Plateau Southern and Central Zone Unity Forum Blows Hot, Warns Mischief Makers

Plateau Southern and Central Zone Unity Forum Blows Hot, Warns Mischief Makers

    Walbe Orgak

Arising from its end-of-the-year meeting the Plateau, Southern, and Central Zone
Unity Forum has resolved to remain united and committed to the ideals of its mission and vision. Members of the group unanimously frowned at the attitudes of some individuals who want to drag the group's name into disrepute and ridicule.

The Plateau, Southern, and Central Zone Unity Forum board of trustee spoke persons, Engr. Thomas Dimka while recalling some of the activities of the group said the group came into existence in the year 2006 noting that since then it has had an unbroken leadership succession of four-year tenure who are being elected with the current leadership Reverend Dr. Polycarp Success Jurbe.

He said initially the name of the group was called a political forum, but due to growing numbers of members and to accommodate other interest groups the name was changed to The Plateau Southern and Central Zone Unity Forum.

 Engr. Thomas Dimka said over the years the group has supported its members and individual who shares their ideology, mission, and vision and they are seeking political elective positions to win elections.

He further said, ‘I am proud to say that our members are peace-loving and committed to achieving the mandate of the group.

He said it is laughable that some individuals decided to test the will of the group with a preposterous press release; however, he commended the leadership of the groups led by Reverend Dr. Polycarp Success Jurbe's maturity, wisdom, and conscientious handling of the matter.

He said the members of the Board of Trustees they are calling on the general public must especially politicians to be wary of such dubious individuals because they are not their members.

Engr. Thomas Dimka reiterated that Plateau, Southern and Central Zone Unity Forum is a force to be reckoned with and its members are large enough to have an impact in any election. Noting that they have over eighty-five thousand registered members in Jos North alone.

Also speaking after the meeting is Mr. Theodore Danladi who spoke on behalf of the stakeholder and noted that the group was created primarily to connect as well as engaged the Southern and Central Plateau people leaving in Jos in the political activities of the state.

Theodore Danladi urged the general public to disregard the press release issued by some desperate individuals who are afraid of the strength of groups and are bent on using the name of the group for their selfish and dubious ends.

He said, the press release was calculated to distract the group’s members from their activities; but it has, however, further strengthened and cemented their relationship as a family and they are coming together today to resolve to remain focused and committed, ‘infarct we are now bolder and we response accordingly’ he added.

Blessing Go’ar the leader of the women's group said the group has become part of them and there is nothing somebody will do that will dampened their spirit, she said they are peace-loving people, she said nobody has the monopoly of mischief, therefore, she is advising them to desist from engaging themselves from making such kind of things and also seek retribution.

The Youth Leader Geoffrey John Gotep said the group has come a long way and cannot be blackmailed during this crucial electioneering campaign.

He said their impact on an election is huge and very fundamental in winning an election, which is why some disparate individuals want to break their chain of unity, but it will not work, it is dead on arrival he added. 

He said their membership continues to grow and they are making a huge wave in the political arena in Jos and its environs.

The youth leader commended the leadership of Dr. Polycarp Success Jurbe noting that his maturity and abilities are an asset and they believe in his capacity to lead the group at this crucial time.

The Secretary General of the Plateau, Southern and Central Zone Unity Forum Danjuma Bali who spoke on behalf of the EXCO said the group is the makeup of indigenous of the Plateau Southern and Central Zones who are domiciled in Jos.

He noted that the joint meeting was called by the chairman Reverend Dr.
Polycarp Success Jurbe to brief the members on the progress, and the way forward as the year comes to an end. He noted that his attention was drawn to a malicious publication that was aimed at destroying the group.

Bali noted they have already put measures unground to address the issues amicably and decisively, he assured the group that they remain committed and more refined to carry out their activities with greater determination and vigor.

He explained that the alleged leader of the other faction is also the secretary of a political party which is even against their constitution, which said no members of Plateau, Southern, and Central Zone Unity Forum shall hold any leadership position in any political party unless he resigns his membership.

In his closing statements, the chairman of Plateau, Southern and Central Zone Unity Forum Dr. Polycarp Success Jurbe urged the members to be calmed and remained on focus on achieving success in their fort-coming programs.

He said the Board of Trustees has already taken a stand and the EXCO will soon issue a statement outlining its programs and activities.  

GOVERNOR LALONG ELATED AS TCN SETS TO COMPLETE MAKERI-GURATOP-PANKSHIN 132 KVA LINE TO SUPPLY 14 LGAs.

GOVERNOR LALONG ELATED AS TCN SETS TO COMPLETE MAKERI-GURATOP-PANKSHIN 132 KVA LINE TO SUPPLY 14 LGAs. 

Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong says the people of the State have received an early Christmas gift from President Muhammadu Buhari as the 14 Local Governments in the Central and Southern Senatorial Districts which have been without power are set to begin enjoying power supply in the next three months.

Governor Lalong who received a delegation from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) together with officials of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) at the Government House Rayfield Jos, said he was delighted that the project which was awarded 10 years ago but stagnated for various reasons is finally being completed.

The Governor said the Stringing of the Makeri-Guratop-Pankshin 132 KVA Line which will supply power to the Central and Southern parts of Plateau, as well as parts of Taraba and Bauchi States is a major project that will change the lives of the people and promote industrialization and economic prosperity.

He recalled how he made efforts together with the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Idris Wase to ensure that the Federal Government revisits the project which is of enormous economic and security benefit to the people particularly at the grassroots.

While thanking President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Power Alh. Abubakar Aliyu and the MD TCN for their efforts, the Governor assured the contractor that the Government will give him all the support needed to ensure that the work is completed within schedule.

He also appreciated the communities along the corridor who cooperated with Government to settle their grievances out of court which enabled matters relating to Right of Way to be settled once and for all.

Earlier, leader of the delegation and GM Engineering Transmission Engr. Shehu Abba Aliyu said they were in the State on the directive of the Minister of Power to ensure that the contractor commences work with the mandate to complete it within 3 months.

He praised Governor Lalong for stepping in and taking bold decisions that led to the settlement of the 5-year old legal battle with communities and property owners within the Right of Way.

He said the materials for the completion have been imported, funding provided, and variation issues considered for the completion of the project. What he said remained a challenge was the threat of vandalism which had affected the existing infrastructure.

Governor Lalong assured him that the Government will work with the security and traditional rulers as well as community leaders to safeguard the equipment and personnel working on the project.

The team later proceeded to the field for commencement of work.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham

Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.

23rd December 2022.   

THEME: THERE CAN BE NO PROSPERITY IN THE JUNGLE

THEME: THERE CAN BE NO PROSPERITY IN THE JUNGLE 

Nigerian Institute of Town Planners has Called on the Federal Government to Enact the Law and Created a Ministry to enable it function well.

Sparking, the Preside t of the Association, Mr Nathaniel Atebije stated thus during the National Press Conference in Abuja.

According to him  Nigeria has groped in darkness and confusion for many years.  The dream of prosperity has been an illusion and recurring mirage. 

He Noted that, Various and successive governments have wallowed in the “near or no success syndrome as Hopes of the citizenry have been dashed times without number. 

Mr Atebije said the poor are getting poorer and the bargain for safety has been costly and unaffordable.

He stressed that   Impunity and survival of the fittest built on the foundation of selfishness and greed puts the nation out of touch with the principles of sustainable development as leaders endorsed along with many other international treaties.

He affirm that Nigerian settlements are a caricature of space, a travesty of order and display of environmental cacophony. 

''Where physical planning is not achieved, economic planning and development remain a mirage, because all economic activities take place on land. Prosperity is achieved where the environment is orderly, functional, aesthetically pleasant and safe, these are the attributes that any planned space is endowed with''. He Said.

Mr Atebije said For effective function, it is believed that “square pegs should be kept in square holes”. But wither Nigeria; where non-experts in physical planning are the team leaders in decisions that affect the use of land.

He said said Time has come and now it is, for Nigeria to chart a course for a Brighter Future for the prosperity of Nigerians and its citizens. We therefore call on governments at all levels and the people of this nation to Urgently activate the law on urban and regional planning which was enacted in 1992 and set up relevant structures to promote the planning and development of our human settlements;Create permanent Ministry of Physical Planning rather than making it an appendage to any other organ of government;  Recruit town planners to beef up the manpower gap in offices of government; train and retrain the planners in public establishments to enhance their professional capacities and improved performance. Ensure that land (which is our natural and common inheritance and patrimony for all generations) should not be dispensed and shared among people as reward for political patronage. It should only be used judiciously after it has been properly planned by town planners.

He Called on Government to  Prepare national, regional and local area master plans respectively to tackle and mitigate flooding and other environmental disasters in Nigeria within the framework of twenty to 

 (20/25) years’ time frame. 

He appealed fir the Engagement of town planners to prepare physical development plans to guide location of land uses for effective harnessing of resources to promote their economic and social benefits. 

''These plans would include National Physical Development Plan at the national level, Regional and Sub-Regional Development Plans, Urban and Rural Master plans, Sector Plans, District Plans, Detailed Site Development Plans and Action Area Plans at the State and Local Government levels. It will also require the engagement of professional Town Planners in both private and public sectors as consultants and operators/implementers of the plans.ConclusionIt is only in jungles that nature acts without control and direction. When jungles are to be turned into habitable places for humans and other components of life, it because an environment to develop and prosper''.