The Jama’atu Nasril Islam Youths plateau state chapters has expressed disappointment over what they described as the “irresponsible response” by the plateau state government over theor earlier complaine about how other faiths were sidelined.
ROtv24 had earlier reported that, the State government sidelined other faiths by depriving them to benefit from the said N500mln donation by Nigeria’s first lady Senator Remi Tinubu to cushion the hardship of victims who were affected in the crisis.
However, only names of 500 christians seems to appear on the said list including the name of the husband to the deputy Governor got recognised.
In a response statement jointly signed by BASHAR BALA MUSTAPHA Chiarman and ABUBAKAR SADIQ ZAKI Secretary of the JNI wing plateau state chapter described the response as not only irresponsible but insulting.
The statement reads:
We are appalled by the irresponsible response by the Plateau State Commissioner for Information to the letter written to His Excellency the Plateau State Governor by our parent body, the JNI Plateau State Chapter which was carried by some media houses, Including the Daily Trust newspaper.
The Commissioner was reported thus by the Daily Trust ‘
The State Commissioner for information, Musa Ashoms, denied the allegation, saying the selection of the beneficiaries was not based on religion or ethnicity.
The Commissioner said, “We are looking at people that were affected by insurgency and terrorist attacks in Plateau. We didn’t pick them based on religious basis. This is a matter of intervention by the first lady.
“So, as a government, it is not the issue of religion. Many people were affected. It is not only 500 people that were affected. We didn’t profile people based on religion, ethnicity or political affiliation. It is not every issue that people politicise or bring religious coloration to it.”
We honestly find this excuse not only highly irresponsible but insulting to our collective sensibilities.
A careful perusal of the list of the beneficiary allegedly compiled by one Sunday Audu, Secretary SEMA, clearly indicates the opposite of what the Hon Information Commissioner claimed.
Assuming the selection was done randomly as claimed by the Commissioner, there is no way no single Muslim will be found as victim across the five targeted Local Government Areas.
It is on record that in Mangu Local Government Area along, no fewer than 5 Fulani settlements were destroyed. Yet none of the inhabitants of those settlements was captured.
A closer look at the list compiled by the State Government revealed names of people who suffered nothing as a result of the said crisis.
For instance, we see the name of Rondong Wash Pam, the son of one time Deputy Senate President, who is now an aide to Senators Mwadkwon, whose family house is at Foron, where nothing happened. The name of the SLA to the same serving senator is also in the list.
In the same vein, No:100 on the list of Barkin Ladi LG is Rev Ezekiel Dachollom who was the link of PDP and COCIN Rev’s & Pastors during the election period.
No:37 on the list of Riyom LG is the PDP chairman of Riyom LGA.
No:99 on Barkin Ladi LG list is the State Organizing Secretary of PDP one Chocho.
These are random samplings to show that the selection was carefully done based on sentiment rather than Justice and fairness.
We feel His Excellency the Plateau State Governor should come out cleaner than this because we believe he is a leader to all in the State. His aides are not living up to his target of inclusive governance and he needs to check timely before they tarnish his hard earned reputation as a leader.