Local Government Workers challenge ‘Concerned Senior Staff Forum’ to come out and address a physical Press Conference

Local government workers under the umbrella of ‘Concerned NULGE Workers’ have challenged the Chairman and Secretary of ‘the Concerned Senior Staff Forum’ to address a public Press Conference which according to them will enable “…Plateau people and Nigerians to relate these so-called names and the faces”.

This according to them validates their previous “… intelligence as presented in public domain about the desperation of undemocratic elements who as far as we know, as miscreants bent on taking the state fifty years backwards”.

In a statement issued by the Chairman of the group Philip R. Datukun, with Gongu Elisha Nengak, Cedrick Fapon Benard and KataikoPam Kenneth, and made available to this medium on Friday 1st September 2023 the group noted that the silence they have graciously maintained is nolonger golden and that the time had come for them to weigh in strongly on what they described as “shenanigans going round”.

They added that “We are all aware of some groups who are concerned about these developments and made condemnatory statements in defense of our upright leader, Com. Arandon Yohanna Makwin and had sounded the alarm about the efforts of suspended local government Chairmen in Plateau State to infiltrate the ranks of NULGE and erect a splinter faction.”

They further noted that “Having failed in that bid, they would then go forward to fly a faceless group known as ‘the Concerned Senior Staff Forum’, purportedly of the seventeen local government areas of Plateau State.”

Part of the statement also reads that “It is regrettable that the amorphous group, under the instructions of their pay masters acted the script available at our disposal -which we also disclosed ab initio to the public, by accusing the Plateau NULGE President, Comrade Arandong Yohanna Makwin of allegedly collecting the sum of thirty million naira to declare the strike action that has been fully complied with by members in the state.”.

They concluded their statement by urging the NULGE President, Comrade Arandong Yohanna Makwin to remain dogged and safeguard the lives, interests and values of the Union, regardless of whatever pressure and intimidation may be directed at him.

They also used the opportunity to call on the Ag. Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbitokun, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Alawari Okoro and all other law enforcement agencies not to scuttle, undermine or tamer with the collective destiny of Plateau State.

The full statement is presented as received;

“RE: CSSF OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS IN PLATEAU STATE URGES WORKERS TO RESUME DUTIES IMMEDIATELY


Following the declaration of strike in Plateau State by our formidable and indefatigable leader and President, Comrade Arandong Yohanna Makwin, we have watched events keenly as they continue to unfold.

As a result, the silence we have graciously maintained is no longer golden and the time has come for us to weigh in strongly on the shenanigans going round.

We are well aware that some groups who are concerned about these developments and made condemnatory statements in defense of our upright leader, Com. Arandong Yohanna Makwin had sounded the alarm about the effort of suspended local government Chairmen in Plateau State to infiltrate the ranks of NULGE and erect a splinter faction.

Having failed in that bid, they would then go forward to fly a faceless group known as “the Concerned Senior Staff Forum”, purpotedly of the seventeen local government areas of Plateau State.

This validates our previous intelligence as presented in public domain about the desperation of undemocratic elements who as far as we know, are miscreants bent on taking the state fifty years backwards.

We challenge this group whose Chairman and Secretary are masquerading under the pseudonyms: Dung Chuwang and Namsel Ponfa to come out clearly and address a press conference that will permit Plateau people and Nigerians to relate these so-called names to the faces.

In the event they cannot afford to do that, because they cannot anyway, these faceless persons should indulge the world the right to identify their faces through simple pictures, photographs or actual and factual images.

It is regrettable that the amorphous group, under the instructions of their pay masters acted the script available at our disposal -which we also disclosed ab initio to the public, by accusing the Plateau NULGE President, Comrade Arandong Yohanna Makwin of allegedly collecting the sum of thirty million naira to declare the strike action that has been fully complied with by members in the state.

May these roadside forum members be reminded that he who alleges must prove.

The burden of prove now rests on their non-existent shoulders and they must pipe up to do just that.

We therefore challenge them to, among a number of options, either withdraw the concucted allegation, tender an unreserved public apology to the NULGE President, back their claims with evidence and/or desist from meddling in the affairs of Plateau NULGE or face the consequences according to the provisions of Nigeria’s constitution.

As vanguards of democracy, we urge the NULGE President, Comrade Arandong Yohanna Makwin to remain dogged and safeguard the lives, interests and values of the Union, regardless of whatever pressure and intimidation maybe directed at him.

Again, we call on the acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbitokun, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Alawari Okoro and all other law enforcement agencies not to scuttle, undermine or tamper with the collective destiny of Plateau State.

Signed:

Philip R. Datukun (Chairman)

Gongu Elisha Nengak

Cedrick Fapon Benard

Kataiko Pam Keneth

For concerned NULGE Workers”