, Plateau state can internally generate 10 times more than we do from the agricultural sector, mining sector and all other viable sectors in the state. It is clear, however that we need to institute and implement well thought-out policies and programmes that will attract private sector investors, build the capacity of our local entrepreneurs and safeguard the interest of the people as we pursue a developmental agenda that will put Plateau First.

Under my leadership, our government will promote inclusive and equitable development aimed at making all citizens feel the impact of governance in the state. All sectors of the public sphere will be supported to become immensely sensitive and responsive to public demands for services. The civil and public services will be made more efficient and effective to meet the growing needs of the public. Basic socio-economic infrastructures such as good roads, electricity, potable water etc will be generously provided to fast track the development process of the state. With all these in place, small and medium scale businesses will thrive in the state and this will help to grow employment opportunities for our numerous young school leavers and graduates. With development, gainful employment opportunities will be expanded thereby increasing the productive capacity of citizens.

In conclusion, I must emphasize that I will run a clean campaign not based on name smearing but on ideas and issue based principles. I urge my supporters to do same. In the words of the former First Lady of America, Michelle Obama, when they go low, I will go high.

My focus is on the need to turn this state around to get it moving again. We must confront the real problems of real people. We must engage with each community in order to determine the solutions to their problems. Yes it is challenging but it is a task I am prepared and willing to undertake. I promise the people of Plateau this one thing: that I, Jon Temlong, will work tirelessly and vigorously to ensure that I create a Plateau where everyone is safe and where everyone has a fair chance of succeeding and becoming prosperous.

My resolve is clear: we will stop at nothing to disrupt and uproot of terrorism and lawlessness on the Plateau.
Plateau state must not witness another bloodbath under my administration.
It is instructive to note that security and sustainable peace, good governance and development are inextricably linked and inseparable. Good security and peaceful environment enhances the prospect of good governance which in turn promises robust development. We have a veritable opportunity to jumpstart our economy. I implore every citizen of Plateau State to come join us.
Therefore, it is with a deep sense of responsibility, personal integrity and forthrightness, that I declare today, I, Jon Temlong is running for Plateau State Governorship under the Action Democratic Party (ADP) Platform. And I have picked Dr Daniel Mwanmut as my running mate on the ticket. My running mate is an accomplished
public health physician who has extensive experiences in the oil and gas sector and
has recently meritoriously retired having reached the pinnacle of his career as a public health physician from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He is currently the Chairman of the Bingham University Teaching Hospital Board, a Member of the University of Benin Governing Council and the Chairman/COO of the Le Pan Health & Wellness Initiatives. He is a great team player
Thank you and May God bless the people of Plateau State.

Signed
Brig. Gen. Jonathan N. Temlong (Rtd)

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Gen. Jon Temlong(Rtr) Declares For Plateau Governorship Under ADP, Pledged to Tackle Insecurity