It is reckless and insensitive in view of the Coronavirus for the PDP to still go ahead with it’s LGA Congresses slated for today. This is a party that has criticised the Federal Government handling of the pandemic through it’s National Publicity Secretary.
It is expected that political parties and leaders should be the vanguard of change. Time again, our political parties have proven that they are only concerned about power not the people. Else, if conferences have been cancelled, schools and religious crowded gatherings shut down, why will a responsible party go ahead to jeopardize and place at great risk those they wish to govern.
Anyway, moral entrepreneurs and the media are silent. Why is that so? Only Govt and the ruling party are usually held accountable. Others have liberty to act recklessly, yet it is assumed that they are a Government in waiting.
Rep. Bagos Offsets School Fees for All Female Students of BUTECH, Distributes Books to Students
REP BAGOS PAYS SCHOOL FEES FOR ALL THE FEMALE STUDENTS OF GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE, BUKURU, DISTRIBUTES HUNDREDS OF EXERCISE BOOKS TO THE STUDENTS.
Months ago, Hon. Bagos was at Government Technical College, Bukuru (BUTECH), situated in Kuru District of Jos South LGA; and he stumbled upon a few girls who had chosen to study in fields that are highly masculinized, in a school scarcely ever attended by women.
Bagos who was highly impressed by their bravery, took it upon himself to encourage them for daring to tow the unpopular path, by granting them one term scholarship each, as well as registration fees for those of them who intend to seat for NECO examination.
Team Bagos, headed by Hon. Ezekiel Nyam, the Chief Laison officer of the constituency office, went to the school to fulfil that promise.
Speaking on behalf of Rep. Bagos who was unavoidably absent, Hon. Ezekiel Nyam in his speech, noted that this gesture is simply to spur on the girl child as well as encourage aspiring youngsters to keep striving to achieve great things in life. He then shared receipts of the payed school fees to the beneficiaries.
Hon. Job Manja then led team as they shared the books provided by Hon Bagos to the students.
The vice principal of the school, Mr Mutong Cephas, on behalf of the principal and staff, thanked Hon. Bagos for finding their school worthy to enjoy the dividends of his representation.
Speaking to news men after the event, the girls took turns to eulogize Hon. Bagos for believing in them and sowing into their lives. Videos of these clips shall be available on our Official page shortly
Plateau state Government has announced the closure of all schools, both public and private operating in the state on or before Saturday March 21, 2020.
The decision was taken in order to discourage the possible spread of the dreaded Coronavirus among residents in the state.
The Secretary to the Government of Plateau , Danladi Atu said this in a press statement he made available to pressmen in Jos on Thursday night.
He said this includes pre primary , secondary and tertiary institutions in the state .
The statement reads that ” The decision became unavoidable because of the world spread of Covid 19 .
It is therefore imperative for government to adapt this and other measures to safegaurd lives .
The good people of Plateau State are further encouraged to ensure the highest level of personal hygiene.
THE STINK IN THE DISABILITY RIGHTS COMMISSION: *An aberration of ignorance*
You may be aware that it is time for reappointment of the management of the Commission since the expiration of our tenure on 26/01/2020 after three years. If you are familiar with happenings in January 2017 during my appointment and others as Chairman and members of the Commission, a worse scenario happened where they raised unsubstantiated allegations against my person, led a demonstration to the State House of Assembly during our screening which they failed. It is normal for this faceless group to spring up again at this time. All material facts regarding my stewardship at the Commission are available for verification. To put the record straight for the public consumption, here are some titbits.
1. On the 18m released, data was collated in all communities in Plateau by the Bureau for Statistics, data analysed and report submitted by the London based consultant which is available for verification.
2. The Polio funds was approved by the Governor based on request by the Polio Survivors Association, fully visible and recognized, and the funds was released to them, evidence of release is available at the Commission.
3. The International Day for Persons with Disabilities celebration fund was approved based on request by the Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities (the recognized Umbrella Association in the State) and the fund was released by the Ministry of Finance after I left office. Further details about the fund can be obtained from the Commission. On allegation of non celebration of previous International days, no approval was made for 2017 but for 2018 the Governor personally celebrated the day on the 5th December 2018 at his residence empowering over 1,000 persons with Disabilities with wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
4. On allegation of one Man leadership, we started as a strong team and ended as a strong team, though as humans, we had some disagreements among my members, I am glad we overcome it. You may reach out to my four members and the secretary to the Commission for a verified testimony.
