Positive reactions have continued to trail the victory of Barr. Caleb Mutfwang as the Governor-elect in Plateau State.
Since Mutfwang was declared by INEC on Monday last week, citizens and well-wishers have offered congratulatory messages with the latest coming from Ms. Jophia Gupar, the Plateau State Coordinator, Women4Women/He4She community.
Gupar, who is also the Founder/President, the Pan-African Young Women Development Initiative, PAYWODI congratulated Barr. Mutfwang for emerging victorious and urged him and his wife, Helen to continue to work with women groups when he assumes office.
Recall that Barr. Mufwang chose a female as the running mate and the Deputy Governor-elect, is Mrs. Josephine Piyo.
Gupar said many women and girls worked for and voted for the People’s Democratic Party candidate because he chose to work with a woman and she desires to see women being carried along as she advised Mutfwang’s administration not to emulate Governor Simon Lalong’s administration where women were not reckoned with.
Her words, “The issue of women should not be taken for granted because women are builders, nurturers, peacemakers and the community, the world cannot function well without the women. Women supported the PDP because Barr. Mutfwang chose a woman as a running mate. During the campaigns, she was very active and the women rally around her. When they announced the results, you could see the joy, and women were at the forefront.
“The ruling Party in Plateau State did not support women, and those who sought political offices were not supported. The First Lady, Mrs. Lalong did not identify with women groups and that was a minus. I don’t know what women did to her. I have not heard that she called for any meeting of women’s groups like it was done in other states.
“This time, the next First Lady of Plateau State should identify the umbrella body of women, the NCWS, and all its members. We will monitor her activities as they concern women because the success of her husband’s election is because Plateau women came out to make sacrifices.”
She added, “I congratulate Barr. Mutfwang, we pray for God’s guidance. Let him lead Plateau fairly to everyone and focus on the State. I don’t want his administration to joke with women and youths. Plateau women are enterprising and the youths are talented. He should put people in clusters and empower them.
“He should carry everyone along, we are tired and will not tolerate what we tolerated from Lalong, also we need unity in the State. Let’s do away with bitterness…”
Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has warned Nigerians against repeating what he described as the mistake of voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in previous elections.
Lamido gave the warning while speaking at the inauguration of the PDP Campaign Council, held at the party’s state headquarters in Dutse, Jigawa State.
He urged Nigerians to critically assess the performance of previous PDP administrations and compare it with that of the current administration before making their choices in the 2027 general elections.
“I believe Nigerians have learnt from their mistakes. Therefore, they must critically examine the achievements of previous administrations under the PDP and compare them with those of the current administration before deciding who should lead them,” he said.
Lamido accused the APC-led administration of failing to meet the expectations of Nigerians, saying the country and Jigawa State needed experienced and competent leaders to address their challenges.
He also criticised the APC administration, alleging that citizens in the state and across the country had suffered setbacks in healthcare, education and other critical sectors.
“Today, Jigawa is facing serious challenges in accessing quality healthcare. Hospitals lack adequate medical services and essential drugs, while the education sector continues to deteriorate,” he said.
Lamido described the PDP as a major force in Nigeria’s political history, noting that many political leaders began their careers under the party.
“Since 1999, almost all political parties have collapsed, leaving the PDP as the only surviving party to date,” he said.
“It has seen yesterday, Today and, by the grace of God, it will see tomorrow,” Lamido added.
He further assured party supporters that the PDP was prepared to campaign for its candidates at all levels, including the presidency, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.
He pledged that the party would conduct peaceful campaigns without insults, intimidation or personal attacks, stressing that its major objective was to restore good governance and public confidence in leadership.
Suspected gunmen on Friday reportedly killed two persons at a mining site in Burdinga, Gashish District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In a statement on Friday, the spokesman for Berom Youth Moulders-Association, Rwang Tengwong, condemned the attack on the miners.
Mr Tengwong identified the victims as Goodluck Bulus and Emmanuel Monday.
He noted that Mr Bulu’s father was killed by suspected gunmen a decade ago.
“The apparent repetition of tragedy within the same family underscores the devastating human cost of persistent insecurity and the urgent need to end this cycle of violence,” Mr Tengwong said.
The group said it was concerned by the abduction and subsequent killing of Pam Dachung Kim, a native of Gwol Hoss gunmen on Tuesday while returning from his workplace at Rahoss Primary School.
“That a person could be targeted while returning from work is a disturbing reminder that ordinary residents continue to face grave risks in their daily activities,” he said.
The state police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, didn’t immediately respond to the Peoples Gazette comment on the issue.
Barely six days ago, suspected gunmen killed three miners at a mining site in the Janus area of Kazok village, Gashish district, Barkin Ladi area of the state.
On June 16, gunmen reportedly killed five miners at a mining site in Gero village, Gy district of Jos South Local Government area of the state.