By: Joseph A. Adudu, February 06, 2023

The PDP Campaign Council for Atiku-Okowa, Mutfwang-Piyo Plateau State has warned the ruling APC in the state not to divert the N6.6billion Naira released to the state by the Federal Government for vote buying in the forthcoming general elections.

This is contained in a statement by Yiljap Abraham Diirector, Directorate of Media and Publicity Atiku-Okowa Mutfwang-Piyo Campaign Council Plateau State and a copy made available to African Drum.

Recall that it was cheering news to the people of Plateau especially when the news filtered that the state was getting a refund of N6, 601,769,470.99 from the Federal Government.

The statement quoted the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola to have said that the Federal Executive Council approved the reimbursement on Wednesday “for road projects executed on behalf of the federal government", stressing that the refunds “were necessary.”

In the light of this, the Plateau PDP Campaign Council warned the Lalong administration not to see the funds as cheap money for its campaign but must be used to upgrade the lives of the ordinary people. "Six-point-Six billion Naira is no small amount for a state that is struggling with a staggering debt and a very uncomplimentary poverty score among 36 other states.

"We are aware that last December, a federal team from Abuja visited the state and inspected some selected projects from Jos North to Langtang South. It would appear that PDP completed projects are also included among those that made up the package that have been qualified for the refund.

"The reasonable expectation of the Atiku-Okowa, Mutfwang-Piyo Campaign Council is that the Plateau State government should quickly and dutifully release a clearly well-thought out plan on the priority areas that will justify spending this much needed money now.

"It is for this administration to disclose to the people of Plateau the projects that have made the refunds “necessary” as claimed by the Hon Minister of Works and Housing", part of the statement read.

The PDP Campaign Council said it was however, amused by the reality that has come out of what it called "frail administration" since the refund was announced.

"Suddenly, the ruling party called a gathering and inaugurated the sixteen directorates of its campaign council! This was a subtle hint that “the kayan aiki (campaign money) has arrived, so you will be empowered to start the work now.”

"They are not campaigning on issues. Misery that has become the lot of the people?
"They’ve been stuck in their trenches all this while. They will crawl out now only because there is what appears to them to be cheap money to buy the required votes in anyway possible. Plateau cannot go back this way. Never!

Barr. Caleb Mutfwang Plateau State PDP Gubernatorial candidate

"Such areas should make positive impact on the lives of the already traumaizsed people who are daily groaning under an APC-induced fuel and Naira scarcity".

The Campaign Council equally found it absolutely curious that the APC is ecstatically praising governor Lalong for “the payment of backlog of workers' salaries and for being up to date in the payment of pension to retired civil servants in the sate.”

The Council further quoted the APC state Chairman, Hon. Rufus Bature in a statement to have said the party “was delighted that inspite of the economic downturn being experienced by the country which has led to a drastic fall in revenue allocation to the state, Governor Lalong has been able to fulfil his obligations to the workforce.”

To this end, the PDP Campaign Council said, "This administration must be self-deluded! Does it really believe that Plateau workers are this cheap?

Yiljap Abraham Director, Directorate of Media Atiku-Okowa
Mutfwang-Piyo Campaign Council Plateau State

"Is this exiting administration saying that because it is throwing part of the N6.6bn at the workers they will take it, chop it, clean their mouths and gratefully vote for a party that has made suffering a second skin for them?

"Will Plateau workers forget that they are paid justly for their work and still go out and queue up for a party that has clumsily crafted a political philosophy of “chop make I chop”?

It described the above as an upsetting piece of blackmail, humiliation and manipulation adding that if the payment of salaries was for the workers and pensioners to take note of and be favourably disposed towards February 25 and March 11, then APC’s vote hunters must prepare for the shock of their lives!