Sunday Adam Jos
When a king forgets his humble beginnings and the process that led to him becoming king he becomes irresponsible and irrational in his actions and reactions. In recent times Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has been credited to making divisive, disgruntled, bitter, malicious and hate speeches/remarks towards the TAROK people of Plateau State calling them “a people that play clannish politics” and this is done with the sole purpose of inciting the other tribes or clans in Plateau state against the Tarok people.
The only reason that comes to mind on why Gov. Simon Lalong will decide to belittle himself and tow this line of action is simply because of nothing other than for his own selfish political gain. In towing this path Gov. Simon Lalong has either deliberately refused to take history into account or as it is turning to be, he is completely ignorant of events in the past where politicians in other clans who engaged in this same trajectory as he is now doing, ended up creating the foundation for very horrific atrocities and genocide to be committed against the group of people that are projected negatively. Examples of such historic atrocities that occurred due to the manipulation of the masses by the political heads against a particular tribe are the Ugandan genocide and the German holocust.
Gov. Simon Lalong’s actions and utterances against the humble and peaceful people of Tarokland is openly insinuating and projecting the Tarok as the enemy of Plateau State and like all enemies anywhere in the world, the only fate they face or deserve is total destruction. Directly and indirectly Gov. Simon Lalong has branded the people of Tarok as the problem of Plateau state that needs to be taken care of and this is an open prayer and call for other tribes in Plateau state to collectively rise up and destroy the Tarok . Gov. Simon Lalong is simply planting and spreading hate in the heart of the Plateau people against the tarok tribe with the intention of it translating to war and genocide against the Tarok people.
The simple question here is what wrong have the Tarok people done to warrant this targeted blackmail ? The answer is simply nothing other than the fact that sons and daughters of Tarok are aspiring to contest and win elective offices in the forth coming 2023 general election in Plateau state. Like all other tribes spread across Plateau state there are persons who are contesting elective offices; even where he, the governor comes from there are persons who are contesting elective offices, so why should the case of the Tarok be different?
The Freedom to vote and be voted for is one of the major fundamentals of the democratic system of governance and the Tarok people, as Nigerians and indigenous of Plateau State only naturally qualify to enjoy these rights. There is nothing wrong if the Tarok people are clamouring to choose their leaders as long as they do not embark on any activity that will undermine the peace, integrity and existing social fabrics of the state.
It should be noted that even the United Nations has a provision for a group of people to decide to want their own rule and control which is called the “right of self-determination” but though it is not applicable in this scenario the reference is made to show that there is nothing wrong for people to want to be in charge.
Gov. Simon Lalong who accuses the tarok people of being clannish politicians cannot claim that he has not supported any person from his own clan over any other contestant from another clan throughout his reign as the governor of the state . Is he also claiming that he will not support even if it is one person from his own clan over another person from another clan in the forth coming election.
He who seeks equity and justice must first come with clean hands. It is time that the records be set straight and the facts made bare. It should be known and categorically stated that Gov. Simon Lalong is Plateau state’s number one propagator and beneficiary of clannish, divisive and sectional politics. Prior to the 2015 general elections there was strong tussle regarding where the next governor of Plateau state should come from with a strong clamour for power to shift to Southern Plateau. Since this clamour favored him, Gov. Simon Lalong exploited as well as instigated emotional sentiments and divisive sentiments that made Plateau State experience deep political tension and bitterness as never experienced between Northern and Southern Plateau and till date, the damage done by Gov. Simon Lalong’s vengeful and malicious campaign during the 2015 governorship elections are still being felt because Northern and Southern Plateau are still struggling to visualize themselves as one.
Considering Gov. Simon Lalong’s current claim and propagation that the Tarok people are clannish politicians it is very clear that he is a deceitful, shady, crooked, twisted and manipulative man who is self-centered. When it was convenient and it suited his interest divisive and sectional politics was the best approach to actualize his political ambition but when others show interest in capturing power and make a genuine appeal for power to be rotated to their area and that appeal does not go down with him he labels it clannish and divisive politics and portray those people as the evil that must be destroyed.
With all humility it can be stated that the Tarok people played an important role in ensuring that Gov. Simon Lalong emerged victorious in the 2015 governorship elections. Prior to the 2015 election Gov. Simon Lalong never enjoyed the full confidence and support of the APC , it was some Tarok persons who used their own networks to secure the necessary political and financial support for him from the North Central Presidential Council then. Apart from this singular incident the Tarok people vigorously campaigned and supported Gov. Simon Lalong and Tarok land turned out to be one of his strongest base. This is the same people who he now refers as “clannish politicians”.
So how can the Tarok people who supported the journey to victory of Gov. Simon Lalong all of a sudden turn out to be clannish politicians and are seen as the evil that must be destroyed in Plateau State , simply because they asked for the opportunity to choose their own. For record purposes it should be noted that the Tarok people never demanded and have never demanded for power, they only asked. All other tribes in Plateau state also have the freewill to ask for the opportunity to choose of their own. The people of Plateau State should please be unbiased and fair judges of this scenario playing out.
The Actual News 