30 Killed In Plateau, Jang Struggles For NGF Power In FCT Abuja

Gov. Jonah Jang

By SaharaReporters, New York

While Governor Jonah Jang is in Abuja struggling for leadership of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), more than 30 people have been killed this week in the Langtang area in a new wave of attacks by Fulani gunmen.

Humanitarian workers in the area told SaharaReporters that the attacks have been on since Tuesday in Karkashi, Magama and Bolgan of Langtang South local government area with headquarters in Mabudi.  The area is said to be the resettlement ground for veterans of the Second World War.  It is also the home of Taroh, Ngas, Kwallah, Youm, Montol, Goemai, and Mwaghavul ethnic groups who are the targets of Fulani gunmen.
The humanitarian workers said that houses and food barns have been burnt to ashes in the attacks, while the seriously injured were rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital and other nearby hospitals.

The attacks have come as Governor Jang remained in Abuja playing President Goodluck Jonathan’s stooge in his political feud with Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, jostling over his illegitimate claim to being chairman of the NGF.  Jang was defeated in the election to that position by 19 votes to 16 but with Mr. Jonathan’s support, has continued to pose as chairman.
Last year, Gen. Jeremiah Useni, who is from Langtang, accused Jang of being problem of the state, saying, “The state governor, Jonah Jang, is not doing anything to allay the fears of every citizens in the state. Some feel marginalized; some are called all sorts of names.  The problem is the Constitution giving all the powers to one man who refuses to cooperate; there is nothing we can do. He is not relating to people, the Berom themselves are divided—we have the Du versus other Beroms. Then you have the non-Beroms including Hausa-Fulani and ourselves, we are not Beroms.  One expects that as a governor of a state, everyone should be yours irrespective of tribe and other affiliations because everyone voted for you. So you cannot be a Berom governor or Hausa governor, everybody must be treated equally, failure to do that is inviting anarchy.
Useni lamented that civil servants were not being paid, pointing out that even in the local government administrations, some workers were being owed as much as four months and when they were paid, were given only half their salaries.
“Jang is not capable of running the state unless he changes his heart,” Useni said. “Don’t forget that there was a time the state was in turmoil for eight days. He was in India, sitting down there. He didn’t rush down and there have been many cases like that. When you advise him, he doesn’t listen to advice and when he was asked why he doesn’t take advice, he said he doesn’t have to take advice from anybody. How do you expect a governor to say that? Who doesn’t take advice, no matter how wise or clever you are? Even (the Biblical) King Solomon used to take advice.”