ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Plateau State Government has defended Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang over the controversy surrounding his recent remarks during an engagement with leaders of the Igbo community, insisting that his comments have been misrepresented and taken out of context.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Dr. Gyang Bere, the government said Mutfwang’s remarks were made in the spirit of reconciliation, appreciation and national unity, contrary to interpretations suggesting otherwise.

The clarification follows mixed reactions to comments made by the governor during a courtesy visit by leaders of the Igbo community to the Government House in Jos, with critics alleging that he apologised over the role of Plateau indigenes during the Nigerian Civil War.
Responding to the criticism, the government said the governor neither sought to diminish the experiences of any ethnic group nor distort the historical realities of the civil war.

It maintained that Mutfwang’s remarks were intended to acknowledge the resilience, enterprise and contributions of the Igbo community to the economic and social development of Plateau State while encouraging peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

“The scars of that period remain part of our national history and deserve to be remembered with empathy, honesty and sensitivity,” the statement said, adding that the lessons of the civil war should strengthen national unity rather than reopen old wounds.
The government also highlighted Plateau’s long history of accommodating people from different parts of the country, describing the state as one of Nigeria’s foremost examples of peaceful coexistence.
According to the statement, successive administrations, beginning with Joseph Dechi Gomwalk and later Solomon Lar, laid the foundation for an inclusive society in which the Igbo community has thrived and contributed significantly to commerce, education, healthcare and industry.

The statement further aligned the state’s inclusive tradition with former Head of State Yakubu Gowon’s post-war “No Victor, No Vanquished” policy and the programme of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, describing the approach as a globally recognised model for post-conflict healing.

The government said Governor Mutfwang remained committed to preserving that legacy through policies that promote dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

It urged Nigerians to disregard what it described as distorted interpretations of the governor’s remarks, warning that such narratives could inflame ethnic divisions and distract from the broader message of unity and national cohesion.

Reaffirming the administration’s position, the government said Mutfwang believes every Nigerian, regardless of ethnicity, religion or place of origin, deserves dignity, equal opportunity and a sense of belonging, adding that those principles will continue to guide his leadership of Plateau State.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Yes this Mabushi bus terminal in Abuja has kick started for passengers to use.

Watch below:

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

As part of the third year anniversary of President Bola Tinubu, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has approved the promotion of 3,592 civil servants following the successful conclusion of the 2025 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission.

Recall that from June 8 to July 17, 2026, the FCT had witnessed commissioning and flag-off of over 30 projects to commemorate the third year anniversary of the President.

Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh, who announced the development, described it as a demonstration of the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s commitment to staff welfare in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said that the promotion examinations for senior officers were conducted between July 1 and 3, while junior staff sat for their examinations on July 10.

He commended Wike for providing the necessary support that enabled the commission to carry out its statutory responsibilities smoothly and efficiently.

According to him, the minister has also directed the commission to immediately commence the 2026 promotion exercise to ensure that eligible officers are promoted as and when due, without unnecessary delays.

“Under this administration, it is a priority that FCT workers get promoted as and when due. This is to compliment the tremendous work that the FCT Minister is doing in infrastructural development of the Territory, and for us, the workers will not be left out in the celebrations marking the 3rd anniverssary of Mr President,” he said.

Ezeh said the directive reflects the administration’s determination to complement the ongoing infrastructural transformation across the Federal Capital Territory with improved staff welfare and career development.

He noted that the move would ensure civil servants also benefit from the achievements being recorded under the Tinubu administration as it marks its third anniversary.

The commission chairman praised FCT civil servants for their peaceful and orderly conduct throughout the 2025 promotion exercise, urging officers expected to participate in the 2026 exercise to maintain the same level of discipline and professionalism.

He also expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) for its cooperation and support, which contributed to the successful conduct of the promotion exercise.

Ezeh advised prospective candidates for the 2026 promotion exercise to begin preparations early, reminding them that promotion in the FCT Civil Service is merit-based, highly competitive, and subject to the availability of vacancies.