Diversion of Federal Polytechnic Langtang to Shendam is a broad day rubbery on Tarok Nation.

Governor Simon Bako Lalong, the Executive Governor of Plateau State has once again robbed Tarok Nation through the diversion of Federal Polytechnic which was earlier to be sited in Langtang following Senator Jeremiah Useni's Bill as passed by the 8th Assembly. Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for the establishment of Six Federal Polytechnics cutting across the Six Geopolitical Zones where Plateau State was among the beneficiary States on the 17th day of December 2019. Mr. President gave the approval inline with the bill passed by the 8th Assembly on the 15th November 2018. It was Senator Jeremiah Useni that sponsored the bill and was passed by the Senate and forwarded same to Mr. President for Assent. At the time of approval, there was no other bill passed by the National Assembly on the establishment of Federal Polytechnic in Plateau State apart from Senator Jeremiah Useni's Bill.

It was later while waiting for the Presidential Assent of the Bill that Hon Johnbull, a member representing Shendam/Mikang/Quanpan Federal Constituency introduced a similar Bill for the establishment of Federal Polytechnic Shendam. The bill didn't scale through.

At the 9th Assembly, Hon. Bagos Musa Dachung, member Representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, introduced the Bill for the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic, Zandi in Plateau State which is still pending at the House of Representative up till date. Hon Komsol Longbap reintroduced Johnbull's Bill for the establishment of Federal Polytechnic Shendam which is also pending at the House of Representative up to date. None of the Bills sponsored by those two Members in regard to the establishment of Federal Polytechnic in Plateau State has scaled through the Assembly apart from Senator Jeremiah Useni's Bill.

Where is the position of law and governance in this case? Where is the position of the unity of purpose among our political leaders on the Plateau? Does that mean our political leaders on the Plateau are against Tarok Nation? What is wrong with sitting a higher institution in Langtang after the sacrifices made by the likes of late Chief Solomon Lar Daushep, Late General Joshep Garba, Late General Domkat Bali, late General John Nanzip Shagaya, General Dogoyaro, and other prominent Tarok elites? With all their patriotism that built one Nigeria and particularly Plateau State, is this how Lalong is paying Tarok back? Does Governor Lalong lack ideas about running his administration to bring viable projects to Plateau State? Governor Lalong shouldn't forget that it was late Chief Solomon Lar that brought Fidelis Tapgun as Governor Plateau State in 1992 under Social Democratic Party, SDP, and Senator Joshua Dariye as Governor of Plateau State under People Democratic Party, PDP. Afterward, Senator Dariye, with the collective voice of Plateau State, elected Lalong against the wishes of Senator Jonah Jang on the basis of nepotism. Today, Governor Lalong has launched massive acts of nepotism on Tarok Nation and Plateau State at large. Almost all Federal Appointment positions were given to Goemai elites. These are a few I can remember: Simon Bako Lalong – Governor Plateau State, Dame Pauline Tallen – Minister of Women Affairs

Ambassador Martin Adamu, as Ambassador

Hon. Noel K. Dongjur –Chief of Staff

Dr. Cyril Tsenyil – Accountant – General Plateau State Government,

Prof. Mathew Sule – Chairman SUBEB, Mr. Dashe Arlat – Chairman Plateau State Board of Internal Revenue, Sir Joseph N. Ari – Director-General Industrial Training Funds, Justice Monica Dongban – Mensen- President Federal Court of Appeal,

Mr. Fabian Ntung – Chairman PLASIEC,

Prof. Sebastian Maimako – Vice Chancellor University of Jos,

Shendam has two Commissioners

Qua’an – Pan has two Commissioners

Barr. Richard Bala – Zonal Chairman, North – Central, Tax Tribunal

All major contracts in SUBEB, SDGs, PRUWASSA, MDAs, etc are given to their Federal Constituency.

Elizabeth Y. Homsuk – Registrar FCE, Pankshin

Mr. John Dawam – Rector, Plateau State Polytechnic Barkin Ladi,

Mr. Pius Yenshi – Liaison Officer Abuja

Dr. Livinus Miapkwap – Executive Secretary, Plateau State Primary Healthcare Development Agency,

Mr. Ambrose Allaburah – Executive Secretary, Local Government Pensions Board, and many others.

