By: Valentine Adese (JP),
The Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally broken its silence on the issue of rebuilding the Jos Main Market, by Jaiz Bank.
The party (APC) has in a press statement signed by, Hon.Sylvanus Namang, the State Publicity Secretary described the opposition to the decision of Governor Simon Bako Lalong to rebuild the market as politically motivated.
The APC in its press statement, dated the 8th of September, 2022, also stated that, the move and propaganda of those opposed to the decision of the current administration to rebuild the market are loaded with lies, which it hold as the height of mischief to the state and its people.
“It is important to note that, at this point, a lot of politically motivated propaganda were offloaded and circulated against the efforts of the Governor, where it was alleged that billions were spent to demolish the structure. This is false and the height of mischief!
The ruling party explained that, “The push for the economic growth of the State deserves the support of all discerning minds. We cannot continue to promote and elevate hatred as an ideology or achievement as the renegade Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) politicians, keep doing. The state needs the intervention of true Patriots, Statesmen and Religious Leaders across the divide; to bring all disparate and divergent groups together, as our strength lies in our diversity.”
The APC, which took paragraphs to link and accused the PDP, its past Administration in the state and Honourable Dachung Musa Bagos, Member representing Jos-South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State, of Double Standard, owing to their protest and present suit against the signing of the MoU for the reconstruction of the Market, in summary, explained that, “Jos Main Market remains a cherished Heritage of Plateau People, which no one can take away. It ought to have been rebuilt before now, if not for the misplaced priority of the immediate past administration.
“From available facts, all the Satellite Markets built at Kabong, Farin Gada, New Market and Katako are less than 50% occupied as the traders there have moved to Terminus, Ahmadu Bello Way, Murtala Muhammed Way, and all adjoining streets to the burnt down Market, which has led to frequent traffic gridlocks and environmental hazards. Traders operate in locations where they are better patronized and cannot be moved by fiat.
“These Serial Fault finders’ opposition to the JAIZ Bank Funding initiative and the State Government’s decision to rebuild the market is purely politically motivated. Religion is only being ostensibly brought in as a mere smokescreen!
“The same JAIZ Bank has executed similar projects in nearly 100 % Christian States of Enugu and Rivers State without its people being Islamised, contrary to what is being widely canvassed by these deceptive opposition politicians in a 21st Century Plateau State.
“Facts made available to the APC, reveal that, contrary to the allegation in the opposition camp that, the State Government was in breach of its own laws on Public Procurement, the arrangement with Jaiz Bank Plc is not covered under the Public Procurement Law, since the funding for the redevelopment is not coming from the public purse, but is a finance of the project by a Third Party.
“The scope of application procurement law we learnt is limited to the utilization of public funds to acquire goods and services.
“Regrettably, the outcome of this engagement with Jaiz Bank has been twisted, politicized and reported under the caption “Governor Lalong cedes Jos Main Market to Islamic Bank”. This has unnecessarily provoked passions and negative emotions in our citizens and conveying the false narrative that, the state was parting with its cherished heritage to an “Islamic Bank”.
“While the Government respects the rights of its citizens to raise questions on every decision and make their observations and displeasure known, the Rescue Administration has allayed the fears being raised as nothing in the deal will work against the state. Rather, it is an opportunity to raise a Sleeping Giant once again- the famous Jos Main Market. A Market that has not added any value to the Government and its people since it was burnt down 21 years ago!
“A Market like the Jos Main Market that will engender economic activities and commercial intercourse amongst diverse groups is probably the most unifying institution a polarized state such as Plateau can wish for.
“What the APC in the state finds worrisome and disappointing is that despite the clarity in the terms of the proposals, politics has surreptitiously crept into this purely economic engagement and otherwise laudable project.
“Dishonest politicians, from the opposition, have for their convenience, given a religious colouration to the issue. Everybody, ranging from the Government to the Investor, the prospective Shop Owners, the Clerics and Plateau Citizens, have unfortunately become victims of the antics of these opportunists.
“The Truth is that the deliberately simulated and orchestrated outrage and resistance to the rebuilding of the Market is all about politics, rather than religion-often said to be the Opium of the Masses. These dishonest politicians in the pursuit of narrow political ends, at the slightest opportunity, never hesitate to exploit the divisive and combustible issue of religion to fool the people that they are the worthy protectors of “Plateau Heritage.”
