Modest Thoughts with Ayuba, Yilgak'ha, 26th October, 2024)
Once upon a time, Ngas Nation enjoyed the rare privilege of producing the longest serving Head of State in person of our elder statesman, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd.). It, also, produced a military Administrator in former Benue/Plateau State, Late Commissioner of Police, JD Gomwalk. These legends have great legacies which continue to ring bells nationally and internationally. However, after about 5 decades of their exceptional leadership representations at Federal and state levels respectively, their kinsmen could not make it to national prominence, especially, in politics.
Under this current democratic dispensation (fourth Republic), all that the Ngas nation produced Senators and House of Representative members representing Plateau Central Senatorial Zone and Pankshin, Kanke Kanam (PKK) respectively, at the National Assembly. The Distinguished Senators the nation had were Late Sen. Satty Davies Gogwim (2007-2011) and Sen. Hezekiah Ayuba Dimka (2019 - 2023). In the House of Representatives, Late Hon. Josiah Gobum (1999 - 2003), Hon. Leo Dilkon (2003 - 2007), Hon. Emmanuel Go'ar (2007 - 2011) and Hon. Dr. Timothy Golu (2019 - 2015) made the list from Ngas extraction.
The Ngas nation has not produced a democratically elected President or a Governor in Plateau State. Until Hon. Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda made the list, it could not produce a Minister under any dispensation - be civilian or military. This ministerial appointment, therefore, is a gate opener for greater possibilities, at least, for the Nation. The appointment is, also, a solemn call to duty: First to Nigerian people; second, Plateau people, and of course, thirdly, the Ngas people. The decision surrounding the appointment of the Minister Designate could never have been based on tribal consideration; but still, the designated Appointee has a responsibility to his ancestral root.
He has moral obligation to provide political leadership for his people, rally them, and make contributions towards national growth and development. Any counsel to the contrary will be a great disservice that will not do him any good. In fact, the love, unity and progress his appointment will bring back home shall be back home shall be the most basic measure of his success in Abuja!
Political appointment in a democracy is a process involving lobby. This means that some political lobbying must have been done with influential persons or power brokers playing overt and covert roles here and there, but ultimately, the Minister Designate is eminently qualified. 'The man in the mirror' has a very rich resume which suggests he has diligently and practically prepared himself for the huge national task. It also means that any contact or lobby that was made in respect of this appointment could have been an icing on the cake and, to the glory of God, it has materialised!
By virtue of his status as governorship in the last General Elections and appointment as a Minister designate, Hon. Minister Nominee has automatically become the political leader of his Party, the APC in Plateau State, and a representative of the State in national governance matrix. This means that he has the onerous responsibility to build bridges of understanding and love, make deliberate effort at uniting his Party members while serving/representing Plateau people with utmost diligence and commitment. Active collaboration and not competition has a way of catalysing and stabilising any human ecosystem towards collective prosperity!
Given his appointment too, Hon. Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, is a national game player. He is not a novice in the national politics/governance spaces but this new responsibility will certainly increase his visibility in these spheres. His level of engagement with other national, and even international players, will be enhanced hence the need to utilise the opportunity proficiently for the common good!
With his vast wealth of experience in Public Service (former lecturer and former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner, Benue State) with vast expertise in Electrical/Electronics, Information and Communication Engineering, etc, which have made him a ranking consultant, he has the requisite potential to be relevant under the Renewed Hope, knowledge-based and technology driven Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The Minister Designate has prepared himself, and his day has come to make even greater difference in the Service of Nigeria!
One good advantage is that the Minister designate is not only vast in knowledge, but seasoned morally and emotionally. He has patience and empathy with great passion for community development. The man is a believer in capacity building, a friend of youth as well as mobiliser of women. He is visionary and sensitive to implications of today's action on tomorrow's outcomes. When these virtuous are combined with intellectual prowess, you get a capable Minister with a human face!
The responsibility of being in-charge of Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, given the economic realities of contemporary Nigeria, is a herculean one. A close look at the Country's economic standing, particularly, as it relates to unemployment, poverty, insecurity and reoccurrence of natural disasters (misery index), will give whoever cares to know a sense of how weighty the responsibility at hand is for this Nominee.
Highlights on 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index survey conducted by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 'revealed that 63% of persons living within Nigeria, representing 133 million the Country's population were said to be multi - dimensionally poor. The National MPI was put at 0.257, indicating that the poor in this Country have experienced over one-quarter of all possible deprivations'. With the current hike in the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol and basic food stuffs, these statistics are not changed for good yet. The Country is still the Poverty Capital of the world after overtaking India in 2019. Thus, the task, before the Hon. Minister designate is that of drastically reducing this alarming rate of poverty in the Country. Synergising relevant Agencies and stakeholder could go a long way!
With recurrent cases of natural disasters (e.g. flooding), raging trends in terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, etc., which have left many Nigerians with daring humanitarian concerns - trauma, hunger, housing and health emergencies, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction (MHAPR) is expected to intervene to restore hope in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda this present Govenment.This means that 'the man in the mirror' really needs help and support as he takes over the huge responsibility of providing succour to the most vulnerable people amongst us. The MHAPR will be a centre of attraction in view of recent happenings there; hence, the need for prayers for the Minister Designate to succeed - making a difference.
God rules in the affairs of men and destiny is at work in the life of people. The Honourable Minister designate, Dr. Nentawe, politically bargained for governorship seat in Plateau State, but responsibility beckoned on him to at the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and curiously, from a State governed by a Party (PDP) not his own. He is likely the only ministerial nominee that has emerged in this manner in the State's history. What is the magic here: Party politics or God's intervention or just luck? No one could provide accurate answer but God, 'the uncaused Cause and the unmoved Mover'! We can only pray his voice gains frequency, favour and influence, at this level of service to God - 'the greatest Carpenter', and humanity, the focus of good governance!
Suffice to state at this juncture that the Hon. Ministerial nominee is a developing story. He has the prospect of growing taller in politics and leadership. Therefore, doing a good job now will project him, and serve as an ample opportunity for global recognition. A lot needs to be done to make this happen. In other words, the success of the Minister will depend on the quality of the support the citizens will give his stewardship even at the home front: Plateau and Ngas nation!
As we congratulate him on this well deserved appointment, it is imperative to promptly draw the attention of the Nominee to the wise counsel of Master KG in this hit song titled, "Skeleton": "No matter where you go, remember the road that will lead you home." This appointment comes with very high expectations but, we the people have to tame our expectation. We must not ask for to much because the Minister nominee cannot solve all our problems but to give all the best he can. His appointment is worth the patient wait. Congratulations and best wishes to the Minister designate and the colleagues with whom he will be serving up there!
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