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Insecurity: Plateau activist leads #LalongMustGo protest

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3 years ago

August 31, 2021

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A human rights activist in Plateau State who identified self as Comrade Thomas Aboki, has commenced #LalongMustGo protest over the incessant killings in the state. Comrade Aboki lamented that Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State is a tool/catalyst in the hand of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Fulani for the fulanization of Plateau State.
Thomas Aboki noted that he had initially thought of remaining silent over the bad incidents that befall Plateau State in the past weeks and even what is happening presently. According to him, “while being quiet, I remembered Martin Luther King once said “it’s not what the bad people do that destroys nations, but the silence of the good people,” as such it behooves on me to talk.”

Thomas Aboki noted that he is not trying to support any criminal act or justifying any unlawful act but he is advocating for fairness and equity in the dispensation of justice in Plateau State.
The Plateau activist stated: “Someone may imagine or may be surprised that despite that we are of the same tribe and ethnic group with His Excellency, but I have chosen to trade in this dimension instead of supporting his failed system like some sycophants have been doing.

“Others even called me to threaten or scare me not to be talking about Lalong’s led government any longer or else I will have them to contend with.

“But as patriotic, concerned and advocative citizens, can we continue to fold our arms and watch when our state is collapsing because of the ignorance and incompetence of an individual?

“I am not talking as an enemy but as an advocate and an egalitarian whose ambitions and concern is always for good governance, fairness and equality.”

Aboki said that since the emergence of PMB and the Fulani government, Plateau, Kaduna and Benue states have been the target of the irremediable group of people in Nigeria, the Fulani, to Fulanised and Islamized the country.

According to him, “to some extent, they seem to have succeeded in Kaduna because they have used El-Rufai to play and succeed in bridging and refusing to adopt the initial way of governance in Kaduna by playing a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

“They attempted to bring in Muslim into Benue’s government but because Governor Samuel Ortom is a man of integrity and good reputation, he stood against it and is protecting his people till date.

“I am not saying our brothers who are from this state but are Muslim shouldn’t be appointed or elected, no; what I am against is bringing in an alien to take over an office in the name of compensating a particular religion is not fair. That cannot happen in states like Sokoto, Zamfara and their likes.”

He stated that following the failed attempt in Benue, Plateau became the targeted state, and as such a way must be brought for them to succeed.

The Plateau activist stated that romancing Plateau State to see what their reaction would be, they unanimously gave Governor Lalong the Chairman of Northern Governor’s Forum.

“Have you ever imagined why Lalong was selected among 19 Governors among who not up to 5 of them are Christians, to be the Chairman of the forum that is totally controlled by the Muslim, and mostly the Fulani?

“Because that was the only panacea to succeed in penetrating Plateau and, indeed, that’s the most successful pattern so far.

“They gave him that role to convince, deceive, distract, interrupt, confuse and manipulate him for them to have their ways to Plateau State,” Aboki declared.

He said that immediately Lalong assumed that function, Plateau State was left to the mercy of God and the Forum’s affairs and functions overtook that of Plateau State.

“To some extent our governor went ahead to say he knows not “Middle Belt” but “Northern Nigeria”.
“Lalong engaged himself in the forum’s duties and was not always available for the state he represents.

“As though nothing is happening, we kept quiet and thought he was going to bring some dividends of democracy as our benefits from the forum’s leadership that our governor occupied.

“But as far as Plateau State is concerned, there is nothing yet to complement that, Plateau State has not benefited anything as a result of Lalong being the forum’s leader.

“To achieve their targeted aim (the Fulanization of our state), the Fulani started attacking LGAs and communities on the plateau, commencing from Berom Nation to other regions and LGAs in the state.

“They attacked B/Ladi, Bokkos, Riyom and are recently attacking Bassa, Jos North and South LGAs which led to gruesome killings of our brothers and sisters. Aboki protested.

He said that when this started, the state kept losing her citizens to a series of attacks by Fulani militias, yet the governor kept tagging them as “unknown gunmen”; he asked, …how are they unknown?

The Plateau activist complained that even as the communities that were attacked told the state government that it were Fulani that were attacking, the Governor insisted on saying it was clashes and the attackers remained unknown.

He berated Governor Lalong who according to Aboki once said “it’s not only Fulani that hold AK47, even farmers too do”…

Aboki wondered why Lalong is actually defending Fulani on the plateau?

“Is he in any way justifying the carrying of AK47 by the Fulani herdsmen?
“His statement has affirmed that Fulani are carrying AK47 and the government knows, ” Aboki protested.

He narrated that recently, not less than 300 lives and a large number of hectares of crops worth millions of naira were lost and destroyed by the Fulani who the governor confirmed are carrying AK47 in Miango and Irigwe land (Bassa and Jos north) LGAs.

“We thought the Governor would come out to condemn in strong terms and at least provide security and a lasting solution to the problem, but to our greatest dismay, His Excellency was reluctant and busy sleeping when his people were being killed.

“His Excellency could not even utter a word to commiserate with the communities and LGAs attacked until there was too much murmurs among citizens that people,” Aboki declared.
He purported that people were insinuating that Governor Lalong seems not to care about the killing and destruction going on in Plateau by Fulani herders before he directed his typewriters (Simon Makut Macham and Dan Manja) to release a press statement.

