Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang stated that he almost gave up after the Appeal Court overturned his election petitions tribunal victory.
He stated that the gang-up and frustrations he had following the Supreme Court hearing were so overpowering that he wanted to give up, but he was motivated by the prayers of the state’s people.
Speaking during an interdenominational ceremony commemorating his Supreme Court triumph at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos yesterday, the governor stated that the prayers of all Plateau denominations, including Christians and Muslims, gave him the strength to continue fighting for justice.
He acknowledged the role of the media in the struggle to regain his mandate, especially the roles of correspondents in Plateau State and their senior editors for upholding the truth and demonstrating that they are truly the third estate of the realm
“The honour to serve Plateau State given to me by God is not one that I will take for granted. I almost gave up, but God assured me of victory. Thank God for those who stood up for us with prayers. If not for the prayers, the enemy would have swept us off, especially with the huge gang up against us. I know that with God, all things are possible. God who brought us thus far, will not abandon us. God, who fed thousands with five loaves and two fishes, will always leave an overflow.”
The governor thanked all those who provided counsel in one form or the other, and promised to work together with all the sacked members of the state and national assembly by the Appeal Court.
On the role of the media, Mutfwang said: “I thank the media for demonstrating capacity without measure. You have shown that you’re truly the fourth estate of the realm. I salute the courage of the correspondents in Plateau and their senior editors for fighting that justice prevailed. Above all, I gave glory to God.”
To the people of Plateau, Mutfwang promised not to fail them, and solicited their cooperation for the task ahead, and enablement from God to do what he needed to do.
The Gbong Gwom Jos, and Chairman of the Jos Joint Traditional Council, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, bemoaned the discord in Plateau State, and called on the people to close ranks.
He said: “There is a lot of discord in Plateau State, and in as much as we fail to reconcile our differences, our prayers today would have been in vain. The Christianity we are practising today is saying and not doing. We have to practise what we say for our state to move forward.”
Former governor of the state, Jonah Jang, appealed to those who have not accepted Christ on the Plateau to do so with the judgment of the Supreme Court.
He said: “Christ has heard our prayers, but I want to tell you to surrender to Christ. During the crisis, I cried to God and asked him why all these are happening? He told me that your people are stiff-necked. These crises have not stopped because we have refused to change. If we do, God will take these Fulani attackers away from us.
He prayed to God to assist the governor and his cabinet in the service of the state.
Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Polycarp Lubo, advised the Governor to utilise the victory for the service of God. He prayed to God to guide the administration of Mutfwang.
The guest preacher, Bishop Wale Oke, prayed for the success of the Mutfwang administration and for the return of peace in the state. He appealed to Plateau people to close ranks and allow peace to prevail in the state.
Those who attended the interdenominational Church service included former military administrator, Gen. Lawrence Onoja (retd), former governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna, Prof. Jerry Gana, former members of the state and national assembly, and members of the state legislature, led by the Speaker, Gabriel Dewan.
The Muslim community had on Friday equally held prayers for the success of the governor and peace in the state.