It is instructive that this time the people should pay attention to the phrase political will. It is also very vital that as we approach 2023, our people must understand why the next occupant of the Plateau state governorship seat should be different.
We could see our state reinventing itself and running away from the rest developmentally in spite of the general dependence on crude oil earnings and the blight of federal efforts to the state.
Plateau is the 12 largest state in Nigeria. Approximately in the centre of the country, it is geographically unique in Nigeria due to its boundaries of elevated hills surrounding the Jos Plateau and the entire State.
Plateau state is celebrated as “The Home of Peace and Tourism”. With natural formations of rocks, hills and waterfalls among other natural endowment that make Plateau unique among it contemporaries in Nigeria.
The state since its creation has suffered from inefficiency in governance that further deteriorated the state economy. Political instability and lack of proper accountability have severely impeded the ability of successive governments to implement economic policies for the common good of the people, thus creating a lack of basic amenity for the citizenry which has left many sons and daughters of Plateau with an unanswered questions.
As the next elections draws near, political elites have already started the discussion on which region, who and where the seat of power (governorship) should be shifted after Governor Simon Bako Lalong second whose life circle is expiring in the less than two years.
Since the return of democracy after military incursion in 1999 zoning form the dominant of our political discourse aimed at reducing increased tensions and agitations for power sharing among the ethnic nationalities of the state.
The state is divided into three senatorial districts namely Plateau North, South and Central with each of the underlisted zones have roles to play when it comes to the issues of government and governance. It is very clear now that the Plateau citizens are praying and hoping that come 2023, another son of the state takes over from Governor Lalong to sustain his current tempo of peace building and long heritage of Plateau project. Professor C.J Dakas is one of the great Plateau minds that will work tirelessly to protect and preserve our cultural heritage.
Professor Dakas rose from lecturing at the Faculty of Law, University of Jos, to the rank of Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence in October 2010.
He is a visiting Professor (International Human Rights Law), Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Canada where he has taught “Human Rights in Africa” through a virtual classroom which involves interface via video conferencing between Canadian and Nigerian students and faculty.
A legal luminary of many outstanding firsts, Prof. Dakas was one of only two First Class Honours law degree holders from the University of Jos since its establishment in the mid-1970s; the first, and so far the only academic to be appointed Attorney-General of Plateau state; the youngest person to hold the office of Attorney-General of Plateau State.
It has been said that Plateau state is very difficult to rule but injustice on the part of the government and the governed if not solved will continue to elude us good governance that will provide the basic necessities of live like Security, good road network, portable drinking water, free and affordable education, employment and electricity, and other things too many to mention of which is the sole responsibility of government at all levels to shop for or facilitate through sound policies and programmes in the interest of the well being of the Plateau citizens.
The state since 1999 had produced three elected civilian Governors – Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye from Bokkos local government area and from the Central Senatorial district, former Governor Jonah David Jang from the Northern Plateau while the incumbent Governor Simon Bako Lalong is serving his second term in office from the Southern Plateau.
It is very clear that the ball is now in the court of the Political elites in the Central Senatorial District and since then, many has indicated their interest to occupy the little Rayfield number one house come 2023.
The state will be glad to have one of its sons who will not only protect and preserve the heritage but will also sustain the peace-building efforts of the Lalong administration and ensure that more infrastructural development that will provide jobs to the Plateau citizens is his major priority.
Plateau state will be set on the pedestrian of new down with Professor Dakas C. J. Dakas, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos and a former Attorney-General of Plateau state. He is the youngest Nigerian professor to be conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). In a rare feat, he was conferred with the prestigious rank of SAN at his very first, and only attempt, the fourth professor of law from the entire northern region of Nigeria.
The state needs a leader who command respect among his contemporaries, a man whose mind is bounded by reconciliatory traits and characmatic statesman who have paid a price for APC to survive against his personal interest. Dakas is a man who says little but has achieved much.
He is the man our dear Plateau needs to be revived and with a man like him, it will never be a plea bargain where personal interest superceed National interest. Professor Dakas has all the capacity and tempo to sustain Governor Lalong’s rescue policy trust anchored on peace building and revival of the downtrodden.
I am leading a state-wide youth consultation across the 17 local government areas in Plateau to share this loudable crusade with youths and women associations aimed at drumming support towards the actualisation of this dream and project that will take the state to its destination of the home of Peace and Tourism.
Dakas as a Professor of Law has a good track records of achievements, successes and his perseverance defined him as an a incurable optimist who see opportunities even in the midst of pandemic rather than seeing obstacles.
His policies and programmes are dynamic and also his achievements are footprints in the life of ordinary People of Mangu local government and University of Jos are tangible and feasibly glaring.
It means Nigerians can only follow the person they trust and who they strongly believe that he is the same with his character. Dakas vast experience in government and governance first as a professor of law and seasoned lecturer will no doubt be an added advantage in making Plateau state a better place and a home for all.
It has been said that the purpose of history is to know the past, adjust the present and plan for the future. We have a very rich history and cultural heritage that singled the state out of its contemporaries.
The need to support true Plateau son with the spirit of Plateau rich cultural heritage is now and we are kick starting this campaign in our efforts to sensitise our youths and women groups particularly members of All Progressives Congress on the need to support Professor Dakas.
He is therefore, the struggle we are championing and it shall be achieved because of the man we are advocating as the next governor of Plateau state will certainly ensure Plateau first and will sustain the ongoing rescue administratiom of Governor Lalong’s policies.
Suleiman writes from Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria.
