Mutfwang now Plateau state’s 6th democratic governor, says “Campaigns are over, we’ve shifted attention to governance”

DANIEL DAUDA, Jos

Barr. Caleb Mutfwang has been sworn in as the 6th democratically elected governor of Plateau alongside deputy Ngo Josephine Piyo, saying campaigns are over and were shifted attention to governance.

He called on other governorship candidates who contested with him on the 18th of March, 2023 to forget about ethnic or political differences and joined hands together to build a new Plateau.

Mutfwang who was addressing a mammoth crowd Monday at the Rwang Pam Township stadium after taking the oath of allegiance, said the new Plateau is born today. “We should work round the clock to ensure a peaceful and a prosperous Plateau.

He revealed that “the state is presently under a huge debt burden of over N200 billion, the healthcare sector is in need of urgent attention, our school system requires a comprehensive overhaul, our infrastructure is decayed and inadequate, and practically, every sector requires urgent redress.

“I must mention that there are no quick-fix solutions to these challenges, but one thing is certain, we are prepared to take the challenges head-on and we will hit the ground running immediately.

“Our plans are audacious and our programmes will be transformative but the smooth execution of these plans and programmes is predicated on peace. This is because development can only exist where peaceful coexistence thrives.

“It is an undeniable fact that much blood has been shed on the Plateau for close to two decades now which has affected the pace at which has retarded the pace of our development.

“I commiserate with the families who have lost their loved ones over these years and especially the families in Riyom, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Bassa and more recently Mangu where we lost over 100 innocent souls who were brutally murdered in their sleep by the most recent premeditated attacks”, Mutfwang stated.

The incoming governor promised that his administration would focus attention on thematic areas which include peace and security, economy, agriculture, tourism, mining and mineral development, and sports development.

He assured review of the greater Jos master plan with the input of citizens as he declared a state of emergency on environmental sanitation within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis.

He also harps on workers’ welfare and accommodates women and people living with disability as he will create an enabling environment for youths in the state through a digital economy to make the state information communication technology (ICT) hub of Nigeria.

It was observed that the outgoing governor Simon Lalong through his deputy Professor Sonny Tyoden handed over the reign of governance to Caleb Mutfwang.