After outcry, Plateau govt pledges to include Muslims in security committee

The Plateau State government, Wednesday, pledged to include Muslims in the security committee constituted by Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

The pledge followed a public outcry, especially from the Muslim communities who complained of being excluded from the committee.

The governor had on Wednesday, presented a list of members for the security committee tasked with finding lasting solutions to the ethno-religious crises affecting the state.

The initial statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Arc. Samuel N. Jatau, gave the names of the members of the committee as  “AVM. Napoleon Bali (rtd), HRH Da Gyang Buba, Prof. Gyanyir Lombin, Gen G.G. Shipi (rtd), DIG Felix Vwamhi (rtd), DIG Habila Jwalshak (rtd), Major Toholman Daffi (rtd), Arc Samuel Jatau, Coordinator Operation Rainbow and one representative from PIDAN.”

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However, the Muslim community argued that the governor’s list was one-sided.

Reacting to the development, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said the governor would include Muslims in the committee.

He said, “The attention of the Plateau State Government has been drawn to a letter being circulated on social media about a security committee constituted by the Executive Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, which is generating concern among members of the public.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this committee was constituted to provide a roadmap to be implemented by the government to ensure sustainable peace and security in the state.

“Part of the mandate of this committee is to come up with a comprehensive list of critical stakeholders across the three Senatorial Districts, cutting across the divides of faith, ethnicity and gender towards possibly convening an All Plateau Confab as a strategy for building trust in the state,” the statement added.

The statement however assured people of the state that Governor Mutfwang will run an all-inclusive government, warning mischief makers against divisive commentaries.

The Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof Ishaq Akintola, yesterday in a statement, berated Plateau State Governor for nursing anti-Muslim sentiments because of the failure to include a single Muslim in his 11-man security committee.

“The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has constituted an 11-man security committee. However, all members of the committee are Christians.

“This move lacks tact. It also suffers desertification of decorum, total absence of diplomatic acumen and acute dearth of parliamentary behaviour,” Akintola said.