READ THE FULL APC PRESS STATEMENT BELOW:-
8th September, 2022
ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER,
KALWA HOUSE, YAKUBU GOWON WAY,
JOS
OPPOSITION TO THE REBUILDING OF THE BURNT JOS MAIN MARKET IS POLITICAL.
We Kindly Crave the Indulgence of the Reader to Read This Piece to the End
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State has read, watched and listened with keen interest and concern of the developments arising from the decision of the present APC Government under His Excellency, Governor Simon Bako Lalong, to rebuild the Jos Main Market, which got burnt in February 2002.
Ordinarily, the APC in the State had thought that, the decision to bring back to life this most cherished legacy of our heroes past, especially, the legendary Joseph Dechi Gomwalk, the first Military Governor of Benue Plateau State, who had to pay the Supreme Price for standing up in protecting his people’s interest and the Emancipator- in – Chief, the Late Solomon Daushep Lar, who selflessly served Plateau State (Nasarawa State inclusive), deserves to be applauded.
The Jos Main Market, which once stood out as one of the most prized and beautiful edifices to behold in the whole of West African Sub-Region, remains one of the prides of Plateau State and a permanent reminder that, the Vision of Joseph Gomwalk, like the University of Jos and the Nigeria Standard Newspaper will live forever.
Unfortunately, the rebuilding programme of this common heritage has been greeted with so much deliberate misinformation, incitement to hatred, bickering, avoidable bitterness, animosity and acrimony.
The question that agitates us, as a responsible and responsive political party, is whether, all these are necessary in view of the fact that the state has more to gain from the reconstruction of the Market, which was bombed by enemies of the State over 20 years ago, than leaving it in ruins as a dead Legacy, as wished by a previous Administration that spent 8 years pursuing a disastrous experiment in ethnic agenda-inspired governance in our hitherto solidly united Plateau State.
That was what informed the decision of Governor Simon Lalong, right from the onset, to promise during his electioneering campaign, between 2014 and 2015, to rebuild the Market, which used to account for 40% of the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and which the State needs now more than ever before, in view of the dwindling inflows from the Federation Account.
In the early years of this administration, from 2016, upon realising the increasingly dwindling State resources due to global financial trends and fall in crude oil earnings, the Governor embarked on foreign trips, which took him to China, Spain, United Kingdom, USA, and South Africa (all non-Islamic countries) to look for willing Investors.
The Rescue Administration contacted major financial institutions and Investors within and outside the Country for the project. Many came with huge enthusiasm and offers, which appeared promising, prompting the government to demolish some existing parts of the structure on 17th May, 2019, in preparation for the reconstruction.
It is important to note that, at this point, a lot of politically motivated propaganda were offloaded and circulated against the efforts of the Governor, where it was alleged that billions were spent to demolish the structure. This is false and the height of mischief.
The discussions around the reconstruction became stuck upon request from most of the intending investors and financial institutions who, in summary, required Plateau State to give some or all of the following:
- A Bank Guarantee
- Letter of Comfort to own and manage the market for as long as it took them to recoup their investment
- Guarantee to Off-Take 70% of the shops (in other words, buy them)
- Bring 20% of the cost of reconstruction aside the land being its equity etc.
These negotiations which involved many experts and key government officials continued with most of the offers putting the state in a disadvantaged position.
Moreover, the government was not in a position to give Bank Guarantee of almost, 20 Billion Naira that some of the investors submitted. It could not also pledge to Off-Take the shops when built instead of buyers doing so.
Many would remember that, the government was committed to settling backlog of inherited salary arrears from the previous PDP administration and ensuring regular salary payments; completing abandoned projects inherited from the PDP; working to improve IGR among others, which meant it could not give in to such demands made by the prospective investors. Looking at other commitments of the government already tied to its monthly income, it was not possible to enter another funding arrangement that would be a huge burden on the state.
