EDITORIAL: CALEB MUTFWANG’S AGENDA, THE PEOPLE’S WILL AND THE INTEGRATION OF PLATEAU PROJECT III POSSIBILITY

It is no longer news that, Caleb Mutfwang Manasseh, won the Plateau Governorship election conducted by INEC on the 18^th of March, 2023. It is also a fact that the people in Plateau State, voted for him to enable him get majority of the votes cast. Although some political parties and their candidates are challenging the victory at the Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, the people who voted for caleb (Esq) must have done so owing to personal conviction. integration

1. The core reason(s) behind this Editorial is to draw the attention of the Governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang to the reality that it is the people that rule now in the New Nigeria. He must come to terms with the fact that, the WILL of the people must be his focus and that, the rule of the Minority over Majority is becoming a thing of the past.
2. Caleb Mutfwang, must find a place in his heart as he would be sworn-in on 29^th May, 2023, to cause for the unity of the citizens especially, across the geopolitical zones, political leaders and leaders of thought in the state. their contribution in the needed development of the state cannot be taken for granted.
3. The Governor-in-waiting, must factor in and integrate the goals of the people behind Plateau project I and II, as Plateau Project III is very possible looking at the standard the members of the group have established within this short time. It is a fact that, their influence and reach denied Sen. Jang’s plan in 2015 and also defeated the plans of Governor Lalong in the present 2023 gubernatorial and Senatorial election in the state. you would recall that, Plateau Project II produced the Governor-elect and it can influence several other issues as they take stock on behave of the citizens.

4. Mutfwang must recognize competence in conjunction with the state’s interest as he take steps to dish out his administrative appointments. Many have fallen and failed on this part.
5. The Issue of accommodating Non-indigenes in his administration cutting across several tribes in the state must be very strategic because they all played their roles towards his emergence.
6. The issue of insecurity and the return of the people to their allegedly captured villages must come to the table immediately he resumes office, as this is one of the core reason why the outgoing administration failed in the peoples’ eyes.
7. The field is wide and the road would be clear from 29^th May, 2023.

The Decision is Yours, Governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang (Esq)!!

PLATEAU GOVERNORSHIP: UNLAWFUL EXCLUSION: DABWAN ALFRED CLARK AND NNPP FILE PETITION, CHALLENGING THE VICTORY OF MUTFWANG, PDP, OTHERS

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

Apart from the petition filed by Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe and the All Progressives Congress (APC) against INEC, Mutfwang Caleb Manasseh (Esq) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over their victory at the polls, also dissatisfied with the outcome and conduct of the governorship election in Plateau State, Dabwan Alfred Clark, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) and one Solomon Nandy Chendan of the African Democratic Party (ADC) have filed their petitions at the Governorship Election Tribunal in Jos.

The 1^st petitioner, Dabwan Alfred Clark, who stated that he has the right to vote and be voted for, in his petition stated that, he was duly nominated and sponsored by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), as the governorship candidate in the governorship election for Plateau state, held on Saturday, 18^th March, 2023.

He however claimed that, he was unlawfully excluded from contesting the said election even though he was duly sponsored by the 2^nd petitioner.

“The petitioners state that the said election ought to be cancelled for non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022 and for the unlawful exclusion of the Petitioners from the election”. The claim reads.

Also before the National and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal in Jos, is the petition of Daniel Asama Ago and Labour Party, challenging the victory of Hon. Musa Avia Agah of the PDP.

The petition also has, Hon. Adamu Muhammad Alkali, PDP, PRP and INEC as Respondents.

The Petitioner, Daniel Asama Ago, in his petition, claimed that, he was the candidate of Labour Party at the election for the office of Member of the House of Representatives for Jos/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau state, held on the 25^th day of February, 2023.

You would recall that, the constitution of the Election Petitions Tribunal in Plateau State was done in line with Section 285 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice M. B. Donge An-Mensem (CFR) and communicated via press release dated 22 February, 2020 and signed by, Mrs. Diete-Spiff Belemo, as Secretary Election Petition Tribunal Plateau State.

Findings by this Newspaper also confirms that, Gyang Yaya Zi (Esq) and the Labour Party have filed their petition, challenging INEC, PDP over the victory of Mwadkwon Simon Davou, for the election for the office of Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Plateau North Senatorial District, held on the 25^th day of February, 2023.

HEALTH: MY STORY AS A BENEFICIARY OF PLASCHEMA—PRINCE VALENTINE ADESE (JP)

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

It all started as a rumour that, the Plateau State Government under the leadership of the incumbent Governor, Right Hon. Simon Lalong, would be putting together, the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA).

GOV. LALONG

To many of us, who have not managed health and had never come in close contact with many citizens, who were passing through the problems of “Out of Pocket Health Care Expenses”, we never took time to appreciate the ideal of the scheme.

The scheme however, was established and it took huge efforts of the Director General (DG) to make it run with the aid of other volunteers.

