Controversies have continued to trail the plan by the Plateau State Government to rebuild the burnt down Jos Main Market through the Jaiz Bank with the latest coming from the Plateau State Diaspora Development Association (PSDDA), USA.

The group comprising of Plateau State Indigenes residing in the United States of America made it position known through through a Communique dated 10th August, 2022 and signed by its Secretary, Mr. Moses Dachen.

The group hinted that it commend any effort towards such a venture and do appreciate every step taken to actualize this goal. It said it recognize that a public venture such as this requires the buy-in of the public saying it believe it is with this desire that the PLSG initiated stakeholders consultations to gather opinion and suggestions from the good people of Plateau.

It called on the people of the to continue to support meaningful and people oriented projects and government policies but never be cowed into submission to agendas clearly designed to continue to subjugate our collective interest.
The group said from all indications, the people are not aligning to the terms of reference contained in the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Government and Jaiz Bank.

“It is our common knowledge that the majority of our people disagrees with the terms of reference as contained in the MoU for the reconstruction of the JMM. As major stakeholders in the Plateau project, we also had the opportunity of voicing our strong opposition during a virtual town hall meeting we had with PLSG as to the terms of contract contained in the MoU. We flatly rejected several aspects of the contract and offered an alternative solution to our State Government.

“We proposed to PLSG to work with its sons and daughters in Diaspora to generate the funds needed for this project. We assured our government that we are willing to crowd fund the needed resources amongst ourselves and we hoped this gesture would be allowed to be tested.”

The full communique reads:

Plateau State Diaspora Development Association (PSDDA)

August 8, 2022.

Communique

Re: Stakeholders Endorse Rebuilding of Jos Main Market

We the members of Plateau State Diaspora Development Association in the United States wish to express our position on the ongoing decision by the Plateau State Government (PLSG) to initiate the rebuilding of the damaged Jos Main Market (JMM).

First, we commend any effort towards such a venture and we appreciate every step taken to actualize this goal. We also recognize that a public venture such as this requires the buy-in of the public. We believe it is with this desire that the PLSG initiated stakeholders consultations to gather opinion and suggestions from the good people of Plateau.

It is our common knowledge that the majority of our people disagrees with the terms of reference as contained in the MoU for the reconstruction of the JMM. As major stakeholders in the Plateau project, we also had the opportunity of voicing our strong opposition during a virtual town hall meeting we had with PLSG as to the terms of contract contained in the MoU. We flatly rejected several aspects of the contract and offered an alternative solution to our state government.

We proposed to PLSG to work with its sons and daughters in Diaspora to generate the funds needed for this project. We assured our government that we are willing to crowd fund the needed resources amongst ourselves and we hoped this gesture would be allowed to be tested.

We ended our meeting with assurances from the officials of PLSG that they would look into all the concerns we raised and our position as well as the position of many well meaning Plateau citizens. We were assured that consultations are ongoing and concerns raised would be considered before any decision would be taken.

However, it is with great dismay that we are reading in print media a position put forward by the PLSG claiming that “Stakeholders endorse the rebuilding of JMM.” We wonder, if all the concerns raised were already addressed? Who are the stakeholders that endorsed the project? And if our position as stakeholders doesn’t matter, why did the officials of PLSG consulted our opinion in the first place? Why would the PLSG refuse the offer from those of us in Diaspora without any cogent reason? Is there any hidden motive why the state government is ramming through our throats a project we clearly are not in support of? Is the PLSG indebted to an
unknown benefactor and are using the JMM project as a ploy to pay back its debts? What is the State government hiding from the good people of Plateau state?

These and many more questions deserve answers and it will behoove our state government to honestly address these concerns first before pushing through with an unpopular project. We want to warn that any attempt by the handlers of this state government to ignore our concerns, would be at its own peril. We also want to warn any contractor that would deliberately accept to work on a contentious project such as this to have a rethink. There will be consequences if the concerns of our people are thrown to the wind.

Lastly, we want to warn any government official or individuals against pushing this project as is with no modification to accommodate the concerns of our people. Any attempt to ignore our concerns and the general outcry of our people would be met with stiff resistance. It would be in the interest of those in government to continue to explore dialogue on this subject.

In conclusion, we call on our people to continue to support meaningful and people oriented projects and government policies but never be cowed into submission to agendas clearly designed to continue to subjugate our collective interest.

May God continue to bless Plateau state and its people.

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Moses Dachen
Secretary, PSDDA, USA.
(Aug 10, 2022 18:39 CDT)

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Jos Main Market Rebuilding: Plateau Diaspora Association Says Majority of Citizens not Okay With Contents of MOU