Along the line, there was a bidding process that produced a Preferred Bidder, an indigene of Plateau state, whose terms included a Viability Gap Funding of over N7 Billion from the Plateau State Government (PLSG). The Government neither had this resource nor did the Preferred Bidder demonstrate Financial Capacity to be able to raise the required financing for this project, as required under a PPP Model, then being pursued. The selection Process was therefore terminated, as no Official Contract Award was issued by the PLSG.
This necessitated the government to explore other alternative Financing arrangements for the Project, which eventually resulted in the option of a Joint Venture Finance arrangement with JAIZ Bank, as financing Partners, in 2021.
THE JAIZ BANK OFFER
Governor Lalong, despite the several setbacks, kept hope alive and promised to do his best, to fulfill his campaign promise to the people of Plateau state, who gave him their mandate in 2015 and 2019, based on some commitments made, including the rebuilding of the Jos Main Market. This determination yielded positive result when the Governor, upon learning of other huge market projects in various Northern, Eastern and South-South states, funded by Jaiz Bank Plc, decided to engage them on the idea of rebuilding the burnt Jos Main Market.
Talks started in 2021 between the State Government and Jaiz Bank. Series of deliberations were held, which brought up the following offer by the investing Bank:
- The Bank will finance the reconstruction of the market 100%, with the Plateau State Government not required to pay a Kobo, and with all financial risks to be borne by the Bank.
- The land (over 7.4 hectares) is the equity of the Plateau State Government which it is contributing to the project.
- No Lease of any sort will be granted to Jaiz Bank. (The 40 years Lease being touted in the Social Media is a wickedlie).
- The project will be done in three phases yielding a total of 4,321 shops which will be shared in the ratio of 60% (Jaiz Bank), 40% (Plateau Government).
- The 60-40% Ratio is for the purpose ofselling out the shops ONLY. The entire market still belongs to the Plateau State Government.
- Those who buy the shops from either Plateau State Government or Jaiz Bank will own it for a period of 40 years after which ownership returns to the government.
- At this point, new investors can purchase from the State Government, or the exiting buyers may repurchase on fresh terms.
- As soon as Jaiz Bank finishes selling its 60%, it will cease to have any interest in the market as those holding the Leaseswill deal only with the Plateau State Government, through the management of the Market (Jos Main Market Authority) which is a Parastatal of the Government and the Ministry of Commerce.
- The entire shops will be sold to interested buyers without prejudice to faith, ethnicity, or political affiliations. It is open for the public to invest in.
- The First Phase will be delivered and commissioned before the end of the tenure of Governor Lalong.
Having gone through the offer by Jaiz Bank, the State Executive Council further subjected the proposal to extensive deliberations and scrutiny and concluded that the deal was doable; a win-win situation for the state and the investor hence, its approval for the negotiations with the Bank to continue. Besides, the Government carried out its due diligence to study the track record of Jaiz Bank in delivering such Projects. It found out that, the Bank, in partnership with the Kano State Government and Private Investors, is constructing a Multi-Million World-Class Drug-Only Wholesale Market, the first of its type in Nigeria, at the Kano Economic City. In a similar arrangement, the Bank in partnership with the Niger State Government is developing three hectares in the Minna City Center to provide for a Shopping Complex, Modern Underground Parks, Modern Filling Station, Warehouses, Corner Shops, Restaurants and Recreational Centre. It is also doing so in Kaduna and Enugu States among others.
Based on the above examples of performance profile and experience, the Plateau State Government became optimistic of the Bank’s capacity to finance the redevelopment of the Jos Main Market project and to deliver on its promise.
Facts made available to the APC, reveal that, contrary to the allegation in the opposition camp that, the State Government was in breach of its own laws on Public Procurement, the arrangement with Jaiz Bank Plc is not covered under the Public Procurement Law, since the funding for the redevelopment is not coming from the public purse, but is a finance of the project by a Third Party.
The scope of application procurement law we learnt is limited to the utilization of public funds to acquire goods and services.
Regrettably, the outcome of this engagement with Jaiz Bank has been twisted, politicized and reported under the caption “Governor Lalong cedes Jos Main Market to Islamic Bank”. This has unnecessarily provoked passions and negative emotions in our citizens and conveying the false narrative that, the state was parting with its cherished heritage to an “Islamic Bank”.
