Simon Lalong |
A gubernatorial candidate on the platform of the Action Democratic Party
(ADP) in Plateau State, General Jonathan Temlong (rtd), on Monday
alleged that the incumbent Governor of the State, Simon Lalong, should
be blamed for denying the Internally Displaced Persons access to the
Victims Support Fund.
He said the Governor had in different fora claimed that the state was
peaceful; hence, didn’t approach the Victims Support Fund for
assistance.
Temlong made the disclosure while addressing journalists at the party secretariat in Jos, the State Capital.
He said, “Many highly-placed Nigerians have been calling me that you
are there what are you people doing that Plateau is suffering like this;
and I said look I don’t have an entry point.
“Even if I’m allowed to give advice, the person in power might not have to follow what I said.
“So, if Governor Lalong is giving assurance after three and half to
four years, that now he is going to return the IDPs to their ancestral
homes, take it with a pinch of salt because elections are coming in
two-three months time.
“If there were no elections, he wouldn’t have thought of taking them back.”
The retired Army General added that, “Let me tell you, out of shear
concern, I approached the Victims Support Fund (VSF) because of the
plight of our IDPs on the Plateau, and the answer I was given was that,
your Governor said there is peace on the Plateau and there is no problem
and he has not approach her for assistance.
“So the Victims Support Fund is meant for victims, not just victims in the North-Eastern part of the country, but allover.
“And I believe you people know the chairman of that fund, who is one of our illustrious sons, General TY Danjuma.
“And there was no way he wouldn’t have assisted if Plateau had gone
with a request and this number of IDPs that require support, because
they are victims of crisis too, unfortunately nothing like that was
done.
“There are other well-meaning individuals, who have been intervening
in the North-East and even Benue; they would have intervened here if we
had a government that is responsive, a people centred government;
foundations both within and outside this country would have come to our
aid.
“Even in constructing of the accommodation of the displaced persons”, he maintained.
“Now if you give a dateline of December, 2018, how realistic is it? He asked.
“The challenges of these IDPs are more than political statements,
these are serious problems that deal with peoples lives and I’m well
equipped, because I have the experience to tackle them.
According to Temlong, who was the first Commander of the
Multinational Joint Task Force between 1998-1999, that restored the
territorial integrity and civil administration in the Lake Chad Basin,
“This is why my promise to put Plateau first to restore the dignity of
Plateau State through a Citizen Centered Government is anchored on a
three point agenda.
“Which are security and sustainable peace, good governance and development.”
He assured that all displaced persons would be returned to their
ancestral homes and adequate security provided to protect them from
experiencing the horrors they went through, if given the mandate come
2019.
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