Even though this remain an unknown Association among the Disability community in Plateau, I would advice them to come out openly, insert their respective names and be bold enough to raised these allegations in written to the antigraft agencies, The Governor of Plateau State and the State House of Assembly rather than being faceless which is an act of cowardice. I may advice them also that, self destruction cannot earn them the appointment, they should try to join the six recognised associations in the State which will give them legitimate recognition and avoid been sponsored by external forces who seek to take away their cup at the National Table. May I end by citing and unknown author thus: “those who fail to use you, will seek to destroy you”
Finally I remained forever grateful to His Excellency Rt. Hon. Simon B. Lalong the Executive Governor for giving me the opportunity to have served in this capacity and for the wonderful support. As humanly as I can, I understand my inability to meet up with the aspirations of everybody, I am glad I did the best I can.
The disability rights commission which was created in 2005 when the present Governor was speaker of the state House of Assembly and its activities started fully in 2013 with the constitution of the Chairman and board members. It was heralded with joy by the disability community in the state hoping that it’s now Uhuru for them in terms of the pains, trauma and sagression they go through every day.
The present Governor whose desire to ensure that persons with disabilities are given a lease of life carefully and deliberately appointed a person with disability to head the commission with two persons disabilities and two other able persons to head the commission so that the challenges of the disability community can be channelled to the Governor in its merits for immediate action.
However, while many people with disabilities in other states admire their counterparts in Plateau state because of the Commission set up by the state government feeling “una own don betta”.
Unfortunately, such state’s persons with disabilities are bereaved of the reality of the hijack of the Commission by an individual who has made it his personal or private company thereby fraudulently cornering all the activities, documents and finances accruing to the Commission thereby derailing the good and lofty desires of the Governor in seeing that the disability on the Plateau are touched positively.
The disables are totally left out of the scheme of things including his commission members who were appointed together by the government, these appointees don’t have access to any document nor transaction of the Commission as the Chairman and owner of the company takes decisions including myriads of overseas travels without consulting them nor informing them.
The man James David Lalu is a fraud personified, he has succeeded in diverting most resources meant for persons with disabilities and disability programs given him by the humane Governor. He has been forging and impersonating as Chairman of the Commission even before he was appointed as Chairman.
He has been globetrotting many countries (in order to enjoy the estacord) with contingents from government and those close to the Governor so that they can be facilitating and fast forwarding/fastracking his memoires any time he sends them to the Governor whether reasonable or not, it will sail without query as the saying goes “the bribe of a man maketh way for him”.
His tenure has add no value to persons with disabilities regardless of the great love and care the Governor thought he is showing the persons with disabilities by giving a speedy response to memoires emanating from the commission thinking that the disability community is benefiting from his caring gesture which the voice of those his aides whose palms have been lubricated by the fraudulent acts of this man James lalu. And the Accountant General has not fail in acting quickly to funds approved by the Governor in regards to the Commission.
He has succeeded in talking to all government offices not to listen to any person with disability, but refer all back to the Commission so that genuine and germane issues concerning disabilities are not heard by government and so no disable has the ability to relay realities to the government and Governor so that his lies would not be exposed. He also uses Fred Bako to lobby for quick release of funds and responses from government via his brother Ishaya Lalu to perpetrate his self centered activities although the said Fred Bako doesn’t know what is actually transpiring in the commission in terms of syphoning the Commission’s funds.
The stroke that broke the camel’s back is the wings recently developed by the 2019 International Disability Day and the 2019 Polio Day celebration funds graciously released by the government of Rt Hon Simon Bako Lalong to the Commission without observance of the days by the disability community and the monies released were #3.5 million and #5 million respectively without explanation on its whereabouts.
Governors of some states who are not privileged to have a Disability Rights Commission like us were able to attend the International Disability Day which afforded the persons with disabilities the opportunity to interact with their Governors whom many those Governors gave automatic employment, empowerment and free education to these people and the people praised and appreciated them. They were highly motivated by those interaction moment with their Governors having the feelings of belonging and encouragement that there is great hope in Disability since their Governors can come and listen and respond immediately to their plights.