While the Government respects the rights of its citizens to raise questions on every decision and make their observations and displeasure known, the Rescue Administration has allayed the fears being raised as nothing in the deal will work against the state. Rather, it is an opportunity to raise a Sleeping Giant once again- the famous Jos Main Market. A Market that has not added any value to the Government and its people since it was burnt down 21 years ago!
A Market like the Jos Main Market that will engender economic activities and commercial intercourse amongst diverse groups is probably the most unifying institution a polarized state such as Plateau can wish for.
It is undeniable that when we go to the market, we are on the lookout for the most favourable bargain. When, as a Christian, you go to the market and trader A, a Christian gives you N5, 000.00 as the price of the item you want to buy. Trader B also a Christian, calls N4, 800.00 for the same item, and Trader C a Muslim calls N4,500.00 as his price, who will you buy from? Would you buy from Trader A, a fellow Christian, despite his higher price or from Trader C, a Muslim who gave the lowest Price? Think about it.
Just as in the above given scenario, the government approached many sellers of financial products (Banks and Investors) towards the rebuilding of the Market and found their products over priced. It decided to go for not only the least priced product or offer, but also the best suited to the present economic realities of the state. This is pure Economics and not a matter for the peddling of base sentiments, as some mischief makers are doing.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Government, under Rt. Honourable Simon Bako Lalong, being a populist and listening government, determined to fulfil all its promise to the people, went for a Joint Venture Financing package negotiation with JAIZ Bank in 2021.JAIZ Bank under the proposed terms, has agreed to provide the entire funding amounting to N9.4 billion for the 4,321 stalls capacity market, with no interest to be charged as the Bank in line with its policy of not charging interest on loans. It only thrives on profits from its investments.
We wish to reiterate once again, that for providing the entire funding, the Bank would take and sell off 60% of the stalls, i.e., 2621stalls to recoup its investment and leave, while the State Government, which will provide the land for the project as its equity would take 40% i.e., 1700 Stalls.
Those who will buy the stalls, referred to as Off-Takers, would pay and use the stalls for 40 years, after which they would remain the property of the Plateau State Government, under the management of the Jos Main Market Authority.
The beneficiaries of the 40 years duration are the stall owners who once they pay, would use such stalls for that period when their rent would have expired before ownership reverts to the Government.
What the APC in the state finds worrisome and disappointing is that, despite the clarity in the terms of the proposals, politics has surreptitiously crept into this purely economic engagement and otherwise laudable project.
Dishonest politicians, from the opposition, have for their convenience, given a religious colouration to the issue. Everybody, ranging from the Government to the Investor, the prospective Shop Owners, the Clerics and Plateau Citizens have unfortunately become victims of the antics of these opportunists.
The Truth is that, the deliberately simulated and orchestrated outrage and resistance to the rebuilding of the Market is all about politics, rather than religion, often said to be the Opium of the Masses.
These dishonest politicians in the pursuit of narrow political ends, at the slightest opportunity, never hesitate to exploit the divisive and combustible issue of religion to fool the people that they are the worthy protectors of “Plateau Heritage.”
It is unfortunate that, since the advent of this political dispensation, from 1999 and particularly from the 7th of September 2001 Jos Crisis, religion has become an easy and potent tool for the mobilisation and stirring of dissent for selfish goals. The people of Plateau state should open their eyes and refuse to be fooled by dishonest and bigoted politicians masquerading and strutting about as protectors of “Plateau Heritage.”
This brand of politics has been laced with the veil of religion where the wool is heavily pulled across the eyes of gullible Plateau citizens, a phenomenon that has unfortunately spread into our churches like a wildfire.
Let us not be misunderstood as accusing the Clergy.
Not at all! We least blame them, as they are just being misled by politicians, who don’t want them to know the truth and the advantages of this project to the people of the state.
Information is either being hoarded from them or is twisted to satisfy the whims and caprices of these renegade and desperate politicians.
This is what has informed Government’s decision to embark on a Sensitisation Programme through the People’s elected representatives in the State House of Assembly.
