A socio-cultural group in Plateau State christened Plateau Our Heritage (POH) had berated Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly for boycotting the two-day House of Representatives Constitution Review Zonal Public Hearing which held in Jos, the State Capital.

The group disclosed that it received with utter consternation and disappointment the action of the over 17 Plateau State House of Assembly Members who boycotted the “National exercise” held in Jos, the State Capital for reason(s) best known to them.

In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Group, Hon. Alex Yola Kwapnoe and its Secretary, Cmr. Friday Bako, the group described the disposition of the Lawmakers as the peak of insensitivity to the plights of the people of Plateau State and surfacing at a time the citizens are yearning for credible and effective representation.

POH hinted that the two-day event which saw critical stakeholders, Civil Society Organizations, Community Development Associations, socio-cultural groups, religious groups, youth/women groups, professional bodies and opinion leaders submitting memorandum that will help Nigeria address the Constitutional lacuna bedeviling it, yet it was perplexed by the action of the State Legislators who ordinarily should be the voices of the people boycotted the well intended exercise.

“Sensitive issues that are needed to make the Nation work were laid before the Committee by well meaning Citizens without any input from the Plateau State House of Assembly despite the numerous challenges confronting the State”

“Their action is not only a disgrace, but wicked and we condemn it in the strongest terms” the statement said.

The group charged the State Assembly to make public reason behind such obnoxious action as Members from other States were at the public hearing defying the security challenges.

“The action of the Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly is a gargantuan embarrassment to the State, Members of the National Assembly from the State, citizens of the State and the Nation considering the fact that the State hosted the exercise and the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Idris Ahmed who doubled as the Chairman of the Special Committee is from the State”

“As a group, we want to make it known that we have lost confidence on the Leadership and Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly. We also urge the public to hold them accountable for the poor representation of issues affecting the State which needed serious attention”

“Whatever disagreement the Legislature may have with the Executive, does not warrant this. This is sheer demonstration of ineptitude. They can do their best to appear and expose the executive arm. Then public sympathy would go for them”

“Having squandered this golden opportunity (which is time bound) of Plateau State, their efforts to seek forgiveness without a penance will be incomplete and must be rejected”
“What lenses does the electorate need to get the right representatives in future (2023)? The journey begins now with all patriotic Plateau citizens to look before they leap-lets not keep repeating the same mistake”

“We are laying this to the court of public opinions and believe posterity would judge this set of state lawmakers accordingly” the statement concluded.

count | 233

Plateau Group Carpets Plateau State House of Assembly for Boycotting Constitution Review Public Hearing