Since this man took over the driving seat of the Commission, the celebration of those international ‘Days’ which takes place once a year have never been observed with releases of millions of naira by the government for the purpose done, but pocketed by the owner of the Commission.
In time past, #18 million was released by the magnanimous Governor Lalong to the Commission for the conduct of a Survey of persons with disabilities so that the concrete data of persons with disabilities on the Plateau will be known for proper planning and execution of programs. On receipt of the said amount, he opted to share the money with the Plateau state Bureau of Statistics who sat in the comfort of their office in Jos to concoct statistics which they can’t come out with the result till date because we believe their conscience is pricking them.
The man has committed many frauds including collaborating with the landlord housing the Commission by conniving to raise the rent of the building from #2.5 million to #5 million per annum where the landlord takes #3 million and he James Lalu takes and pockets #2 million thereby increasing the financial burden of government whose resources are lean.
He has also turned the Commission’s car into private car by taking it away for personal use after the expiration of his tenure. The same car was bought through the overhead of the Commission.
He cancelled the contract of Zawan Rehabilitation center (school for the blind) that was approved by the Governor on the guise of no plans for rams (accessibility) which the contractors agreed to include it in the structure without increasing the sum yet he went ahead to cancel the said contract simply because there is nothing that will accrued to him financially from the contract.
The rehabilitation center for training of the physically handicapped at Zaria road is completely dilapidated and worst of all is the frequent interruption of the students going home for lack of food which the funding is seldom looted by the owner of the Commission and oppressor of the disables in Plateau state called James Lalu.
Time will fail us to talk about the School for the Deaf which if not for the philanthropic gesture of Chief Ayuba Burki Gofwan it would have long been closed.
The man James Lalu refused to hand over the documents of the Commission to the Secretary of the Commission even after the expiration of his tenure.
He is still running the affairs of the Commission even outside the Commission simply because he has assume the role of the owner of the company called “Disability Rights Commission PLC”.
Therefore, because of his dirty deals in the commission, he has gone to all government offices to make sure that any person with disability is referred back to the Commission for all matters so that he will not be exposed.
Unfortunately Governor Lalong having good intentions for persons with disabilities believe the lies from the man that the disability community are happy with him for his practical and actionable programs to them. While in reality and appreciation to the Governor he has been releasing funds for James Lalu’s personal aggrandisement. The Governor is a good man who sincerely want to positively change the lifes of persons with disabilities, but the man he appoint to superintend over the affairs of the disables is sabotaging everything by diverting every money meant for it into his personal pocket.
In conclusion, we call on the Plateau state Governor, EFCC, ICPC and the state house of assembly to probe the man Lalu until he coughs out every syphony of resources of the Disability Rights Commission and those that pertains to the persons with disabilities programs and projects on the Plateau.
~Concern persons with disabilities on the Plateau.
THE PASSAGE OF A PLATEAU ELDER STATESMAN,PROF DAKUM SHOWN.HON MANJI B.D.GONTORI COMMISERATE WITH THE FAMILY,MUPUN NATION AND PLATEAU STATE. The scripture say”to everything there is a season,and a time to every purpose under the heaven:a time to be born and a time to die;”..Eccl.3:1-2.such a time has come for our father,an elder statesman ,prof DAKUM Shown to depart this sinful world. I receive the news of your sudden demise with shock seeing that this is the time for us particular the younger generation of politicians to tap from your wealth of experience.we cannot question God.i pray that God rest your soul and may He grant the immediate family,Mupun Nation and indeed the peace loving plateau people the fortitude to bear this irreparable lost.at this trying moment,I Manji Gontori stand with you and mourn the exit of this great icon. Continue to rest in peace sir. Sign: HON Manji B.D.Gontori
LETEP DABANG MOURNS PROF SHOWN,SAYS HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress In Plateau State, Chief Letep Dabang has described the death of a prominent son,academician and politician of great repute,the late Prof.Dakum Shown as shocking.
In a statement of condolence he released, Letep described the Late Dakum Shown as a father and leader of the people who has played a great role in bring his people to where they are now.
His support for the Mupun Nation, his unequalled passion for education which has reflected across the entire country as a foremost educationists,his stands as a politician of high repute culminating in him becoming the first Speaker of the Plateau State House Of Assembly during the second republic and leadership position across political parties are worthy of mention about this great man.
