Arguably Nigeria’s most popular and most cherished Governor of the present generation, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has been trending as a cerebral personality. In recent times, he is a buzzing character on many internet platforms at any time.

He makes the headlines because of his impactful leadership and multidimensional governance and populist policies at home, or the mien and uncommon candour he maintains nationally, or the charismatic charm he radiates at international engagements and diplomatic roundtables, or the warmth he exudes as he rallies the Plateau Diaspora to be part of the new dawn and renewed spirit back home to enthrone and entrench a new and invigorated Plateau.

Having come to power with a template for articulated development and the focus to deliver the state and its people to a new era and fulfilment of their aspirations, his arrival on the scene resonated with relief and hope everywhere, with the elated citizens in sustained happiness and ecstasy that Mutfwang’s beginning and early policies are reassuring and promising of a safe journey to a delightful destination.

Thus, in spite of the early trials, trepidations, turbulence, and challenges, he forged on and proceeded with the can-do-it spirit of a determined soldier of service and torchbearer of a people’s destiny. This was amidst an impoverished state structured made rudderless by a past characterized by governmental ruthlessness, lack of vision, and, of course, primitive programming to recourse the State to rebirth and rediscovery, Governor Mutfwang literally began anew to re-programme all the salient economic sub-sectors: health, agriculture, education, tourism, transportation, local government system, and infrastructure rehabilitation.

For these, the people are not only celebrating him, he has their unwavering support as he rallies investors and investments from all over the world to be part of the socio-economic renaissance bearing transformation and realization of a new Plateau. For this, too, Mutfwang is being recognized globally as a leader who knows and appreciates the needs of his people; with other non-governmental organizations and media Houses also in the scramble to do him – and share in his – honour. This scramble was basic to the ‘strategic’ error committed by the Edo State APC when they surreptitiously invoked Mutfwang’s towering image to persuade voters to accept and vote for their gubernatorial candidate in a recent election!

Mutfwang as Governor of Plateau State remains a wonder for his admirers and lovers of Plateau; and a nightmare and albatross for a disconcerted and scampering opposition apparently in distemper and disoriented by a historic electoral loss and rejection as recently as 2023! In that unsettled and dishevelled state, this colourless opposition has resorted to mudslinging, name-calling, misrepresentation of truth, barefaced falsehood, and sundry illiterate cajolery to spoil the mood and healthy temperament of Plateau people praying for more of Mutfwang in the State public service.

In that desperation, it suffices for a cowardly and faceless alarmist to spew idiocies, fallacies, and confusion in the name of framing a “tragedy” and “abandonment of the people”, and manage to circulate the same piece that wanders and saunters like a narration in psychotic malice on an unregistered platform timidly masquerading as PEREscope.With obvious identity crisis, PEREscope is understandably in deficit of facts and bereft of the principle of fair comment in his misguided ambition to misinform and mislead the public in the jaundiced hope of turning the tables against the Mutfwang’s administration and the people’s growing clamour for his accountable and transparent style of leadership.If, indeed, PEREscope had access to the “2024 Q3 Budget Performance Report”, he would have known that the Mutfwang Government did not purchase any vehicles during the quarter in reference, let alone “inflating budget of over 350 million naira for a single Toyota Hilux”.

If this is not a demented claim by a maddening speculator on a crazy mission, the writer should not hide his face in shame, but should confirm again and compare notes with his source.

Mutfwang’s “ascendancy” actually came with the ascendancy, uplifting, and liberation of the forsaken and oppressed lot of Plateau people. What else can be worse than the neglect and abandonment of our heroes past? Pensioners whose sweat and sacrifices cast the foundation of the State and founded the path of its future were left forlorn and in despair since the 80s. Mutfwang’s “ascendancy” ended their frustration and predicament as accumulated and unpaid pensions and gratuities were paid to the earners from 1986 to date.

This co-occurred with settling of back log of entitlements of civil servants who were on strike because of unpaid wages and lack of motivation. The people of Plateau State have been appreciative of the multiplier effect of this act and demonstration of purposeful and responsive leadership and governance. Yet, Mutfwang has insisted that this (read payment of salaries and emoluments) is not an achievement because a laborer deserves his wages!This, PEREscope lacks the scope and the space to speculate that Mutfwang is not ready or prepared to pay workers the new minimum wage.

If PEREscope is indeed a proper character that is up to date and informed, and averse to the culture and tradition of constructive criticism, he should be aware that, in line with his belief and practice of transparency and accountability, Mutfwang has set up a committee to work out the details of how to implement the new minimum wage. The reader may halt to wonder and ponder who, actually, is PEREscope, and whether he does exist and is aware of subsisting Plateau State affairs?

You will also wonder which local government system this midnight grandstander is talking about – and the muffling of democracy! The local government councils in Plateau State are under elected, representative administration.

Only last month the PLASIEC successfully conducted local government elections which have been commended for meeting the vital global standards of mass mobilization, massive participation, acceptability, transparency, and count of voter’s vote. The elections were not only monitored and passed for credibility by local and international monitors, the PLASIEC exhibited the character and temperament of an unbiased arbiter, provided level play ground, and ensured people’s franchise was not denied or emasculated by any administrative manoeuvres.

So, which local governments is PEREscope attempting to scoop and scam here? The Mutfwang administration does everything to live within the precincts of civilized culture and public service procedures. PEREscope and his likes appear to want to lurk in vague shadows and perch on the embers of opposition politics to distract a focused and purposeful administration from meeting and delivering on its people-based and populist targets.It does suffices that taking on every point raised by the logically circumscribed and socially incontinent PEREscope will unwittingly provide coherence to his unwieldy claims, and lend credence to the absurdities he peddled as he straddled on the straw to give content to his scope.

However, one must point the ignorance in PEREscope’s charge of “globetrotting” against Governor Mutfwang with whom Plateau people are very much at home. PEREscope actually misused the word “globetrotting” when he meant to talk of troubleshooting.

The latest assignment in such troubleshooting involving Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang was the recent Plateau cultural show in London where former governors and all Plateau indigenes, tribes, and cultures were beholders.If a word is not enough for the wise, it is likely PEREscope.

While Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang welcomes criticism as an instrument for good governance, he admits that such should be “made of sterner stuff”. Credible and constructive criticism should not lurk in the shadows so that it does not smack of mischief; neither should it loom in fluffy platforms so that it will be well delivered and well received. Press conferences and duly signed press releases are well advised here.

This PEREscope looks like an improper fraction.

Muhammed Abdullahi, is a Resident of Angwan Rogo, Jos Plateau State

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Governor Mutfwang’s Plateau: Legacies of Rediscovery and Redirection – Muhammed Abdullahi