Lalong, Plateau gov-elect bicker over transition plans

Forum 1 year ago

Lalong, Plateau gov-elect bicker over transition plans

The outgoing Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, and the governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang, have disagreed over plans to hand over the reins of government to a new administration in the state.

Lalong, in a circular issued by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Peter Wuyep, said he had set up a transition committee that would usher in the new administration led by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The circular, dated March 31, which was sighted by our correspondent in Jos on Sunday, indicated that the inauguration of the transition committee would take place at the Government House in Jos on Monday (today).

It read in part, “The Executive Governor of Plateau State has approved the constitution of a central planning committee, handover and swearing-in to liaise and ensure a smooth transition from a rescue administration to the incoming government

“In view of the foregoing, the Executive Governor will inaugurate the committee on April 3 at 11am. Members are therefore expected to be seated by 10.30am, please.”

Reacting to the planned inauguration of the transition committee, which allegedly excluded members from the incoming administration, the governor-elect, Mutfwang, described the action of the outgoing government led by Simon Lalong as strange and done in bad faith.

Mutfwang, who spoke through the Director of his Media and Publicity Campaign Council, Yiljap Abraham, however, insisted that despite their exclusion, the new PDP administration under his leadership would be inaugurated come May 29, having been elected by the people.

Abraham partly said, “Up until last night, we have received no communication from the outgoing government regarding any plan to inaugurate any transition committee. The normal practise is that they will get in touch with us and let us know that such a thing is about to happen, and the two parties will have one list containing members from both sides who will work together to usher in the new administration.

“But as far as we are concerned, Caleb Mutfwang is the Governor-elect of Plateau State, whether they (Lalong’s administration) like it or not. And he will be inaugurated as the Governor of Plateau State on May 29, having been duly elected by the people of the state.”