Letep Dabang said the memory of the late Elder Statesman will live long and continue to guide our decisions in the coming times.
He sympathized with the immediate family of the late Prof Shown,the Mupun Nation which he has guided well,friends,Plateau State and Nigeria saying he will be greatly missed.
The statement prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.
I am devastated by the sad reality of the home calling of Professor Dakum Shown, an elder statesman, astute politician and father figure.
Death is a tragic end that every living being must taste, and I am consoled by the fact that the late prof had lived a fulfilled life, and trailed a blaze in the political firmament of Plateau State and Nigeria that would forever flourish as a legacy worthy of emulation by young politicians like us.
The death of Baba Shown is not only a lost to Mupun nation, PKK, Central zone or Plateau state, but a lost to the entire nation considering his contributions in the political development of the country and fatherly role in mentoring younger ones for future leadership responsibilities.
I have tapped from your wealth of experience and would continue to apply the good virtues you imparted in me in the course of my representation of PKK and any other future responsibility posterity will bestow on me.
Rest on prof…
Signed:
Rt Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, (Dan Malikin Kanam and Dan Majen Jahr) Member Representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency and Chairman House Committee on Navy.
MUCDA PRESIDENT AND TEAM VISIT LATE ELDER STATESMAN’S RESIDENCE,MOURN HIS DEPARTURE.
National President of the Mupun Cultural and Development Association MUCDA, Chief Pedro Ardiyel Dafur and some members of his team where at the residence of the Late Prof Dakum Shown yesterday morning upon receiving the news of his demise.
The President expressed shock and grief on behalf of the Mupun Nation on the loss of one of its pillars just after a successful celebration of its annual cultural festival, Vwang which was staged over the weekend.
He said the Mupun Nation is saddened by the loss as the late Shown was an engine room to the Mupun people and as until his death was the Chairman Board Of Trustees, BOT MUCDA.
Dafur condoled the family saying this is a loss to us all and we must stand more united in this trying period so as to come out stronger.
On behalf of the Mupun Nation, the MUCDA President, Chief Pedro Ardiyel Dafur has also thanked the numerous sympathizers who have continued to visit the residence of the late Elder and those who have poured out tributes on the media sympathizing with the family and Mupun Nation on the death.
He said the Mupun Nation is further strengthened by this show of love from Nigerians and prayed for more unity amongst the people.
GOVERNOR LALONG CELEBRATES PLATEAU FILM MAKERS STEVE GUKAS/ UREN MAKUT, PROMISES MORE SUPPORT FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRY.
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has again restated his willingness to support the creativity of Plateau citizens who continue to break records in the arts and entertainment industry. Lalong said this is a statement where he congratulated veteran film Producer and Director Steve Gukas over his latest breakthrough at the Africa Magic Viewer Choice Awards where his movie, ‘ Living in Bondage’ won the Best Overall Movie Award at the 7th edition of the event in Lagos. Lalong described the feat by Steve Gukas as another testimony of the abundant talent that Plateau State is blessed with which his administration will continue to support for economic and social gains. He said ” Steve continues to break the records in the entertainment industry and is an example of the true Plateau spirit that thrives on creativity, excellence and hard work. He has not only made us proud, but also continues to inspire and mentor many younger talents in the creative industry. We are proud of him”. On the night of glamour when the awards were held in Lagos, Steve Gukas’ work won awards for; Best Cinematography, Best, Sound Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Soundtrack, Best Movie West AFRICA, Trailblazer Award for Lead Actor, Best Director, and Best overall Movie.
Similarly, Governor Lalong has congratulated another up-coming Nigerian filmmaker and citizen of Plateau State, Miss Uren Makut who has been selected among ten Africans to participate in this year’s UNESCO-Nara Residency for Young African Female Filmmakers in Japan. Miss Makut, a 27year-old Director and Producer, creator of a training centre for young filmmakers from Plateau State was recently announced among the ten winners by the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, and Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase, in a side event of the 13th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Paris. Makut is the only winner from Northern Nigeria, selected along with a scriptwriter and assistant director, Moyowa Bakare from Southwestern Nigeria. The two from Nigeria will join their fellows from Burkina Faso, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa, in residence in Tawara, in Nara Prefecture, from 29 March to 12 April this year.
Makut Simon Macham, Ph.D Director, Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. 18th March 2020.
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