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Wadak tasks PLSG on IDPs, says Lalong’s
apology to army on Alkali’s death was in a haste
By Dickson Gupiya
November 26, 2018
A
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Plateau State, Isaac Wadak has
tasked the Plateau State government to hasten up the return of Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) in the state to their original abodes. His statement is coming
two weeks after a committee set up by the state government to come up with
modalities for the return of IDPs to their original homes submitted its report.
In
an exclusive chat with African Drum
in Jos recently, Wadak said “it’s unfortunate as we keep hearing in the news of
negative events in the IDPs camps which affect mostly women and children. I understand
the committee that was set up by the state government to work out modalities for the
return of IDPs submitted its report some weeks ago. Though we don’t know what recommendations are contained in the report, I hope the recommendations would
include; re-building of the destroyed communities and re-establishment of basic
and social amenities such as schools, hospitals as well as construction of
trauma healing centres.”
According
to him, government also needs to restore their means of livelihood adding that
since most of them are farmers, they should be provided with farming-in-puts
and implements. He said that of utmost importance is for the government to
provide adequate security to avoid further attacks on innocent communities.
Wadak also hoped that the report captured proper profiling of the IDPs to ascertain
their local government areas, age groups, gender and others. He said that
government should make the return of the IDPs a priority because most of those
at the receiving end and badly affected by negative things in the camp were
women and children.
On
the alleged killing of General Mohammed Alkali and the recent apology by
Governor Simon Lalong to the Nigerian army on behalf of the people of Plateau
State, the PDP chieftain said it was rather too hasty since the alleged culprits
have been charged to court. “Let me say that the killing of General Alkali is
unfortunate and condemnable by any sane person. This is because no body has the
right to take the life of another, therefore, whoever that is found responsible
for the heinous crime be brought to book.
“Consequently,
my sympathy goes to the family of the late general and those close to him. On
Governor Lalong’s apology to the Nigerian army on behalf of the people of
Plateau State, I would say it’s rather hasty because I understand those alleged
to have carried out the crime have been charged to court, so we should await
the outcome of the court verdict before any other decision.
“But
the governor has already offered an apology. Only God knows why he chooses to
be hasty about it. What does he really wants to achieve by doing that? Whatever
it is, I hope it would not portray the people of Plateau State in bad light.
“Putting
it in proper perspective, he should have waited for the pronouncement of the
court on those who actually committed the act before any apology. Even then,
such an apology should be on behalf of the individual; that is those that were
found guilty of committing the crime and not on behalf of all the people of
the State.” Said Wadak.
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