Southern zone slot about to be wasted, a clarion call to Gov. Lalong.

Southern zone slot about to be wasted, a clarion call to Gov. Lalong.

By, Thomas Tukyen Aboki

Zoning pattern has been the practising method on the Plateau for Governorship seat and other offices at the state and local level. Stake holders, Political Parties and various youth's groups and associations have accepted it. This was aimed at achieving zonal development and participations.

Infact Zoning pattern was the pillar behind Lalong's victory in 2015. If not that Jang insisted on retaining the seat in Northern Zone, hardly would Lalong become a Governor on the Plateau except if God had predestined him to be. 

Initially who ever emerge as governor on the Plateau is expected to develop his Zone and touch little in other zones.  When Lalong came on board, we from the Southern part of plateau celebrated and thought it was time for Southern zone to be developed. 

Been a Goemai scion as well, we the Goemai also thought it's time for Goemai Nation to feel the impact and dividend of Democracy on the Plateau, just like it's done in other zones, but alas, like in the words of Apostle Selman Joshua who said "it is wasteful and disastrous to give a man something he's not ready for" ours seems to be  disappointing, waste of slot and the like, while we have seen how it's been done in other zones and communities. 

Look at what Dariye did in central zone and Bokkos most especially, not to talk of JD Jang's. We prognosticated for good, but it seems nothing good is coming out of our Nazareth.

I know that by saying this, I am going to face a condition Rev. Fr. George Barde called "Village Kindred Mentality" (a mentality whereby anyone with progressive ideas is a threat to the eldership of elders and most be treated as a pariah. The entire village can be mobilised against you)". Nevertheless, I prefer to 'die for something than to live for nothing' like 2pac Shaku would say. 

Hence, I have to make it pellucid. I shall take the onus whatever and however.        Perhaps this Article would reach you SB Lalong, i want you to know this 'YOU HAVE FAILED THE GOEMAI NATION AND SOUTHERN ZONE'. And onless you hearken to calls like this, we will all end up regretting.

The Goemai man says "Miskoom niang kyap mou niang a kwap", Lalong let me 'kyap' you.

A Goemai proverb says "Kum ta'ad nluu de pet yi" have you not heard that before? You are meant to be a boon to Goemai Nation and Southern Zone not a boor. 

Why are you so tardy like that?    This thing you are doing to Goemai Nation and Southern Zone is tantamount to bitting a finger that feeds you. You need to turn back home now before it may be too late.

 

Mother Teresa said "never mind about the numbers, help one person at a time and always start with the person nearer to you". Lalong who's nearer to you more than the Goemai Nation and Southern Zone? If all those 'parasites' sticking to you have never told you before, Your Excellency I want to tell you that your performance in Goemai Nation and Southern zone where you are coming from is poor and you need to turn your eye home. "Charity they said begins at home" where have you begun your charity Your Excellency?

It surprise me when I hear people shamelessly saying "there's still time" I wonder which time they talked about. God forbid, but haven't you think for once that you (Lalong) could die or be impeached today? What then will you say should any of these happened? Who among you have the time that you keep talking about? John Mason says "don't leave a decision for tomorrow that needs to be made today". 

Today and now is the only time you have, so Your Excellency you don't have much time again. One thousand intensions are not equal to one action taken. Whatever you needed to have done in Southern zone and Goemai Nation, should have been done already. By the way let's analise the time some people keep talking about together.

This is August 2020, automatically this year is already interrupted by Covid-19, take it or leave it, nothing tangible will come out of this yr. 2021 is the remaining yr for Lalong cos 2022 will be for campaign and other things against 2023 general election. So where's the time you're talking about?

I want to ask, FOR THE PAST 5YRS OF LALONG BEEN IN OFFICE, WHAT'S THE PROJECT HE HAS COMMISSIONED SO FAR IN SOUTHERN ZONE AND SHENDAM HIS LGA? If he had not, then people should stop deceiving and raising our hopes for nothing. 

Know this, like in the word of Sir Joseph Ari, "This too shall pass away". One day it will be history what legacy would you show us that time.

It's 5yrs gone already and you haven't did anything yet? Till when should we keep waiting Lalong? Haven't you sees the tears 😭 in our eyes? Haven't you heard the voice of your father's land calling you? I keep asking, if you come back home after your Governorship, what do we have to brag with that ours (Goemai man) was one time a Governor?

Thinketh not thou that Posterity will judge thee, Your Excellency? 

You ate our SPEAKERSHIP slot for 7yrs and has nothing to show, do you want to exhaust this GOVERNORSHIP slot also without bringing home anything???

Two consecutive chances given to you and you don't think about us? 

Do you think you were the only educated or most handsome Goemai man that these slots are been given to you? What is even bothering me now is that, you are not just eating the slot of this generation alone, but that of the generation to come. 