Not to forget that the Plateau Diaspora Community, with whom the Governor had a parley with in 2016, at which he mentioned the Jos Main Market Project as a priority, but which did not demonstrate its capacity for assistance, contrary to spurious claims in Social Media.
By the way, the Plateau State APC is seriously concerned about the genuineness of the intentions of some of the Diaspora Groups. For instance, one Rwang D, Chall, the President of the Plateau Development Association, UK, in responding to a mere invitation extended by the State Programmes Monitoring and Result Delivery Office (PMRDO) to a Virtual Conference to discuss the details of the Jaiz BANK Proposals on account vicious Social Media propaganda against the Project responded thus:
“It has come to the notice of PSA UK that there is a meeting to be held on the 4th of August with Diasporas, regarding the redevelopment of Jos Main Market. In response to that, PSA UK denies any affiliation or knowledge of this meeting. Due process was not followed towards inviting the UK Diasporas to the said meeting. We want to categorically state that, we do not support the initiative and strongly agree with the Honourable House of Rep. Member, Dachung Bagos, to alienate ourselves absolutely from this proposed redevelopment.
Thanks President PSA UK.”
Mr. Rwang D. Chall, whose affiliation to the PDP is well known, made this statement, which was all over the Social Media, and took the decision to alienate himself and his members absolutely, from the proposed redevelopment, even before a meeting meant to throw light on the details of the project. If this is not politics, then someone needs to tell us what it is!
So, while the APC appreciates the offer from the Diaspora Community to raise funds through Crowd Funding, a process that no doubt will be Long-drawn-out, and which, by the way, will not produce Free Funds, but a Loan to the State to be repaid to the Investors on agreed Terms, the APC notes that, the Diaspora Community having now had the correct details of the Jaiz Bank Proposal and not having been able to fault it in any way, should redirect their energies to raising the Funds for the redevelopment of other wasting Legacies of the State, such as the Plateau Hotel, GRA Jos; the Rock International Hotel at Lamingo and even the Hill Station Hotel Jos, in order to boost the Tourism potentials of the state.
We had seen the antics of these desperate Losers and Holier Than Thou Opposition Politicians before, in the ongoing construction of the British -America Junction Flyover, when they quoted and insisted despite official clarifications, a bogus sum of N18 Billion as its construction cost, instead of the actual N9,995,949,835.74Billion initial Cost. The Cost of that Project was only recently varied by N3,598,826,836.10, on account of spiralling inflation and rise in the prices of construction materials since the commencement of the project, bringing the Total Cost of the project to N13,597,776,671.84.They don’t want to believe these verifiable facts because, they know what they can do, having ravaged the State Treasury and mercilessly raped the State of Billions of Naira, when they held sway under the immediate past administration.
It is natural for them to see themselves in others and assume that, the leadership of the state under the present Governor is made up of thieves and rogues like them.
These crop of conscienceless opposition politicians, who have nothing to lose by inciting the people against all well intended government programmes, have looted the state enough to last them and their children a lifetime, while the ordinary people, who need these facilities more are left to groan in want, penury, agony, and a poisonous diet of base sentiments and religious bigotry, having been brainwashed into believing that, every action taken by the current administration in the state is either an attack on their faith as Christians or are efforts to undermine their much cherished Christian Faith!
These renegade politicians, and their mentally interned and captive followers, have nothing to lose by leaving the burnt market in ruins for the next 100 Years! That explains why they refused to rebuild it in the 8 Years they were in power, even when they had more than enough resources to do so. They are not bothered by the plight of the former shop owners, many whom have died because of losing their means of livelihood, while those who are still alive operate under very deplorable conditions due to no fault of theirs. They sprawl in the adjoining streets under rain and sunshine, a situation that ought to be an issue of grave concern to any responsible Government.
For how long shall the State, which used to be the envy of all, be held to ransom by this gang of lousy, but vocal minority, whose minds are set in Default Mode to oppose and condemn anything that is directed at improving the wellbeing of the citizenry?
These Serial Fault-finders’ opposition to the JAIZ Bank Funding initiative and the State Government’s decision to rebuild the market is purely politically motivated. Religion is only being ostensibly brought in as a mere smokescreen!
