Avoid divisive politics, align with Tinubu, APC forum advises Muftwang

The North Central All Progressives Congress (NC APC) Forum has called on Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang to jettison divisive political tendencies and align his administration with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, following his recent defection to the ruling party.

The Forum said Muftwang’s entry into the APC must signal a clear break from policies and influences that promote ethnic or religious division, urging him to adopt inclusive governance and work closely with the Federal Government to address Plateau State’s security and development challenges.

The Forum, in a statement issued on Monday by its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, said the admonition had become imperative as Governor Caleb Muftwang’s defection provides a fresh opportunity for him to reposition his administration on the principles of unity, fairness and development, while deliberately distancing himself from individuals whose actions, it said, had previously fuelled division in the state.

Zazzaga, a member of the APC campaign council during the 2023 general election, noted that the Forum, which comprises APC stakeholders from the six North Central states, is well placed to offer such advice, having actively championed Muftwang’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the APC. 

He added that the Forum believed the governor’s leadership capacity would be better harnessed within the ruling party, stressing that his defection was in the overall interest of Plateau State and the North Central region.

The Forum noted that during Muftwang’s time in the PDP, some officials around his administration were perceived to be advancing narrow interests that undermined cohesion in the state. 

It said one of the motivations behind its campaign for his defection was to see him operate within a political environment that discourages such tendencies.

It urged the governor to be deliberate in selecting his team and to work only with individuals genuinely committed to the development and stability of Plateau State.

The APC group also called on Muftwang to govern as a leader for all citizens of the state, stressing that no community or group should feel excluded from governance or denied access to the dividends of democracy.

On security, the Forum advised the governor to strengthen cooperation with President Tinubu and relevant federal security agencies, noting that closer alignment with the centre would improve coordination and response to the security challenges confronting Plateau State.

It said working closely with the President would also enable the state to benefit more effectively from federal interventions and development programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Beyond policy direction, the Forum urged Muftwang to assert firm control over his administration and resist undue influence from political godfathers or individuals seeking to exert control over government decisions.

It said the governor’s defection to the APC should mark a turning point that allows him to govern with confidence and independence, free from external pressures that could undermine service delivery.

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The Forum disclosed that it faced intimidation and resistance while campaigning for Muftwang’s defection, particularly from individuals who feared that his move would affect their political ambitions. Despite this, it said it remained resolute because of its confidence in the governor’s leadership qualities.

It expressed optimism that Muftwang’s presence in the APC would strengthen the party in Plateau State and contribute significantly to its electoral fortunes in the North Central ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Forum recalled that it was among the first political groups to endorse President Tinubu for a second term, adding that its support for Muftwang’s defection was also informed by its commitment to consolidating APC support across the region.

It said the governor’s popularity and political base in Plateau State would be crucial to advancing the party’s objectives and delivering stability, unity and development to the people.