Plateau state is known to be the home of peace and tourismin Nigeria because of its attractive weather conditions that support humans,Animals and plants .The people of plateau ,Nigeria and the world would hardlyforget 7th September,2001 when the tin city of Jos was thrown into flames asresults of ethno religious conflicts that was politically motivated and since
then we are still coming out from the ugly incident that claimed the lives ofhundreds of people and rendered thousands homeless.The political climate on the Plateau has been tense forquite sometimes especially in Plateau North that has Jos North ,Jos South, Bassa,Jos East , Barkin Ladi and Riyom that are
dominated by indigenous Biroms natives ,Hausa/Fulanis within the metropolis ,Jarawas ,Iregwes among othersand uniting these ethnic clans has been a serious concern since the 2001regrettable experience.The consistent failure of leadership both in the state andat the national level to implement white papers on Jos crisis are among manyother things behind the ugly recurrent of this crisis despite billions spent assecurity votes, though under the present political dispensation of GovernorLalong the atmosphere is cool with minor incidents.
The good people of plateau State and Nigeria must move frompolitics of sentiments to politics of development and the reasons to rallybehind Barrister Istifanus Gyang who is on course to bring the good people ofplateau North together. Plateau North has been a boiling point since 2001 whereBeroms natives have been at logger head for quite some time without any seriousefforts to reconcile the warring parties, which further exacerbate the blood spreethat culminates many innocent lives.
Sen. I.D Gyang on coming to power in 2019, has been incontact with the entire people irrespective of their tribes and religion but. Hehas been on a mission to bring the people together as one indivisible andunited elements. Gyang is on course to restore back the community participatorydemocracy in plateau North and beyond.
He has since reached out to the entire good people of hissenatorial zone within his short time in office as the law maker representingthe zone and as we speak many see him as the man of the people.
It will interest all who are far from the tin city ofplateau read from the good work of this noble personality that is committed tobuilding the lost glory of trust, of hope and trust within our people. Thecoming of Barrister Istifanus Gyang who was a onetime permanent secretarysecurity, and later member federal house of representatives representing BarkinLadi/Riyom in the 8th National assembly has completely change the politicalnarrative on the Plateau North based on his good tract records of excellence .
He has built and invested so much in reinvigorating relationshipswith his constituents as member federal house of representatives, a reason thatmade the entire zone to unanimously vote for him in 2019 against his fellowBirom man from the ruling All Progressives Congress with a wide margin . He hasbeen promoting national development through his chain of activities as atrained lawyer and legislature who believes that meaningful development canonly be achieved in an atmosphere of peace. Sen. Gyang has as a legislaturemandated himself believing that being a representative of Plateau North, he isunder obligation to initiate debate and show concern on matters affecting thegenerality of the People in Nigeria particularly his senatorial district. He hasdirected his activities towards reversing declining economy of the zone thathas been ravaged by crisis for decades.
He is working tirelessly to stabilize the polity in uniting his natives of Birom and Hausa/Fulaniswho have lived under utmost suspicion with one another due to misconception oftribes and religion barriers that have almost brought down plateau to its kneesbefore he took over to change the bad narrative been sold.
Over the years, Nigerian legislators have existed only onthe pages of newspapers with some relocating completely to Abuja soon afterwinning elections, living those who stood under sun and in the rain to electthem under moist conditions with no oxygen. Barrister I. D Gyang as a cosmopolitanlegislature is doing a wonderful job to bring the entire people of the regiontogether to fashion out ways to end the narrative of exclusion been soldparticularly on Beroms natives who’s son is doing more than enough to solve thelingering Jos crisis.
The bad narrative and image been displayed in the shopping mallsof those against peace building process in plateau most especially the Northernsenatorial zone has been proved wrong that in Beroms sons like Barr. I. D.Gyang the future of plateau is feasible. The man has brought in Hausa andFulanis together with his natives alongside all other tribes in his zone toprove that all are for him .The good people of plateau North have startedadding their voice for him to come and join the race for Plateau governorshipin 2023. He believes that, the people’s representatives should work for thepeace, unity and development of his constituency as well as his nation.
He has been an advocate for peace and unity on the Plateauand Nigeria since his youthful age. Sen. Gyang has been speaking for many whocould not speak for themselves, he has empowered many teaming young men andwomen especially graduating students to be employers of labour instead of Jobseekers both Muslims and Christians from his region.
As a senator, his name is now written in bold and gold penson many walls in the Plateau North particularly to Hausa/Fulanis who perceivedBiroms as their enemies due to the misconception of the political elites whohave been using tribes , ethnic and religious lines for personal gains. He seeall as equal with strong conviction that the development and restoring the lostglory of the state is the responsibility of all and sundry without concerns forthe elements of the divides that have succeeded in creating a circle ofconfusion on the Plateau.
Gyang see himself as a Senator of the federal republic thathas taken an oath to speak and work for Nigeria at all times. He believes inone indivisible and one indesolvable nation where tribes, religion and regionswill not form the basis of governance. A leader by example and a chain that islinking Plateau North together under one umbrella in less than four months assenator.
His love for all that comes across him irrespective of theinclination made ’him different and many see him as having possess theexperience to change the political narrative of Nigeria particularly plateauState in the few years to come.
Consequently, he has used his legislative experience inpursuing good public policies in the good interest of plateau and the nation ingeneral. This is a legislature who saw the need in rewarding the electorateswith good governance withoutconsideration to their political and religious backgrounds as long as they willbe elements that will unite the good people of Plateau.
However, he has been advocating for laws that will be ofhelp in assisting greatly in building the nation beyond a mere geopoliticallocation to a nation where Gyang can be elected governor in Kano or sokoto andAhmed as governor of Plateau or Benue. The bills and motions he sponsored onthe floor of the house of representatives and at the Senate is clearly definingour present day Nigeria as a democrat, he plays an important role in changingthe political narratives in the entire Plateau and the nation.
Barr. I. D . Gyang has done enough in the areas of wealthcreation to plateau North and the state in general. He is a true symbol ofpatriotism and leader among many leaders of his kind. He is an umbrella ofunity that brought all the entire Plateau North under one entity where the longbattle, divisive tendencies of ethnic, tribal and religious differences are fadingin the face of the Plateau people. His passion and commitment to service is thereason why Sen. I. D . Gyang as a potential asset deserves to take over theMantle of leadership come 2023. It is believed that the manner he is handlingthe plateau North having the highest population on the plateau are indicatorsthat the lost glory will be restored when he become a substantive governor ofthe state.
The Concerns Hausa/fulani youths for peace in Jos and environs will formerly launch a campaign initiative that will consolidate the ongoing peace process of this noble man called I. D. Gyang. We shall do that by reaching out to our people to know that our problems here in plateau State is the entire system that has succeeded in creating a circle of confusion along ethnic, religious and tribal borders. We will use and create a platform that will portray the real character and potentiality of Gyang as a leader in the making who is committed to restoring and healing the wounds that have pervade the state for decades.
Yusuf Ibrahim Mohammed is the Chairman, concerned Hausa/fulani for peace.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.