AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI GCFR PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA: MINISTERIAL NOMINATION FROM PLATEAU STATE: WRONG POLITICAL MOVE AND ITS ATTENDANT CONSEQUENCES FOR THE FUTURE

Mr. President, we want to use this medium to congratulate you for finally releasing the long awaited ministerially list to the Senate for approval. We also appreciate the anxiety the issue had generated in the last eight weeks among our fellow country men and women.

Before this time Nigerians have come out with divergent views on the non-release of the list and the danger it potends for the smooth take off to the Next Level of the administration.

We know you to be a man of principle that cannot be stampeded in taking decisions that cannot stand the test of time. No wonder they call you “Baba go slow”. But is going slow you were searching for the best hands that would reinvigorate the machinery of the administration to enable it deliver on its campaign promises.
We want to believe that it was this search for the best hands that delayed the release of the names. And that by your judgement they will be the team that will deliver your programmes to the Nigerian people.

Mr. President, in arriving at the final list, we know you may have made wide range of consultations with stakeholders in the various states. You have been quoted in the media that you would love to work with people you know and their pedigree not persons who would be nominated by their political godfathers, influential people from their states or powerful traditional rulers.

We pray that those who have finally made the list are person who will assist you in driving the next level agenda to success.
Having said this Mr. President while we are not against the selection of the nominee Dame Pauline Tallen as Minister from Plateau State but given the peculiarity and complexity of the polity in Plateau State, more consultation could have been made before the final selection. This is because when it comes to sharing of political offices in the state, so many variables are often taken into considerations.

As much as possible, care is always made to ensure there is equity, fairness and justice in elective offices and appointments. This is so because the people want to move together, the people donot want domination, and so they have always crave for equitable distribution of political offices.

It may interest you to know Mr. President that in the 2015 general election there was an attempt made by the outgoing Governor Jonah David Jang to alter this understanding by the people on zoning of the Governorship position by attempting to bring another candidate from the Northern Senatorial District to contest the Governorship seat. This was stiffly resisted by the people of the state who felt power should ordinarily shift to another zone and in particular the southern senatorial district. What was the result? The people rose up in unison and came out with what they termed the “Plateau Project” that was how the PDP lost that election to the APC that picked its candidate from the Southern senatorial District and that was how Barr. Simon Bako Lalong emerged as Governor.

As for the allocation of major political appointments such as that of the Minister and others consideration is often given to zones that did not produce the Governor. Right from the period of Chief Solomon Lar in 1979 through Dariye in 1999. The Ministerial slot, had always been made in a different zones other than where the Governor comes from.

To buttress this point, in 1979 – 83 when Solomon Lar was Governor from Langtang Local Government Area in the Southern Senatorial District Chief Samuel G. Mafuyai from Bokkos L.G.A. in the Central Zone was Minister for Aviation.
When Joshua Dariye became Governor from the Central Zone the following were Ministers: Engr. Mark Aku (late) from Bassa L.G.A. Northern zone – Minister for Youth & Sports Development. When Aku died in a plane crash Chief Damishi Sango from Riyom L.G.A. from the Northern Zone took over as Minister.

Within the Dariye reign the following also became Ministers – viz Sir Fidelis Tapgun, Mrs. Josephine Tapgun and Dame Pauline Tallen all from Shendam L.G.A. in the Southern zone while Alh. Mohammed Musa Azi also became Minister from Jos East L.G.A. from the Northern zone.
However in 2007 when Governor Jonah David Jang took over for reasons best known to him altered this understanding and made Mrs. Serah Reng Ochekpe from Barkin Ladi L.G.A. in the same zone with him as Minister. He didn’t stop there, he attempted to foist GNS Pwajok his nephew from the same Northern zone with him as Governor, what was the result? The people of Plateau resisted it and formed an alliance called the “Plateau Project” and defeated the PDP at the polls: As far as they were concern power must shift to another zone – this time the Southern zone. That was how the APC won Plateau.
In 2015 when Simon Lalong became Governor, the Ministerial slot ought to have shifted from the Southern zone where Lalong comes from but it didn’t happen so and the people grumbled when Solomon Dalung was made Minister from Langtang South the same Southern Senatorial District with the Governor. Even though there was grumbling, the people had to swallow the bitter pill since nobody knew where and how the nomination came about.

In 2019, when God graciously brought back Governor Lalong for a second term, the general belief was that the Ministerial position be zone to either the Central or Northern zone. Particularly the Central Senatorial District that has not produced a Minister since 1999. Unfortunately, when the ministerial list was made public on Tuesday 23rd July, it came as a rude shock to the people. Not only was the Ministerial slot retained in the Southern zone but the person so nominated, is no other person than Dame Pauline Tallen. A woman who is the blood relation to the Governor, thereby creating a scenario of mother, a Minister and her son a Governor from the same Shendam L.G.A. in the same Southern zone above all from the same House.
Mr. President, the grumbling is getting louder now. The people are agitated. The other zones are feeling disappointed, they are feeling marginalized. They are feeling betrayed upon all their effort to bring APC to power in the state. They have gone out in starch of other appointments made from the Federal Government in the state zone by zone , and to their dismay , the following positions are currently being occupied in the Southern Senatorial Zone.
His Excellency . Simon B. Lalong, Governor – Shendam LGA Southern zone
Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister – Shendam LGA Southern zone
Sir Joseph Ari, DG ITF – Qua’an Pan LGA Southern zone
Prof. Sabastine Maimako, VC UniJos – Qua’an Pan LGA Southern zone
Prof. Angela Miri, VC UniLokoja – Langtang South LGA Southern zone
Hon. Ahmed Idris Maje
Deputy Speaker, House of Reps. – Wase LGA Southern zone

1. These are very key positions enjoyed by one out of the three zones in the state. Where is the fairness and justice here.
2. In our estimation Mr. President, probably you were not properly briefed on the peculiarity of the politics on the Plateau. But those who advised you on this choice did not do so honestly . Even if the nominee had to be female there are very many women of substance in the Central and Northern zones that are equally qualified to be made Minister but to pick Dame Pauline Tallen a mother to the Governor both from the same L.G.A. and zone is a wrong political move that may potend great danger in the future.
3. The people of Plateau State love, peace, they can be patient but when pushed to the wall, they can rebel.
4. It is our sincere advise Mr. President that you revisit this Ministerial nomination from Plateau with a view to correcting this imbalance so that the state can move as a United entity. So that what was metted out to the PDP may not happen to our great party the APC.
5. As a father to all and a listening father for that matter , we know and believe you will look into all the issue raised and do the needful.
6. Accept sir, the assurances of our highest regard.

Danjuma Maimako
Chairman, Plateau Youth for Justice & Equity

Eli Ankala
Chairman APC. Youth Mobilization

Earnest Dades,
Muryan Gaskiya Gospel Singers for APC

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Group Writes Buhari on Plateau State Ministerial Nomination