For weeks and months, the D-G, Dr. Jemchang Fabong, with his able staff, took time to promote the scheme and making people like me, a Journalist, Media owner and Manager to understand and propagate the benefit(s) of keying into the scheme.

To encourage us as Journalists in Plateau State to participate in the scheme, the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong and the DG, Dr. Jemchang Fabong, paid the Premium of over 50 Journalists in the state.

Well, I now live to tell the story!

AT THE HOSPITAL’S CLINIC

It all started like a joke, when I decided to go for a general check up in my hospital, Chilas Specialist Hospital in Jos, Plateau State under the scheme, after the Presidential and Governorship elections that took place in Nigeria, this year.

During the checks, it was discovered that, I am having a developing case of Catarracts in my Right Eye and I needed to be referred to another hospital.

Smooth and easy, I was referred to Bingham University Teaching Hospital by the Doctor in Chilas. On getting to Bingham, the process and the referral letter were acknowledged and adequate administrative attention were give to them and I was now a patient of Bingham.

Knowing that I am a Journalist and my Eyes were key professional human tools, the Eye Clinic staff in Bingham, made the process of seeing the Eye Specialist in the unit immediately I got their attention.

AFTER THE OPERATION

I was reprimand and schooled by the Matron and other staff of the clinic to have failed to check on my eyes even when I know it was very important to my job. They advised that I should know that, “without the eyes, the body is not existing”.

I am sure you understand that, without PLASCHEMA, I would not have known this practical fact to date!

I was schedule for an operation with others, however, it was in the course of preparing for the operation that I came to known that there were many Health Insurance Schemes and PLASCHEMA, was operating to fill the gap others have missed or failed to cover.

Apart from the smooth nature of the referral process, the task of clearance at the Insurance Unit demanded humility, as the staffs were over loaded with work, top most with PLASCHEMA beneficiaries, of which I am ONE.

RELAXING AFTER ALL THE WAHALA

I must state here that, all the information concerning “not spending from one’s pocket throughout the process and paying only 10% of the cost of drugs” is a fact. I AM NOW A LIVING WITNESS!

I have gone through the operation and in the last three (3) weeks, I have been observing the rules and directives of the Doctor and Nurses.

I had my checks yesterday, 26^th April, 2023 and the Nurses, especially the Matron were happy with my sight development. I am also happy!

ON DUTY

I have resumed duty at my desk in REALITY NEWSPAPERS as I write.

ON DUTY TODAY

I must therefore use this opportunity to thank the Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, the DG, PLASCHEMA, Dr. Fabong, for this health scheme.

I also want to thank the entire Staff of PLASCHEMA, the Medical Staff and Nurses of Bingham, my Family and Friends, who were so concerned. I really appreciate!!

I AM VALENTINE ADESE (JP)

To others, kindly key into this program, you will never regret your steps. It is actually a life and cost saver!!

WE WILL CONDUCT CREDIBLE CENSUS, NPC TELLS JOURNALISTS IN PLATEAU

By: Alfred Saiki,

The members of the National Population Commission (NPC), led by the Plateau State Director, Pam Du Deme, have reiterated that the Commission would conduct a credible Census in Nigeria.

The members reiterated their decision while paying the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Plateau Council an advocacy visit to seek the support of its members on the upcoming population census slated for May 2023.

Deme, while appealing to the members of the NUJ for support, emphasized that, the NPC was ready to conduct a credible census as it will help Nigeria plan better.

PAM DU DEME STATE DIRECTOR

“This year’s census will be better conducted in terms of methodology and technology. I can assure you that it will not be easy to manipulate as the equipment to be used is location-based and it is digitalized. The census will be tied to houses.

“Census is more than just figures. For any effective planning, you need more than figures. The government needs the data for sufficient planning so that the allocation of resources will be done to appropriate quarters.

The Director urged journalists to let the people know what the Commission is up to so that, everyone would be on the same page.

“We ask for you and your colleagues to give us the necessary coverage and support so as to avoid misconceptions from the populace as census in Nigeria is a very sensitive issue”. They said.

JATAU (NUJ CHAIRMAN) AND PAM DU DEME (STATE DIRECTOR)

Reacting, Paul Jatau, the Chairman of the Plateau State Council of the NUJ, while welcoming members of the NPC, assured them that, “the doors of the NUJ is always open to them and as a Council, his members will do everything possible to promote their activities”.

Jatau urged them to ensure that proper training was given to the enumerators and that the people trained should be the ones used to conduct the exercise.

JATAU

You would recall that, the 2023 census would hold from the 3^rd to 7^th of May, 2023 in Nigeria. Recall that the last census in Nigeria was held 17 years ago.

The Director was accompanied for the visit by Mrs. Priscillia Jaggu, Head of Technical, Felicia Mwolpun, Head of Vital Registration, and Jick Lawrence, Head of Public Affairs.