Plateau State Governor Says Returning IDPs back to their ancestral homes was part of his campaign Promise

The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang has said that returning internally displaced persons back to their ancestral homes was part of the promise he made during the campaigns, hence setting up the Task Force for the Resettlement of IDPs is part of efforts by his administration to fulfill that promise.

The Governor made
this known on Monday 25th March 2024, at the Conference Hall, New Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos where he inaugurated the Task Force for the Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons in Plateau State and three other committees.

“The issue of resettling our internally displaced persons back to their ancestral homes is something we made a commitment to do when we were campaigning. Unfortunately, when we were campaigning our minds were on a different set of IDPs, particularly those who have been displaced in places like Riyom, Barkin Ladi for quite some years now. We didn’t know we will be visited with a new set of IDPs.” he said.

The Governor emphasized the importance of returning the people back home, especially as it will impact greatly on Food Production in the State and the country at large, while also stressing the pivotal significance of having security agencies in the committees.

“It has become therefore necessary in order to redeem the contribution of Plateau State to the National Food Basket. It is important that people return to their homes. And that is why you see, the committee has a high presence of security agents. We are trusting God that before the rains fall properly. A lot of the people would return to their homes. And by the grace of God, the farmlands we could not cultivate last year, that this year we will cultivate them. We have also had to pull out of retirement two generals. One from the Air Force, Air Commodore Rwang Pam Christopher to serve as Chairman and Brigadier General John Sura who will serve as the Secretary. Together with all the agencies. This is not going to be a meal time. Because we know there will be resistance. But by the grace of God we shall prepare.”

The Governor also used the opportunity to disabuse the minds of the public on whether or not the committees were going to target anyone, adding that the composition of the committees has people from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) in the State.

“Let me set this clearly. That none of these committees is intended to anyone. That is why you would notice that we have gone bipartisan. We have not only selected people that are members of PDP. We have selected people who are not even committed to any political party. And in some cases we have even drawn people that we know to be members of APC or Labour Party, all because we think and we are persuaded that the interests of Plateau State should override any sectional interest.”

Governor Mutfwang charged members of the committees to give in their best in the interest of the entire stage. “I would therefore charge all the committees to take this responsibility seriously. Because what you do or fail to do will have an impact on the future of Plateau State.”

Other committees inaugurated include one tasked with reviewing the structure and performance of the Plateau State Civil Service, another to address complaints stemming from the 2015 upgrade of Chiefdoms, creation of Districts, and Villages, and a third focusing on Land Administration in Plateau State.

Governor Mutfwang reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling the challenges facing Plateau citizens and expressed confidence that the carefully selected members of these committees would guide decision-making without bias.