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I never promised 60:40 sharing of appointments – Mutfwang
The cold war between original members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also known as the legacy group led by former Governor Simon Lalong, and the new entrants led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang has deepened, with the governor denying claims that he promised to share cabinet positions on a 60:40 basis with them as part of the conditions for his defection to the APC.
There had been growing discontent among members of the legacy group, who alleged that the government had reneged on an agreement to allocate 40 per cent of cabinet positions to them as part of the understanding reached before Mutfwang joined the APC.
The APC legacy group is associated with former Governor Lalong and comprises politicians who were members of the party before Mutfwang and his supporters joined the APC.
Mutfwang had, in November last year, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC after months of attempts by the original APC members to prevent him from doing so.
However, speaking on Thursday while inaugurating three new commissioners at the Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, the governor said that although he had made commitments regarding the sharing of government appointments, he never entered into any agreement to allocate 40 per cent of cabinet positions to members of the APC legacy group.
He said: “To correct some rumours that have been going, the APC chairman is here. I never made any promise to share government positions since my journey to APC. I made commitment to share party positions. I never had agreement to do 60-40 cabinet.”
Mutfwang said he had accommodated members of the legacy group in a significant proportion of positions within the party structure, dismissing suggestions that his political allies had taken disproportionate advantage of the new arrangement.
He said that presently almost 80 per cent of those in the APC State Executive Committee were people he met in the APC.
“As I am talking to you today, out of the 24 who emerged as APC candidates, 16 are APC legacy members. Only eight who crossed with me became candidates for House of Assembly. Are we fair?” he asked.
The governor called for an end to the perceived division between the government group and the legacy group, saying members of the APC should now see themselves as one political family.
“The time has come when we must kill the dichotomy between the government group and legacy group. We are one big family,” he said.
The governor reiterated that appointments into cabinet positions should be based primarily on competence and the ability of individuals to contribute to the development of the state, rather than political affiliation.
“We have people who have been in APC but we bring them into government because we believe they have something to offer, not because they are APC members,” he said.
The new commissioners are Hon. Ishaku Maren Yobo from Bokkos Local Government Area, Prof. Gloria Samuel from Bassa Local Government Area and Comr. Prince Miaphen from Quanpan Local Government Area.
Performing the swearing-in ceremony, Mutfwang described the appointments as part of the administration’s deliberate efforts to strengthen and reposition the machinery of government for more effective service delivery.
The governor urged the new commissioners to see their appointments not merely as positions of honour, but as a call to greater responsibility, dedication and service to the people of Plateau State.
He explained that the decision to proceed with the ceremony despite the unfortunate security incidents recorded in parts of the state earlier in the week was informed by the importance his administration attaches to governance and the need to ensure that no moment is lost in the delivery of its mandate.
According to him, with about nine months remaining in the administration’s first term, there was a need to re-examine the structure and effectiveness of governance and make necessary adjustments to maximise the remaining period for the benefit of the people.
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“We were elected to serve the people, and we want to ensure that we maximise the opportunity left at our disposal,” Governor Mutfwang said.
He disclosed that the Secretary to the State Government would release new postings to ministries, with the affected officials expected to ensure proper and effective handover.
The governor further announced that his administration would undertake additional reorganisation of ministries and departments as part of measures to place government on a faster trajectory and enhance efficiency in the implementation of policies and programmes.
He also disclosed that more appointments would be made, including Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants across the state, explaining that the objective was to broaden participation and bring governance closer to the people.
Governor Mutfwang clarified that the changes within the State Executive Council should not be interpreted as a verdict on the performance of those who had previously served.
He described former members of the council as part of the administration’s larger family, stressing that the changes were necessitated by the need to reposition government and deploy individuals with the capacity to add greater value to the administration’s development agenda.
The governor called for an end to perceived divisions among members of the governing political family, stressing that all members had a collective responsibility to work together for the progress and development of Plateau State.
He further stressed that subsequent appointments would reflect broad-based considerations, competence and the ability to contribute meaningfully to governance.
On security, Governor Mutfwang described the recent attacks in parts of the state as a setback, but reassured the people of Plateau that his administration remained determined to protect lives and property.
“We have the capacity, we have the determination, we have the willingness to secure the people of Plateau State,” he assured.
The governor said the administration was reviewing existing security gaps and taking steps to strengthen the state’s security response, while calling on the people to continue supporting and praying for the government.
Ishaku Maren Yobo, who responded on behalf of the newly sworn-in commissioners, expressed appreciation to Governor Mutfwang for finding them worthy of appointment into the State Executive Council.
Yobo described their appointment as both a privilege and a responsibility, assuring the governor that the new commissioners were ready and willing to key into the policy direction of the administration and contribute to effective governance and service delivery across the state.
“The new commissioners would immediately align themselves with the policy thrust of the government and work diligently in their respective areas of responsibility,” he said.
He assured the people of Plateau State that the new commissioners would do their best to add value in their respective areas of responsibility, while expressing gratitude to the governor for the opportunity to serve.
“We want to assure the people of Plateau State that we will do all within our reach to add value to our respective areas of responsibility, by the special grace and mercies of God,” Yobo said.
He also prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection for the administration and all those entrusted with responsibilities in government.
The governor also disclosed plans for additional appointments, including Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants, saying the move was aimed at broadening participation and bringing governance closer to the people.