The same JAIZ Bank has executed similar projects in nearly 100 % Christian States of Enugu and Rivers State without its people being Islamised, contrary to what is being widely canvassed by these deceptive opposition politicians in a 21st Century Plateau State.
These States and even the Federal Government, with the SUKUK Bonds leverage on such Interest- Free Loans for purely economic benefits and the massive Infrastructural works spread all over the Country. Plateau people need to rise against these deceptive forces of darkness, who have continued to hold back the hands of the Clock of the State’s progress.
Before the 2019 Elections, the big propaganda by the same shameless forces, who have since run out of the People’s favour for misgoverning the State and squandering the Goodwill of the People, was that Governor Lalong was going to turn Jos North into an Emirate.
The ridiculous Propaganda disappeared into the thin air when the Anaguta Chieftaincy Stool, in the Heart of Jos North, was elevated from a Second-Class Stool to First-Class Status, with another Second-Class Chieftaincy Stool created for the Afizere – speaking people of the same Jos North.
This Political divisiveness has been further demonstrated by the ridiculous court case instituted by the Honourable Member Representing Jos South and Jos East in the House of Representatives, Double Standard Honourable Dachung Musa Bagos against the signing of the MoU for the reconstruction of the Market and, in which Suit he is contesting the power of the State Government to rebuild Jos Main Market specifically and other markets in the state generally.
The APC wonders what interest the hitherto respected and youthful Federal Legislator, whom we had wrongly assumed meant well for the entire State, has in a Market, which is not domiciled in his Constituency of Jos South/ Jos East.
His main reason for seeking an injunction to stop the process of the reconstruction of the Market, apart from the dubious argument that the State Government has no power to Build Markets at all, is that:-
“All his constituents who complained to him were unanimous in their opposition to the plan to enter into a joint partnership to build or manage the market, as the government does not own the market so it cannot enter into an agreement to rebuild or manage the market”
If we may ask Hon. Bagos and his misguided recruits, who then owns the Market and is it located in his Constituency as a Member Representing Jos South and Jos East Federal Constituency?
If the State Government has no power to build Markets, where did Governor Jonah David Jang get the power to build the Kabong Satellite Market? Does Governor Lalong possess less power than Governor David Jang because his Government is APC-Led and not PDP-Led?
Did I hear someone shout “Double Standard”here!
The Jos Main Market from the Law establishing it, is solely owned by the Plateau State Government and managed by the Jos Main Market Authority, a Parastatal owned and funded by the State Government. Its location in Jos North is incontrovertible. It is noteworthy that, neither the Jos North Local Government, which has concurrent powers with the Plateau State Government for the building of Markets nor his colleague Representing Jos North and Bassa Federal Constituency, who incidentally, is also a PDP Member are complaining.
Hon. Bagos, we believe has goofed on this matter. He and his ilk are clearly busy bodies, meddlesome interlopers and conscienceless opportunists, who do not mind exploiting the issue of the market to whip up base sentiments for cheap political ends, to make up for the generally acclaimed poor performance of the legislator as a Member Representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency. He hopes this opportunistic move of feeding the populace with tissues of lies and misinformation on the project and mobilising them in self-righteous indignation will help his re-election bid in 2023!
In his obsession to be popular, even without the correct facts at his disposal, he was rash and hasty in his conclusions about the project. He misinformed his followers on the facts. He overstepped his bounds! Hon.Bagos has certainly placed himself on the spot and is now in the eye of the storm!
Is he convinced he is not doing a gross disservice to the State, whose interest is he supposed to project and protect at the National Level? How does he want posterity to judge him with this level of political brinksmanship on his part?
The APC government in Plateau State has been very tolerant and accommodating to all shades of opinion, which is how it ought to be, but such disposition ought not to be passed for weakness.
Majority of stall owners and well-meaning Plateau people have been waiting patiently for the Governor to fulfil his campaign promise and restore the burnt down market to its former glory. Any further delay will cost the State several more Billions of Naira going by the current rate of inflation in the country.
The Government should not be held hostage or captive by selfish politicians, who are just out to score cheap Political points with their ranting. They have consistently tried to cross the Red Line by behaving as if they are running a parallel Government in the State. This is unacceptable.