Governor Lalong keeps deceiving the Tarok people with empty promises without anything in return. Since 2015, no single project was started and completed in Langtang by the Lalong-led administration. Why should the Governor take away what belongs to the Tarok people to compensate his kinsmen? It is pertinent to note from the foregoing that there is great lopsidedness in allocation of both resources and appointments. This is expected to adversely affect the trickle-down effect from the Federal Constituency aforementioned at the detriment of the other two, Wase and Langtang North and South Federal Constituencies. Can governor Lalong mention one Tarok or any other Plateau personality that he gave him/her lucrative appointment both from Federal or State level apart from the commissioner which is constitutional?

The dream of the Federal Polytechnic in Plateau State was first conceived by Tarok Elders led by Barr Solomon Dalung in the year 2012 when Senator Jonah Jang was then Governor of Plateau State. Tarok Traditional Council wrote a letter of request to the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, requesting for the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in Langtang. Although the request did not materialize as the government prioritized the establishment of Federal Universities over Polytechnics.

In the year 2015, when Barrister Solomon Dalung got appointed as Minister of Youth & Sports by President Muhammadu Buhari, he resurrected the demand for the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic Langtang. Dalung made a passionate appeal to President Buhari to consider the need for the creation of Federal Polytechnic Plateau State, and in particular, Langtang, as a payback to the sacrifices of Tarok Generals who fought selflessly for the unity of Nigeria. Interestingly, President Buhari agreed with the idea and assured Dalung that when the time comes, he would consider his request. What happened along the line? Dalung could not get reappointed as a minister. We were aware of how some political leaders fought vehemently and ensured Dalung did not secure a second appointment.

Mr. President made approval for the establishment of Federal Polytechnic Langtang on the 17th December 2019. The Governor did not acknowledge the development. Governor Lalong, instead of supporting the development, went and mobilized his kinsmen and went to Abuja to canvas for siting the Polytechnic in Shendam. It was a broad day rubbery since the bill sponsored by Senator Jeremiah Useni scaled through the National Assembly.

Last week, Governor Lalong went to Abuja again and met Mr. President concerning the Polytechnic but he reported back to Plateau people that he went to meet Mr. President to assist him to build Jos Terminus Market. Mr. Governor requested Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to put Shendam on the approval letter and that was what happened.

Initially, Mr. President gave approval for the establishment of Federal Polytechnic in Plateau State on the 17th December 2019. Where was Governor Lalong when the approval was made by Mr. President two years ago, but he failed to acknowledge the approval?

In the spirit of fairness, Langtang North and South do not have a single higher Institution of learning including Wase. In Shendam/Mikang/Quanpan Federal Constituency, there are two established Colleges. College of Agriculture Garkawa is in Mikang and Lowland College of Education Shendam. Quanpan has College of Arts, Sciences and Technology (CAST) sited in Kurgwi. These are enough for Governor Lalong to allow Langtang to get the Polytechnic. We are aware that Governor Lalong transferred Mopol Barrack in Kadarako to Shendam. The same Governor Lalong transferred Federal Road Safety Training from Jos to Shendam and also he announced the shifting of Plateau State Medical College to Shendam. Is this how to run governance in building Plateau State? I am not in any way against the development of Shendam but don't rob Paul and pay Silas because they are all the same human beings.

We are living in a world that nobody knows what the future holds. Tarok Nation has prominent sons and daughters that served Nigeria selflessly without sentiment. Late Chief Solomon Lar, who was Governor of Plateau State had every opportunity to bring Federal Establishment sited in Jos to Langtang but he did not. Late Senator Silas Jangfa constructed one of the best Road in Shendam up to date, the road has not lost its standard. They were being patriotic but today, his products are fighting their ancestral hometown, Langtang.

Today is yours, tomorrow may not be yours. Governor Lalong please take note. We are watching how events unfold.

God bless Plateau State

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Comrade TN Timkat

Public Affairs Analyst/Coordinator, Economic Freedom Fighters, Nigeria

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