Do you know how long it will take a Goemai man to be Governor on the Plateau just because of you? Cofi Anan says "let children not suffer the consequences of their parent's carelessness", do you know that we and our children are going to suffer the consequences of any careless thing you are doing now? 

Do you know that you have been the Governor of Plateau State for over 5yrs now and Shendam your LGA don't have power (electricity) till date? It's very perturbed. 

It's so whimsical and is whammy as well. There are no much Governors in Nigeria who either have served or a serving that their LGAs don't have light except you, and NGF chairman for that matter...ohhh it's very painful and shameful.

Look at that FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC that all was set and done for that school to be cited in Shendam, we thought you would follow up and lobby to bring that school home, but what have we gotten today? Negligence and bastardization. 

You keep talking about citing FRSC TRAINING CENTER IN Shendam, till date we have not seen anything yet. Now the school(FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC) that was meant to be in Shendam is to be cited in Zandi ,Jos East...Haba Lalong!!!

I have to be honest to you, I am so acrimonious with you and I am very sure every sane and right thinking Goemai person is not happy with you the way things are going presently. If it were good things that you are doing, I would be Applauding, Praising, Appalling and Adulating you, but where you don't, we have to chide, berates and vociferous you. It's behooves us to do so.

People have tagged us (Goemai) to be the same altogether as "none performing in leadership" all because of you and you think we will keep quiet? You are a Goemai man without Goemai care, is it fair?

Below are areas that need your attention with imediate effect in Southern zone and Goemai Nation.

1-EDUCATION SECTOR,

2-HEALTH SECTOR,

3-INFRASTRUCTURE eg CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS etc,

4-POWER(ELECTRICITY),

5-CHIEFTAINCY,

6-RECREATIONAL & SKILL ACQUISITION CENTERS eg SHENDAM TOWNSHIP STADIUM,

7-YOUTHS AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT,

8-SCHOOLARSHIP,

9-EMPLOYMENT, etc.

I don't want to start comparing you with your predecessors or your counterparts from other states, but sees thou not what others are doing?

There are Chiefs in Goemai Nation that if they are not install before your tenure ends, we don't know our faith again.

Chiefs like LONG KWO, LONG KAT, LONG JAN, LONG JIBAN etc..

On power(Electricity) issue, I remember vividly I attended GUDO meeting at Azi Nyaku Youths Center in Jos sometimes back in November 2019 and Rtd. Cornel Attihiru said he's the chairman committee on Southern zone electricity Committee, he assured us that we were going to spend last year Christmas with light in Southern zone 24/7, but I don't know, what has happened? Shendam your LGA is lightless till date. Are you okay with that?

Lalong, a Goemai proverb says "gurum goe zual laa tong balam saa Muk" can't we "balam" ours? 

I said this before, and I will still say it... Lalong, Don't be like a wheelbarrow, trailer or canoe that you have to be pushed, pulled or paddled before you move.

A Yoruba proverb says, "where you sit when you are old shows where you stood as a youth", the way things are going, I can predict where you are going to be when you are old onless you change. I want to call on you to come home and fix things together. Martin Luther King Jr said, "it's not the violence of few people that scares me, it's the silence of many". We've been silent but it's high time we tell you now.

         CONCLUSION...

I want to call on the Goemai Traditional Council, GUDO and GYM, the same way you went out to convince us to support Lalong for his second tenure, you should go like that and tell Lalong that Goemai are waiting to see the promises he made. We shall not be like hunting dogs that are only needed during hunting and are forgotten when the bush meat is killed. Some of us went to the extend of having problems with the 'Mungpang' residing on our farm lands who refused to support Lalong and now is this what we will be paid with? Even to come back and say Thank you to Goemai who stood for you is a problem? Bit-Goemai that is the biggest gathering of all Goemai that you were supposed to be there at least to appreciate those who stood for you, you weren't there...why??

I Know so many people will interpret this article in their own dimension and perspective, some will say I  Tribalistic, others may say I am sentimental or ethnotic, you may be right in your judgement but I want everyone reading this article to know that I am advocating as  a Goemai man which I know whoever it is that should be in our shoe would do same onless if you don't have your father's land at heart. Cos so many people have been saying Lalong is plateau state governor not Goemai's, yes he is, but before he became plateau state governor , he's Goemai and after been the Governor he will still be Goemai.

I pray that whoever will read this article should do away with political or religious affiliations and look into the reality in the article.

"Mu gani a kasa wai ance wa kare ana buki a gidan ku".

What have the Goemai Nation did to you Lalong? tell us so that we can apologise.

It's high time our chiefs and leaders especially GUDO and GYM EXCOs should call Lalong home and talk to him. 

Men goe niin pue tangrin meh, deh mu sae shat yi nkakum ah? Haikwai...

Submission of Comr Thomas Tukyen Aboki agitating for Governor Lalong's developmental strides in Southern zone and Goemai Nation.

So help us God.