In a shocking revelation, retired Air Vice Marshal Napoleon Bali, Senator representing Plateau South in the National Assembly, has claimed in a recent interview on Arise Television that the ongoing crises in Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau State are politically motivated. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State has condemned these allegations, describing them as absurd and lacking substance.
Senator Bali’s explosive interview shed light on a hidden agenda to destabilize Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration, with politicians allegedly leveraging federal power to harass and threaten the governor. However, the APC in a statement by Hon. Sylvanus Namang, APC State Publicity Secretary, dismisses these claims, questioning the Senator’s motives and demanding concrete evidence to support his assertions.
The party raises several critical questions in response to Senator Bali’s allegations. If he and Governor Mutfwang are privy to the identities of the suspects behind the crises, why haven’t they reported them to the appropriate security agencies for prosecution? What role has the retired military general played in utilizing his expertise, professionalism, and experience to quell the ongoing conflicts? By insinuating that the Presidency and its apparatuses are involved in fueling the crises, is Senator Napoleon Bali merely engaging in political grandstanding and playing with public sentiments?
The APC strongly condemns the continuous crises in the affected areas but cautions both Governor Mutfwang and Senator Bali against politicizing the security of lives and property. The party urges them to set aside political differences and collaborate in finding sustainable solutions to the escalating situation.
In line with their commitment to peace, the APC had previously called for an all-inclusive meeting of critical stakeholders, transcending religious and political affiliations, to address the prevailing challenges. The party expresses gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his fatherly concern and emphasizes the importance of trust-building and harmony restoration among community leaders, religious and traditional rulers, and socio-cultural organizations to foster genuine and lasting peace.
The party challenges Senator Napoleon Bali to promptly disclose the names of the politicians or individuals involved in the heinous acts of violence that have inflicted immense sorrow upon the people of Plateau State. Failure to do so, the APC warns, would lead to considering the Senator as an accomplice, given his stature as a retired General and representative of the people in the highest echelons of lawmaking.
The revelation of any pertinent information by Senator Bali could potentially mark the beginning of a genuine solution to the ongoing crises, rather than indulging in grandstanding and posturing for the sake of appearances. The people of Plateau State anxiously await the truth behind these unsettling events and hope for swift action to bring those responsible to justice.