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Gate to Plateau State Government House
By Nuhu Adamu
It is no longer news that by now, virtually all registered political parties have produced candidates for the various elective positions in the coming year, 2023.
The elections have proven that it’s going to be an election to test strengths; going by the alignments and realighnments that characterised the outcome of who the parties have given the nod to stand in for the elective positions under their platforms.
However, the tests of strength as it is, will definitely not be a tea party.
Surely, there’s going to be great difference on how leaders would emerge, unlike the previous practices since the dispensation started in 1999.
It is comong knowledge that in the past, money use to play very crucial aspect before and at elections. But currently as observed; in addition to money, alot of efforts must be put in to convince the electorates on why such leadership is being sort by a party and whether or not what the party is presenting will stand the test of time, because the electorates are wiser by the day.
Meanwhile, our focus here will be on the governorship race in Plateau state. This race which has practically been zoned to the central zone by majority of the parties standing for the polls, indicate that the exercise is threatening the cordial coexistence of the various ethnic groups based on the seriousness that has been put in place even before actual politicking and campaigns commences.
Interestingly, the two major tribes in the zone; Ngas and Mwaghavul ethnic groups have picked tickets of the two dominant rival political parties each to slug it out at the governorship polls.
While the Ngas through Nentawe Yilwatda is to vie under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state and is hoping to enjoy the incumbency factor to clinch the peoples votes, the rival Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ticket was picked by Caleb Mutfwang; a Mwaghavul.
Why is the contest hoping to generate interest, is only left to be imagined because definitely, families, friends, coworkers and others are getting set to be embedded in either long term, temporary or even permanent friction because of the ethnic interests about to tear the once friendly neighbours.
Before the primaries, both parties had aspirants collectively in the two parties working on the fact that it was the turn of the central zone to produce the governor in 2023.
At the primaries, allegations were rife that only those who harbour the godfather in their parties would pick the tickets.
While Nentwawe was alleged to have the backing of the state governor, Simon Lalong; Mutgwang was also accused of having the sympathy of the former governor, Jonah Jang and as it is now, both are now the choices of their parties.
Historically, the Mwaghavul and the Ngas believed they are brothers; haven’t migrated together from Borno to the rocky mountain tops of the Plateau; where they both carved out territories for their people as the story goes.
But rightly or not, the two ethnic groups are well known to each other and have so many things in common including culture and tradition.
Marriage has joined thousands of the two tribes together and families have come to accept one another, a trend; whose narrative is about to change because of the political interests line starring them in the face.
Observers belief the election would be hard fought and at the end, the marging between the winner and loser may not be anything to go by.
A Mwaghavul wife and her Ngas husband and vice versa are beginning to feel the heat and as it is, none is ready to shift ground in sympathy with his or her tribe.
As we await for the eventual kick off of campaigns proper, bulk of the ongoing talks appeared to be within the central zone with each of the candidates working hard to gain home support which will help in securing the acceptance of the other two zones of south and north.
Moreover, if the purpoted godfatherism theory is something to be relied upon, then the suspected godfathers also have herculean task to work for the acceptance of their candidates and fortunately, they are from tje north and southern zones for Jang and Lalong respectively.
But as it appears, observers are just sittiñg on the fence to watch events before the battle begins.
