The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum has welcomed Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to the party, urging him to avoid religious and ethnic agenda, and work closely with President Bola Tinubu.
Mutfwang recently announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC.
The North-Central APC Forum, which championed a campaign to convince Mutfwang to defect to the APC, set agenda for the governor in a statement released by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, on Monday in Abuja.
The Forum restated its confidence in Mutfwang’s capacity to take the APC to greater heights, adding that his coming to the ruling party is in the best interest of the people of Plateau.
However, the Forum, comprising APC stakeholders in the six North-Central states, advised the governor to do away with elements in his administration who have been championing ethnic and religious agenda in Plateau State.
According to the statement signed by Zazzaga, a member of the APC campaign council in the 2023 election, such divisive ethnic and religious agenda should no longer be welcome in Mutfwang’s APC “progressive” administration.
“We, the North-Central APC Forum, extends a warm welcome to Governor Caleb Mutfwang as he formally joins the APC family, where unity, peace and progress flourish, and ethnic and religious differences are set aside.
“Our agitation to bring Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the APC was driven by our desire to keep him in an environment where unity thrives, away from the divisive influences of religious and ethnic differences that are obtainable in his former platform.
“We campaigned for Governor Mutfwang’s defection because we know he has a good heart and really wants to develop the state. We know he means well for the people of Plateau.
“However, we observed that during his time in the PDP, some of the officials in his administration were promoting ethnic and religious differences. One of our main reasons for pushing for his defection to the APC was to separate him from people with such divisive mindset.
“Now that he is in the APC, we want him to carefully select and work with people that truly want the development of Plateau State – not those who are only interested in pushing ethnic and religious agenda,” the statement said.
The Forum further urged the governor to unite the people of the state, and carry everybody along.
“He should unite the citizens of Plateau State, no matter the ethnic and religious differences, to ensure that the dividends of democracy gets to all the nooks and crannies of the state.
“We urge him to work closely with Mr President in tackling the security challenges in the state – so as to have direct access to the security chiefs.
“He should also carry everybody along – none of the ethnic nationalities, religious groups, and other sections of Plateau State should be left behind. He should be the father of all citizens of Plateau State, and continue in his tradition of defending the heritage of the Plateau people.
“He should embrace the principles of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.”
The North-Central APC Forum advised Mutfwang to take full charge of his administration, and do away with any godfathers and individuals who seek to influence his government.
The statement added, “He should take charge of his administration, before now we know there are some people who had undue influence in his government. But having joined the progressive party, he should take charge and work for the people without any fear or favour.
“We enjoin him to feel free as a member of the APC, knowing fully well that the Plateau people love him and are with him all the way.”
The Forum stressed that although it faced intimidation while campaigning for Mutfwang’s coming to the APC, it did not relent because it knows the governor’s capacity to deliver.
Explaining why it led the campaign for Muftwang’s defection, the Forum said, “While campaigning for Governor Mutfwang to come to the APC, we faced a lot of intimidation and harassment from people who felt his coming will affect their chances of contesting the governorship election. But we persevered because we know what he stands for and we are confident that his coming to the APC will not only strengthen the party and take it to greater heights, it will also serve the best interests of the people of Plateau State.
“We know the people of Plateau will benefit if Governor Mutfwang becomes party of the APC, and we are happy that our agitation was successful.
“We were the first to endorse President Bola Tinubu for another term in office and we also promised him six million votes in 2027. This promise also informed our decision to campaign for Governor Mutfwang’s coming to the APC because we know the people of Plateau are with him and his coming will help to actualize the six million votes for Mr President.”