Plateau, Mutfwang and the Burden of Inherited Violence -By Abdu Abdullahi

It is more than two decades now. Plateau state has undergone bloody violence of high magnitude. Thousands of people have been gruesomely murdered; properties worth billions of naira destroyed. Glaringly, the state is threading the path to a precipice. But then, who will be the ‘Messiah’ to halt this sporadic catastrophe?

Since 2001, the people of Plateau have been torn by great despair, sorrow, pains and general fears of insecurity. This has made the state very notorious to move forward. Of course, it cannot prosper in an environment of extreme hostility and human carnage. After the first eruption of violence in 2001, many prosperous business people shifted their base to the neighbouring Bauchi state. It was then that the state instantly forfeited its omnipotent trait of home of peace. Therefore, the various chants of dividends of democracy are a false attraction in the wake of its lingering turmoils.

As people moved out of the state for safety and dignity, they saw a clear signal of the subsequent and inevitable repercussions in a changing environment that was descending so low and loose towards ethnic antagonism. Suddenly, Jos, in particular, became a ghost town with nothing fascinating but the horrible memories of recurring brutality. It is only in Jos that the inhabitants are completely balkanized alongside ethnic and religious divides in terms of settlements!

Regrettably, one can imagine how boisterous the economy of the state would have been if the Jos Ultra Modern Market was not mischievously destroyed by the enemies of progress. As one of the best modern markets in Africa, it was then rising as an economic hub attracting traders from other states. But that emerging reality had been buried. Since then, the state has been counting its humongous loss, economically, socially and politically. Recall that Jos used to be a host to conventions of political parties before the advent of insecurity in Plateau state.

The state has since lost its high esteem as a tourism centre. Its socially dynamic character has vanished. It is now the theater of war, yet, striving to revamp its old glory of peace, harmony and overall feelings of safety but has proved abortive. Unfortunately for the state, the prophets of doom had ignited a war they cannot end. At least, the disturbance has been able to depict the state as a gigantic trouble spot where human lives have lost value.

Those who, out of mischief ensured that peace disintegrated in the first instance, have gained nothing in the long run. But the state has been a great loser in all ramifications. If Plateau had not been engulfed in wanton ferocity engineered by the forces of ethnicism, it would have liberated itself from the other forms of violence currently afflicting it. Friendly environment, social diversity , coupled with its vast Tin mineral deposits and agricultural potentialities among others are all factors that would have facilitated the development of the state and place it in the forefront of prosperity.

However, it is now largely defined in terms of mass destructions and sheer animosity. It is struggling to survive not as a failed state. Indeed, the architects of the Plateau flames are living witnesses to the unfolding consequences of their ‘calculated’ atrocities. They have committed ‘suicide’ by destroying the development pillars and aspirations of their own state. The nature of the security deterioration is such that the innocent are guilty while the guilty are innocent in the unfolding killings in the state. This system of ruthlessness should no longer be condoned. Some of the complications they had bequeathed to the state are better not told. The late Governor Solomon Lar was a champion of the state emancipation.

Meanwhile, Governor Caleb Mutfwang is not a stranger to Plateau state, neither is he an ordinary man. He is, in fact, the captain of the wrecked ship and has the responsibility of rescuing it. Not only that, his being a witness to the protracted disorder in the state should provide him with a clear focus on the way forward. He knew what Plateau was, how it is today and what ought to be done to ensure that tomorrow will be better. He has taken over a state that needs reconstruction after destruction. He should, therefore, not resign himself to fate. God is the creator of the same fate. Therefore, he must rush to Him for proper guide and wisdom to change the existing narrative.

There are both complexity and simplicity in conducting governmental affairs. Each has its own peculiarities. If government is primarily about guaranteeing safety of life and property, then it will not be wasteful adventure for the Governor to concentrate his energy and state resources to end this mayhem. Though he is not the originator of the current upheavals, yet, he will be held accountable if he carelessly allows the mayhem to be perpetuated further by those whose vision is achieving social instability.

The Plateau Governor should lift the burden of inherited violence with substantial courage and lofty vision. The courage must be deploying and strengthening his political will to weather the storm. The vision ought to be obliterated of all forms of sentiments to discover a new and functional Plateau that will extend its pride beyond itself.

Luckily for him, democracy has given him the power to exploit this invigorating vision. It is left for him to make or mar it. He should make his leadership style to be somehow stubborn and more rigid when security issues arise, but flexible when the need surfaces. If God is justice, then justice must define and influence his leadership to save Plateau from further crumbling.

Mutfwang should organize a series of meetings with ethnic, religious and other relevant groups. The primary objective is sensitizing and mobilizing people to live in peace and harmony so that the bleeding in the state will cease. In a larger perspective, a ‘Peace Conference’ should be envisaged and put in place to create a new atmosphere of confidence among the people. Its theme should be reconciliation. This should aim at healing the wound of the conscience. We can draw example from the Rwanda genocide with its attendant reconciliation.

He should ensure a security oriented government both in form and character. He should know that Plateau has been on a trial of statehood for over 20 years. He should reflect on the severe fatality of the Plateau injury and profer the right treatment. And the correct medicine is creating a robust system that will not be intimidated by the ugly spirit of indigenous and non-indigenous people dichotomy. This is the only catalyst for the state development. The fake theory of indigenous versus non-indigenous people has woefully failed the state. Even America traces its prosperity to the non- indigenous people.

Come what may be, he should eschew the boiling temptation of the next election perplex him to abandon the primary function of government, which is ensuring the safety of the people and their properties under his domain. If the need be, he must reshuffle his cabinet to include people of more proven integrity, broad minded and are willing to sacrifice everything for the state’s stability. This is in addition to recruiting security experts to constantly conduct surveillance on the existing security risks across the state with a view to unlocking the hidden and evil agenda of the undesirable elements. Interestingly, the Governor himself has admitted the handiwork of the elites as responsible for insecurity.

In the end, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has options A and B at his disposal. The former induces him to plunder time and other resources on how to win election in 2027. The latter instigates him to squander time and other resources to liberate Plateau from the forces of insecurity and enter the pages of history to become a dignified hero.