The Governor made a covenant with the People of Plateau State to rebuild the Market, in line with the wishes of the majority, who must have their way, while the minority have their say. That is what democracy is all about, in case Honourable Bagos needs some lessons in that regard!
For the PDP, to subject every well intended government policy to often virulent and intemperate criticisms, amounts to unnecessary distractions.
The push for the economic growth of the State deserves the support of all discerning minds. We cannot continue to promote and elevate hatred as an ideology or achievement, as the renegade PDP Politicians keep doing.
The state needs the intervention of true Patriots, Statesmen and Religious Leaders across the divides, to bring all disparate and divergent groups together, as our strength lies in our diversity.
In Summary, the Jos Main Market remains a cherished Heritage of Plateau People which no one can take away. It ought to have been rebuilt before now, if not for the misplaced priority of the immediate past administration.
From available facts, all the Satellite Markets built at Kabong, Farin Gada, New Market and Katako are less than 50% occupied as the traders there have moved to Terminus, Ahmadu Bello Way, Murtala Muhammed Way, and all adjoining streets to the burnt down Market, which has led to frequent traffic gridlocks and environmental hazards. Traders operate in locations where they are better patronised and cannot be moved by fiat.
To allay the fears of our people, the State government has sufficiently assured that JAIZ Bank’s involvement is purely economic, and that the Bank CANNOT because of its funding of the development of the Market reconstruction “Islamise” the State, as is being mischievously peddled by the opposition for selfish reasons.
The Market will ever remain the property of the Plateau State Government as JAIZ Bank has no business whatsoever in managing it for one day not to talk of 40 years. The much touted 40 years applies only to the Allottees of the Shops in the Market, who reside in Plateau State, regardless of their faith or ethnicity.
To those asking, “why embarking on the reconstruction late in the life of this administration, which has only Nine Months to go,” the APC wants them to know that, Government is a Continuum. Moreover, the process and efforts towards rebuilding the Market commenced in 2016 and not 2021.
Government only opened discussions with Jaiz Bank in 2021, after all the previously highlighted disappointments by other prospective Investors.
It is on record that, the Governor David Jonah Jang Administration awarded several contracts less than two months to its exiting. As a matter of fact, the messy Joseph Gomwalk House renovation contract was awarded 3 (Three) days to the end of the tenure of that Administration on May 28, 2015!In the light of these verifiable facts, the actions of Hon. Bagos and his co-travellers in the PDP amount to HYPOCRISYTRYING TO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT!
The rebuilding of the Jos Main Market now, which would be carried out in Three Phases, unlike every other Proposal, including the one from the Plateau Diaspora, would not leave the State with any debt, as the Government is not putting down a dime in the Project, other than the land it will contribute as Equity.
Jaiz Bank, which is an Interest -Free Bank, would recoup its funds from the sale of its 60% share and leave just as it will do in all the States where it operates, including Rivers, Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, and Niger States.
We should be wary of dishonest politicians whose activities revolve around brainwashing our citizens and keeping them as political captives. We should equally be wary of mischief makers, whose antics can keep our people away from benefitting from the allocation of stalls when the market is finally rebuilt, as this will be to their own disadvantage and detriment.
The Government of Plateau State has assured that, priority would be given to previous occupants of the market and authentic traders, as a Joint Allocation Committee would be put in place to ensure Fairness, Equity and Justice.
Our State has lately and unfortunately, been at the receiving end of underserved negative publicity and ridicule by frequent unpleasant altercations and frontal attacks on a sitting Government. This is obviously Politics at its Worst!
The passions which had been inflamed by self-seeking Politicians, driven purely by a Bring Him Down Syndrome, should stop henceforth.
Our Citizens are urged not to allow unbridled passions, sentiments and emotions becloud their sense of reasoning. If these odd behaviours are left unchecked, they would continue to discourage investors from coming into our state, thus, impeding the economic growth of the state, and depriving us of badly needed investments, from which our sons and daughters stand to reap bountifully, by way of employment opportunities and other benefits along various value chains.
We should bury the hatchet and move on in the direction of progress as, “Together We Stand, Divided We Fall”.
Signed:
Hon.Sylvanus Namang,
APC State Publicity Secretary
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