• Says ‘we were deceived to participate’

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has apologised to the Igbo community for the role the state played during the Nigerian Civil War, saying the people of Plateau were “deceived” into participating in the conflict.

Speaking during an interactive session with Igbo leaders from the 17 local government areas of the state at the Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, Mutfwang urged both sides to put the painful chapter behind them and strengthen the bonds of unity.

According to a report by The Guardian on Monday, the governor commended the Igbo community for its contributions to Plateau State’s socio-economic development, describing them as an integral part of the state’s growth and prosperity.

He noted that Plateau had remained one of the most accommodating states for the Igbo people since the end of the civil war and recalled that compensation had been paid for some of the losses suffered during the conflict.

“I apologise to the Igbos so that we can put the past behind us and continue to foster unity. We have become one family because our people were deceived into going to war, and we regret it. We must close that chapter and move forward.

“We must unite. We want the Igbos to regard us as their brothers and sisters, and together we must create an enabling environment where everyone can prosper,” Mutfwang said.

The governor also appealed to Igbo entrepreneurs in Plateau State to support indigenous businesses by creating opportunities for young people through mentorship and investment.

“Nigeria is a great country, and no ethnic group has demonstrated the entrepreneurial spirit more than the Igbo. I encourage you to replicate that same spirit in Plateau. I also appeal to Igbo business owners to employ and train young Plateau indigenes,” he said.

During the meeting, leaders of the Igbo community endorsed Mutfwang for a second term ahead of the 2027 governorship election, citing what they described as his inclusive leadership, prudent management of resources and commitment to peaceful coexistence.

The endorsement was announced by the President-General of the Igbo Community in Plateau State, Chief Chidi Onah, who described the governor as a leader committed to equity and development.

“We hereby endorse Governor Caleb Mutfwang as the consensus candidate of the Igbo community for the 2027 governorship election. This endorsement is based on his competence, integrity, proven leadership and commitment to equity.

“He has promoted peaceful coexistence and created a business-friendly environment. He stood by us during the demise of our traditional ruler and has consistently engaged stakeholders to promote unity among the diverse ethnic groups in Plateau State,” Onah said.

Onah also praised the governor’s developmental efforts, saying the state had become more conducive for business and investment.

“Igbo people have lived in Plateau before Nigeria’s independence. We appreciate the governor for compensating some of our members over disputed properties and urge Nigerians across ethnic and religious divides to support his administration,” he added.

Also speaking, former President-General of the Igbo Community Association, Mike Okunonke, described the Igbo as peace-loving people committed to the economic development of Plateau State.

He said the community’s support for Mutfwang was based on his performance rather than political affiliation.

“We will vote for personalities, not political parties. Governor Mutfwang has demonstrated capacity by creating opportunities and reducing unemployment. We will mobilise our members across the 17 local government areas to support him,” Okunonke said.

He added that the endorsement reflected the cordial relationship the governor had built with the Igbo community through genuine partnership and inclusiveness.

The governor’s Special Adviser on Igbo Affairs, Barr. Jonah Okechukwu Ezekweme, commended Mutfwang for creating an enabling environment for the Igbo community to thrive in the state.

He urged members of the community to support the governor’s second-term bid while continuing to partner with the state government in creating employment and business opportunities for young people.

Earlier, High Chief Felix O. Akpunku welcomed members of the Igbo community on behalf of the governor and praised Mutfwang’s developmental projects across the state, describing his administration as one committed to inclusive governance and sustainable development.

The meeting also featured the formal presentation of the new President-General of the Igbo Community Association, Chief Chidi Onah, by the immediate past President-General, Chief Mike Ifeanyi Okunonke.

Other speakers, including Chief Dr. Nelson Mkparu and Hon. Maureen Odilimuo, also lauded the governor for his inclusive leadership and support for the Igbo community, pledging continued cooperation with his administration.

The meeting ended with both the Plateau State Government and the Igbo community reaffirming their commitment to peaceful coexistence, deeper collaboration and sustainable development across the state.

Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over his alleged role in the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an agency the Federal Government says never existed.

Gbajabiamila honoured the commission’s invitation on Monday as part of an investigation ordered by President Tinubu into the activities of the purported council and those connected with it.

His lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed in a statement that the Chief of Staff appeared before the ICPC at about 3:00 p.m., cooperated fully with investigators, answered questions relating to the ongoing probe, and subsequently returned to his official duties.

The investigation follows President Tinubu’s directive that the ICPC conduct a comprehensive probe into the fake agency and submit its findings within 30 days.

According to the Presidency, the PFIPC was never created by the Federal Government and had no legal backing, presidential approval, executive instrument, or lawful basis for operation.

The investigation centres on allegations that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew falsely presented himself as Director-General of the council using forged appointment letters and official government documents.

The ICPC is also probing claims that the suspect used the alleged presidential appointment to obtain official recognition, diplomatic support, visa facilitation, and to open multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies.

Beyond the principal suspect, the anti-corruption agency has been directed to investigate the roles of any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions, intermediaries, or other entities that may have facilitated or benefited from the alleged scheme.

The probe will also examine how the fictitious body acquired an appearance of legitimacy and the source and movement of any funds linked to its operations.

…Approves extra 4,698 teachers for Smart Green Schools

…Activates all isolation centres over Congo Ebola outbreak

The Enugu State Government will on Tuesday distribute farm inputs to 63,000 smallholder farmers across the state to boost agricultural production this farming season.

The government also approved the employment of 4,698 additional teachers for its Smart Green Schools, while also directing the activation of all its isolation centres following the outbreak of the Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and parts of Uganda, saying it did not want to be caught unawares.

These were made known to Government House correspondents after a meeting of the State Executive Council in Enugu at the weekend.

Briefing newsmen, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo; Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Dr. Patrick Ubru; Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah; and Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said the Mbah Administration would continue to deliver optimal governance even during the campaign period, insisting that it has a mandate and vision to deliver.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation said, “Last year, about 40,000 farmers benefited. This year, it is even bigger and better, as the state has now approved for 63,000 farmers to receive free agricultural inputs as intervention, ranging from fertilisers to agrochemicals, free rice seeds, free maize seeds, and free pepper and tomato seeds.

“It is targeted at reducing the cost of agricultural production and ensuring that our smallholder farmers increase their income and improve their livelihoods.

“The Exco also directed that the beneficiaries of these farm inputs must be duly registered smallholder farmers who are identifiable, whose farms are captured, and can be monitored.

“So, on Tuesday, 21st July, the governor will flag off the distribution of farm inputs. Thereafter, the 260 wards will receive theirs under strict monitoring to ensure that only those identifiable as farmers benefit from the scheme to better their lives,” Ubru explained.

On his part, Prof. Mbah said the additional 4,698 teachers were to ensure that the standard for the 267 Smart Green Schools, as modelled at the Owo Campus, is fully and uniformly achieved across the state.

“Enugu State Government has further expanded and intensified its efforts to completely equip and operationalise the Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation (CELI), which is situated within the Enugu State College of Education (Technical).

“This is a guaranteed strategy to institutionalise and ensure the sustainability of the Enugu education project, especially as it relates to the Smart Green Schools.

“This is a way to ensure that no teacher is left behind. It is also to ensure that every teacher in our Smart Green Schools passes through a thorough training programme at the centre and that they can effectively implement the type of education where our children acquire skills, not only memorise.

“CELI is also a way to support our young Enugu people who have talents, innovative skills, or who have come up with patentable ideas and solutions so that they get support to commercialise them,” Ndubueze stated.

The Commissioner for Health told newsmen that the state was taking proactive steps following the outbreak of Ebola in East Africa.

“Because countries are now regarded as a global village and considering the fact that Enugu is now a gateway state receiving direct international flights, the state government has now directed that all the isolation centres established during the time of COVID-19 should be immediately reactivated and made ready for service so that we will not have a situation we did not prepare for. This is a proactive measure for a better state of response,” he said.

He added that Exco also discussed and approved that all the expansion works going on in the state hospitals should be expedited and completed before the end of the year.

“For example, the new high-rise buildings at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital – Park Lane, the teaching hospital at the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) at Igbo-Eno, among others, are now to receive extra attention, while the Enugu International Hospital will be commissioned in a matter of a few weeks,” he concluded.

Also at the press briefing were the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, and her Works and Infrastructure counterpart, Engr. Ben Osy Okoh.