As Nigerians welcomed the much expected and all important Constitution review aimed at addressing the shortcomings of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as Amended), Plateau Our Heritage (POH) received with utter consternation and disappointment the action of the over 17 Plateau State House of Assembly Members who boycotted the “National exercise” held in Jos, the State Capital for reason(s) best known to them.
The two-day event which saw critical stakeholders, Civil Society Organizations, Community Development Associations, socio-cultural groups, religious groups, youth/women groups, professional bodies and opinion leaders submitting memorandum that will help Nigeria address the Constitutional lacuna bedeviling it, as we were faced with a situation where representatives who ordinarily should be the voices of the people boycotted the well intended exercise.
Sensitive issues that are needed to make the Nation work were laid before the Committee by well meaning Citizens without any input from the Plateau State House of Assembly despite the numerous challenges confronting the State.
Their action is not only a disgrace, but wicked and we condemn it in the strongest terms.
This is the peak of insensitivity to the plights of the people of Plateau State who have been yearning for credible and effective representation.
As a respectable group, we wouldn’t want to cast aspersions or incite the citizens against the State Lawmakers but it is imperative for the electorates to know the reason behind such obnoxious action of the Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly when Members from other States were at the public hearing defying the security challenges.
We would want to know if such action is in consonance with the interest of those they are representing or their parochial interests.
From our observation, we noticed sufficient sitting arrangements were made for all the Members but to our dismay, the seats were left empty for the two (2) days the National exercise took place.
One will wonder if such opportunity will present itself again to the State .
The action of the Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly is a gargantuan embarrassment to the State, Members of the National Assembly from the State, citizens of the State and the Nation considering the fact that the State hosted the exercise and the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Idris Ahmed who doubled as the Chairman of the Special Committee is from the State.
As a group, we want to make it known that we have lost confidence on the Leadership and Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly. We also urge the public to hold them accountable for the poor representation of issues affecting the State which needed serious attention.
Whatever disagreement the Legislature may have with the Executive, does not warrant this. This is sheer demonstration of ineptitude. They can do their best to appear and expose the executive arm. Then public sympathy would go for them.
Having squandered this golden opportunity (which is time bound) of Plateau State, their efforts to seek forgiveness without a penance will be incomplete and must be rejected.
What lenses does the electorate need to get the right representatives in future (2023)? The journey begins now with all patriotic Plateau citizens to look before they leap-lets not keep repeating the same mistake.
We are laying this to the court of public opinions and believe posterity would judge this set of state lawmakers accordingly.
As a group, we are committed to issues that will make Plateau a more peaceful, united, safer, secured and prosperous State.
Hon. Alex Yola Kwapnoe
Chairman, POH
Cmr. Friday Bako
Secretary, POH