“From the press release, one could vividly perceive that the press was as equal as his initial silence. “Nothing but a blunt and empty statement that even triggered more anger than his silence,” he further protested.

Aboki lamented that the attack kept going on from time to time to the extent that some communities were captured by the Fulani and no non-Fulani were allowed in those areas.
He narrated that “there were also so many videos, photos and audio records that were on the media credited to Fulani militias threatening to kill and take over our lands, yet no arrest was made not to talk of even prosecuting any of those Fulani people, not even the leaders were told to call their people to order.

“The lives and properties that were lost as a result of those attacks by Fulani militias were unquantified and since no action was taken by the state government, some people were angered and as such they seek vengeance which led to the attack that was launched on some group of people who were driving through Rukuba road when a mass burial was going on in Miango.”

Aboki noted that he was not in any way justifying the attack but his concern is the reactions that followed what happened at Rukuba road.
“We were left in total confusion and we understood clearly what was actually the aim of the killings and destruction that were launched on us.

“Within two hours of the incident at Rukuba road, arrest were made, Plateau indigenes (Irigwe precisely) were identified as those that lunched the attack (we have never knew we have such intelligent personnel that could identify such sagas urgently like that), the state was placed on 24 hours curfew, Sheikhs and Muslim Clerics (Such as the likes of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi) from different angles started uttering threats to Plateau State and her citizens, Mr. Governor went round to hospitals to commiserate and condole with the victims, delegations came from Northern Governor’s Forum to commiserate with the state government, PMB couldn’t eat for 3 days, Muslim clerics were agitating for “DIYA” etc.,” Aboki stated.

Aboki argued whether the lives of those people attacked at Rububa road are so precious, special and better than the lives of those killed at various LGAs of Plateau State or is it because the government is careless about those killed at the LGAs?

“Why was it that there were no such reactions and actions taken when our brothers were killed?

“Why was not anyone arrested when our people were killed but within two hours of the other attack that Fulani were killed at Rukuba road, the entire nation was unrest and several arrests were made?

“When all these things were happening, it was pellucid why Governor Lalong said “he will die for Buhari” and also why he said “he gave a Hausa-Fulani man appointment in Plateau for the sake of peace”…by indication, if a Fulani man is not appointed as commissioner on the plateau, there wouldn’t be peace,” Aboki lamented.
He then made a case that Governor Lalong must go.
Aboki argued, “ideally, if you are saddled with responsibilities and you are affirmed not competently fit to deliver the mandatory, the easiest and simplest thing to do is to be removed and replaced; hence, Lalong should resign or be impeached and allow a competent person to rule this state.”

He maintained: “We can’t stand the chance of seeing the Plateau sinking, yet, we continue keeping quiet because we are from the same ethnicity or religion.

“We’re after good governance, representation, protection of lives and properties of citizens and egalitarianism.

“Lalong is too weak and reluctant to rule Plateau State.
“His loyalty to PMB and Fulani is gradually killing Plateau… It’s indeed obvious now why people said he’s a sale out.

“He lacks enthusiasm, charisma, doggedness, decisiveness and selflessness.”

Aboki said that a good Shepherd dies to protect his sheep, saying that the reverse is the case in Plateau State; lamenting “Why us?”

Aboki declared that following the above saga,
“one with a sane mind should know that Lalong’s conscience, competency and reputation has been altered and as such he is not fit to decide in situations like this.

“The best way to have a better Plateau is to remove Lalong and bring in a dogged, decisive and strong minded person who has Plateau State at heart, not a man that can die for someone outside the state, yet he can’t die for his own people.

“Plateau citizens should know that Lalong is a tool in the hand of our enemies who are crafting ways by all means to take away our fathers land from us.
“#Lalongmostgo….”

Aboki further declared, “I have taken it upon myself to be the Convener of the #Lalongmostgo campaign not minding the onus.
“Taking Lalong out of Government House is the best solution now…

“Rev Fr. Mbaka Ejike of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, once said and I quote; “for my brother to be a king and my siblings should die, it’s better an alien should be the king and my siblings should survive”.

“If taking Lalong out of office wouldn’t solve this problem, then, I see no solution to the problem, instead, I perceive more dangers coming soon but God forbid!!!”

Aboki noted that in America, New York precisely, a Governor touched a woman and it was perceived that he touched her with sexual intention, he was forced to resign…and he resigned.

He added that in Benue State, Fulani crafted the same way to penetrate the state but Governor Samuel Ortom said no to that, left party politics and stood for the oath he took to defend lives and properties of his citizens.

Aboki also said that recently, Governor Masari told his people to carry arms and defend themselves against bandits… “Why us? Why Plateau?, he lamented.

He questioned if Plateau shares inheritance with Fulani people on the plateau; or Is Plateau State an Hausa state?
Aboki further declared: “Why can’t Lalong be like Ortom and defend the citizens instead of politicking with people’s lives?

“Is this how it will continue or we have to proffer solution to it?…of course, we need a lasting solution

“As far as I know, there is no better solution now than removing Lalong in that office…. #Lalongmostgo… Let him go back to Ajikamai.

“If we don’t do that now, I am wondering how plateau will be before 2023.

“Impeachment and recall are not new to Lalong, so let’s do the needful.

“Plateauneans arise and shine before it may be too late.

“Lalong in his campaign said “Think Plateau, Act Plateau” is he acting Plateau now or acting Fulaniteau?”
“#Lalongmostgo.”