TheCable

BY BEST AGBESE

This coming Saturday is another historic day in the lives of Nigerians. The masses will throng out to enthrone another batch of leaders at the state level. The euphoria is very visible among the people. Some candidates are seeking fresh mandates; while others are gunning for reelection or consolidation of their mandates.

As usual, the political mongers or campaigners are out with the game. They are out in the fields and very loud in trumpeting promises. The contest freaks are eagerly plying their trade too. Both genuine and fake campaign messages are being reeled for public consumption. But the people are carefully distilling all the messages. They know the genuine and fake messages. The know which leaders deserve a comeback.

Therefore, in Plateau state, the people have heard all the rhetorics, but have unanimously resolved to again support Gov. Simon Bako Lalong to continue with his good works at the Plateau State Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos. He is staging a comeback through the popular demand by the masses.

The people’s perception of Gov. Lalong is that of a leader who is honest and committed to peace, security and development on the Plateau. His reign has brought respite and assuaged the pains and exited the agonies which made life hellish on the Plateau. The people are aware; they are very sensitive to their security and so far, Lalong has posted credible and commendable results.

The Governor is celebrated as a leader whose mastery of leadership has gone beyond lip service or sloganeering. He is variously described by his people as selfless, committed and a focused leader, who sacrifices anything to give his people peace and security.

Throughout the state, Gov.Lalong answers to the chants a pan-Nigeria, as excitedly recited by his admirers. They cherish him as a leader whom ethnicity, religion or political party affiliation have not influence his leadership decisions and government patronage of the people. He believes everyone who lives in Plateau has a stake in the governance and treasures of the state.

The insistence of the masses on the Plateau that Gov. Lalong should proceed beyond 2019 can only be properly decoded when one flashes back to the Plateau he met in 2015. Those who understood the severity of the problem of insecurity on the Plateau applaud Lalong’s peace initiatives. He has been able to change the face of leadership in the state through responsible governance.

The Governor has launched the state on the progressive path of rapid infrastructural transformation, restoration of peace and security and its regeneration. Today, the sadness, disillusionments and disenchantments which characterized existence on the Plateau have been replaced with celebrations, merriments, peace and security.

Lalong has ended the years of painful conflagrations; the torments of unpaid salaries, the dearth of infrastructures, the fear of ethnic dominance and mistrust, the religious suspicions and other problems that held back development on the Plateau famed as home of peace and tourism. The Governor has returned the state to its originality, where all inhabitants co-existed in peace and harmony. Those who deserted the state in the heat of the crises have returned in droves.

Every part of Plateau state has feeled the impact of Gov. Lalong’s leadership. Plateau state is the first state in the North Central President Muhammadu Buhari visited and commissioned projects in early 2018. Mr. President was regaled with Lalong’s scorecard in urban and rural roads, water projects, education and health sectors. Many never gave Gov. Lalong a chance of succeeding. But he has perplexed his adversaries by sheer performance.

In his security architecture, Gov. Lalong’s legacies include the establishment of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, (PPBA) whose main mandate is the promotion of proactive consultative dialogue among the disparate segments and interests on the Plateau to nip potential conflict in the bud before they degenerate into open hostilities. His administration is credited with facilitating the establishment of two Mobile Police Force Barracks at Longvel, Shendam LGA and the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) 220 Base for Search and Rescue Operations in Kerang, Mangu LGA to enhance rapid response to security emergencies; while he has worked assiduously to return thousands of IDPs back to their deserted villages.

Political pundits and those who have monitored the administration of Lalong assert confidently that the Governor has fulfilled nearly all his campaign promises to the people of Plateau State, the “Home of Peace and Tourism”. Urban or Jos city roads like State Secretariat Flyover, the Angwan Rogo road network, the Tudun Wada-Kabong road network, Mararaban Jema’a -British America Highway, the Low-Cost Road network, the Rantya-Rafiki road network, the Rukuba road network, in just three years have projected Gov. Lalong very distinctively. There are also rural l roads projects in each of the 17 LGAs of the state for which the Governor has expended N40 billion.

The Plateau State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (PLASMEDA) has arrested youths and women off the streets with numerous empowerment schemes. Plateau state students enjoy regular scholarship allowances. The Plateau State University Bokkos is properly funded and dead industries are being resuscitated. In every sector, Gov. Lalong has left impressive imprints.

Workers welfare is top priority. Accumulated seven months unpaid salaries have been cleared and workers receive salary bank alerts before end of every month. Happiness has returned on the Plateau; there is peace on the Plateau under Lalong’s leadership. His enduring legacies’ are multiple.

So for Saturday’s governorship election, Plateau people have indicated in body and soul that there is only one choice. The choice is Gov. Lalong is negotiable. Echoes that this Mr. Peace, Mr. Bank Alert and Mr. Infrastructure resonate loudly everywhere on the Plateau. Plateau people have reached a consensus that they will not go back to Egypt again and so, the reelection of Gov. Lalong to oversee Government House, Jos March 9 is a deal divinely sealed.

Agbese, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Jos