How Lalong Allegedly Plans To Divert   N6.6 Billion-Plateau PDP

Yakubu Busari

It was cheering news to the people of Plateau especially when the news filtered in the state is getting a refund of N6, 601,769,470.99 from the Federal Government.

Hon .Yiljap Abraham, the Director, Directorate of Media and Publicity Atiku-Okowa Mutfwang-Piyo Campaign Council Plateau State in a statement said; “According to the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunfe Fashola the Federal Executive Council approved the reimbursement on Wednesday  “for road projects executed on behalf of the federal government.”

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister explained  that the refunds “were necessary.”

Six-point-Six billion Naira is no small amount for a state that is struggling with staggering debt and a very uncomplimentary poverty score among 36 other states. 

We are aware that last December, a federal team from Abuja visited the state and inspected some selected projects from Jos North to Langtang South. It would appear that PDP-completed projects are also included among those that made up the package that has been qualified for the refund.

It is for this administration to disclose to the people of Plateau the projects that have made the refunds “necessary” as claimed by the Hon Minister of Works and Housing.

We find it also absolutely curious that the ruling party is ecstatically praising the governor for “the payment of backlog of workers’ salaries and for being up to date in the payment of pension to retired civil servants in the state.”

The APC state Chairman in a statement said the party “was delighted that in spite of the economic downturn being experienced by the country which has led to a drastic fall in  revenue allocation to the state, Governor Lalong has been able to fulfill his obligations to the workforce.”

This administration must be self-deluded! Does it really believe that Plateau workers are this cheap? Is this exiting administration saying that because it is throwing part of the N6.6bn at the workers they will take it, chop it, clean their mouths and gratefully vote for a party that has made suffering a second skin for them? Will Plateau workers forget that they are paid justly for their work and still go out and queue up for a party that has clumsily crafted a political philosophy of “chop make I chop”?

It’s such an upsetting piece of blackmail,  humiliation and manipulation!

If the payment of salaries is for the workers and pensioners to take note of and be favourably disposed towards February 25 and March 11, then APC’s vote hunters must prepare for the shock of their lives! 

We are also amused by another reality that has come out of this frail administration since the refund was announced. Suddenly, the ruling party called a gathering and inaugurated the sixteen directorates of its campaign council! This was a subtle hint that “the kayan aiki (campaign money) has arrived, so you will be empowered to start the work now.” They are not campaigning on issues. Misery that has become the lot of the people?

They’ve been stuck in their trenches all this while. They will crawl out now only because there is what appears to them to be cheap money to buy the required votes in anyway possible. Plateau cannot go back this way. Never!

The reasonable expectation of the Atiku-Okowa,  Mutfwang-Piyo Campaign Council is that the Plateau State  government should quickly and dutifully release a clearly well-thought out plan on the priority areas that will justify spending this much needed money now.

Such areas should make positive impact on the lives of the already traumatised people who are daily groaning under an APC-induced fuel and Naira scarcity.

 N6, 601,769,470.99 no be small money.

 N6, 601,769,470.99 cannot and must not be APC’s campaign funds.

 N6, 601,769,470.99 must upgrade the lives of the people of Plateau State.