I’m Doing My Best – Governor Mutfwang Says

Plateau State Governor, Mr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang recently spoke with some journalists in Jos had an on-the-spur-of-the-moment interaction during which he gave insight to what his administration has been doing in different sectors since it came on board. UKANDI ODEY, who was part of the team, put together the Governor’s statements. Excerpts:

What has been the story since you came on board as Governor of Plateau State?

Thank you. You know that governance continues daily. It keeps improving. It’s like a football club, every season, you see clubs buying new players because they need to improve the competitiveness of the squad. I am happy with my squad; but I’m always looking for ways of improvement. As soon as we find ways in which we can improve, we will bring in the best hands that can be recruited

It appears that some of the people you started with in your journey through your campaign appear not to be getting your attention anymore – they have been left in the cold. What is the position concerning this category? 

You know, government does not begin and end in one day. People have expectations that once you come into government, everybody is going to get an appointment. Everybody is going to get one thing doing or the other. It doesn’t happen in one day. People have to learn to be patient. There is no way I can cut myself into pieces and give everybody. When I was chairman of Mangu, I had this very naive idea that I could be seeing everybody. So, I created two days in the week. The first two weeks, I almost died because there was no way I could see everybody. Now, I have to attend to issues in Abuja, and also attend to issues here locally.

I’m going to get journalists to keep company with me for a week and see my schedules. I believe that among many governors, I’m doing my best to be able to allow access to me as a person. I answer phone calls when the time allows; reply text and WhatsApp messages. I engage people, when I have the freedom. But somebody calls you, may be you are even having a State Executive Council meeting. He wants you to answer his call. So, let me appeal to those who feel they haven’t been carried along to continue to be patient. We’ll continue to look out for that. And people who know me, know that I have no enemies or friends when it comes to governance. If you have any value to add to Plateau people, we’ll bring you on board. Some of those who competed with me during elections, are in different offices today. Appointments were facilitated, you know, so we’ll continue to do that. I appeal to people who have such feelings, let them continue to be patient.

What measures is His Excellency putting to help get sponsors for the teams in Plateau State, especially through companies existing on the Plateau? What are the companies giving back to the state as it will lessen the general burden on your government in funding these local teams?

We are trying to reorganize sports from the grassroots and look at various aspects of the administration of sports as it is presently. Government is bearing the burden for virtually all the teams, whether in football, basketball, badminton, every aspect of sports, because when we got on board, the Sports Council was almost dead. We’ve been able to bring in one of our veteran sports administrators, Professor Ezra Gunnen. We brought him from Abuja to become Director of Sports. He was a record holder in 1500 meters here on the Plateau. We are thinking of how to be able to rebuild from the base.

Of course, part of the critical thing that was coming is the contributions of the private sector. But before you ask the private sector to give, you must first of all also give them.

So, we are looking at what the enabling environment is. What is the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive? They don’t do Father Christmas; they do what is called corporate social responsibility – which is done after they have made profit.

Now, the first question to be asked is: If you ask the Manufacturers Association – you ask the Chamber of Commerce and other businesses here – to what extent are they thriving; and to what extent can they part with some of their profits? What do you think is likely to be their response in the circumstances? So, we are looking at it holistically. I believe that in the next year or two we should be able to have some bit of inputs into that.

By the grace of God, this academic session, we are hoping that we will introduce inter-school sports. We hope that we will also get the private sector to contribute towards its funding so that we can develop the capacity of our youth. In this regard, it’s going to be a gradual process. You can only expect from the private sector, where you have also given them the right environment. We are working in synergy to create that.

What are the concrete plans in terms of having a befitting stadium in Plateau? We are losing to the outside world because we don’t have a sports facility that can even attract the national team to the state?

I absolutely agree with you. I’m also passionate about sports and I also don’t like to see abandoned projects. And so, since I came on board, we’ve been having series of engagements with the private sector about how to be able to bring in funds to finish the Zaria Road Stadium, for example. Now we realized that it is not possible to fund it from the budget – both in terms of the amount required and also of the management capacity, because if you simply leave the management of the stadium to civil servants, it may not yield the desired results. Therefore, we’ll bring in the private sector as it’s done in Europe.

But when they come and say, you have to give us additional incentives to be able to put money into the stadium, and then you have to do something. We’ve taken stock of all the land around the stadium and we are in the process of trying to demarcate same and all other things can be created around the stadium that are of commercial value.

We are going to be dealing with all the mechanic shops to recreate a village around the stadium where there will be other assets of value that will be created to give incentive for the private sector to invest money in finishing the stadium.

But we are doing some minimal things to keep our teams playing there in the professional league so that it won’t be taken away from us. But, definitely, I am confident – and trusting God – that my administration will bring to foreclosure this project that started as far back as 1988.

Let me remind you that the last game of the season of the Professional Football League was played at the Zaria Road Stadium and even the pre-season of the league kicked off here on the Plateau. That tells you that we are still very much within the reckoning horizon of the Nigeria Football League.

One thing which many would want to know is how you have successfully run the finances of the state, particularly as it relates to taking loans to develop the state especially as it relates to agriculture?

Thank you for recognizing the little we have done. I will continue to do better on a daily basis. Like I said, we’re not going to borrow just for borrowing sake. We will borrow where and when we know it is going to add value to the people of Plateau. We haven’t made it public; we have not announced it; but we are taking steps to revamp ASTC. When we came on board, for example, only 25 tractors were functioning. This farming season, we had 85. That tells you that we are making progress.

By next year, God willing, we should be able to target up to 200 tractors because the Jang administration bought over 300 tractors and they are still on the ground; they have not been stolen. Only some of the components need to be changed and we are working on that. Like what happened in the last administration, when they said they bought 400 tractors, we couldn’t find any. We’ve not been able to trace where the 400 tractors went.

So, we are falling back on the Jang tractors and we’ll bring them back to life by next year, God willing. We are also making sure that all the ASTC centres in Kassa, Vom, Mangu and Shendam are working to full capacity. You’re going to see a lot of life very soon in terms of greenhouses; we’re going to make sure they are brought back to life.

Our roads are in bad shape. What are you doing to get the roads fixed?

On the issue of roads, people have talked a lot about roads. I’ve told people, you don’t need to lobby to get roads in Plateau. Only just pray that God gives us resources. We’ll try to visit as many roads as possible.

People have talked about that of Tudun Wada-Kabong. Let me tell Tudun Wada-Kabong people, you are special to us and we are planning a special package for you. Now, before we come to that point, the issue of Jibam Road, Dokan Tofa is well taken and noted. Once the rains are over, we’ll begin to see what we can do with some of those roads. We will not leave that of Kabong unattended, and the road to Maza, we will also look at it.

The road from Panyam to Wamba is a federal government road. And the last time we checked, it was marred in some legal controversies. I think they are sorting it out. But we are also planning that when the rains are over, we will fill some of the portions of the road that are terrible just to allow easier access for people.

We are dealing with the issue of the road from Ganawuri/Manchok through FERMA. We’ve approached FERMA and we hope that they will be able to attend to it. They are also looking at the stretch of the road from Heipang right down to Southern Plateau. They will attend to it, as we are in touch with them.

And let me also tell Plateau people the good news: Mr President has approved the construction of the road from Akwanga to Jos to Bauchi to Gombe. It’s going to be a dual carriage and it’s not just going to be the regular road contract. It is going to be among the legacy projects of Mr President. We are following up on it to make sure it becomes a reality by the grace of God.