Senator Diket Plang is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, and vice chairman of the Federal Character Committee. In this interview by ISAAC SHOBAYO, Senator Plang speaks on insecurity in the country, the alleged threat to impeach the Senate President, among other topical issues.
What is your assessment of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal administration so far?
I am very hopeful of this government, the leadership of President Bola Tinubu under the APC. I see a president who is knowledgeable, a president who sees tomorrow. He believed that with oil subsidy removal, we would arrive at a tomorrow that is progressive, a tomorrow that will change the status of our country and cause our nation to be admired by other countries in the world. I want to believe that in no distant time, the status of our country will change. I also see a president who believes in the constitution which spells out clearly that government is for the welfare, peace and security of the citizens.
But there are people who say they regret voting for Tinubu.
I have not heard that, but I believe that whoever is saying that have their reasons. You know, when you have an administration that is equalitarian in nature, it becomes a threat, probably for those who feel that instead of sharing things inclusively, they should have been left for some sections.
As the senator representing the good people of Plateau Central, everybody is happy with what Mr President is doing, despite the fact that the issue of fuel subsidy removal has had various negative economic impacts on Nigerians. But we are also very sure that this is going to be for some time. We are also aware that this will help the states and local governments have more money.
My wish is that the advantages of the fuel subsidy removal will be transmitted to the common man in terms of social services. If our schools are improved, our hospitals are improved, our medical system is improved, our transport system is smoother, our roads are good, the impact of the fuel subsidy removal will be felt.
The insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in your district, has refused to abate. What is the way out?
Due to the insecurity in Plateau Central, Plateau State at large, and several other parts of this country, there are people who feel they have something they would like to dominate. There are people who think that the time has come for every constituent to take their share. Their desire is to bring us back to colonising each other. But I want to assure you that with the sensitivity and high level of awareness among our people, we will not go back to those days of colonialisation.
The president has a very strong political will to reduce crime, bring government closer to the people and give more room for inclusive representation. I believe that these will ultimately lead us to peace and security. The different economic programmes and initiatives will improve the welfare of all Nigerians. If we embrace these programmes, most of our idle youths will have something to do. You know, a hungry man is an angry man. An angry man can easily commit a crime.
There was alleged to be a move to remove the Senate President…
(Cuts in) No one is planning to remove the Senate President. He is stable. We elected him. There were variables for that election. The North East had the Deputy President, the North West had the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the North Central had the Secretary to the Government of the Federation – though we are still asking for more – and the South South had the Senate President. With this, there seems to be a balance. When everyone is involved, there will be peace, and teamwork will be guaranteed. I want to assure you that the 10th Senate is a people’s Senate. It is a Senate that is willing to work with the executive for the benefit of Nigeria. And luckily, we have a president who knows the workings of Senate, having been a senator. I don’t think there will be any friction between the National Assembly and executive. The president is a former senator, his wife is a former senator, the Chief of Staff to the President is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary to the Governent of the Federation is a former senator. So, whatever issue might arise, the two arms of the government will know how to address it.
There are insinuations that the Northern caucus in the Senate is not comfortable with the leadership of the Senate. What is your take on this?
I am not the spokesperson for the Senate. I am also not aware of anything like that. But I believe all equations are favourable to the North. If you are interested in something, don’t bring sentiment into it. Senator [Ahmad] Lawan had a successful tenure, likewise, David Mark. We are northern senators, and we are deeply involved in whatever is happening in the Senate. No one is shortchanging anyone. We are all together. Unless God says otherwise, I don’t think there is something like that.
Are you saying that since most of the principal officers in the executive arm government have legislative backgrounds, precisely from the Senate, the Senate will just follow the executive without scrutiny of their activities?
That is not what I mean. I am talking about somebody who knows my roles and will definitely appreciate them more than anyone who has no such a background. If we know the roles of each other, there will be harmony, understanding, but somebody who has not been in the Senate might not understand the workings and plights of the National Assembly. The fact that they are former colleagues does not mean that we would close our eyes, but I want to tell you that there will be understanding of the roles of each arm of the government.
Your district, especially Mangu and Bokkos axes, has been under attack for quite some time, with the state government recently setting up a committee on the relocation of those displaced to their ancestral homes. What do you make of this?
I am in full support for the state government in this regard. Staying in IDP camps is a problem on its own. In addition to what the government is doing, we support the returnees by giving them a sense of belonging and assist them with sustenance at their ancestral homes. On my part, I have prepared tons of fertilisers to be distributed to farmers and assorted grains for the people of my constituency.
You have been on a tour of your constituency, visiting both religious and traditional rulers. What is the purpose of these visits?
Traditional rulers are very important. They have been around even before the formation of government. All politicians, no matter their status in society, are sons and daughters of these traditional rulers. And God has given them the responsibility to take care of and protect us. We must respect them and hold them in high esteem. The government has a constitutional role to play, but we politicians rely on them to make headway because these are the people that know the people. Therefore, as custodians of the cultural heritage of the people, I feel that as a young person, I must pay homage to them and tap from their wealth of experience. Now that we have the challenge of insecurity, I also need to encourage our traditional rulers not to be discouraged. I hope that constitution amendment will take care of our traditional rulers in terms of having special roles for them.
What is your relationship with the Plateau State government?
Election is over. This is time for governance. My appeal is that we are all brothers. The judgments have been done. There are those who lost at the courts and there are those who won at the courts. We are all brothers and we have a responsibility to work as a united people for the success of our state. I am willing to work with Governor Mutfwang. He is my governor and I am his senator. He is one of my constituents, and I need to work with him. I have a responsibility to report to him what I am doing. He is my fellow constituent and my governor. I need to report to him. I need to hear from him. And I want to assure you that if we all know our roles, it will benefit our people. If we think we will fight, it will be to the detriment of our people. If we love Plateau and we love our people on the Plateau, we must be seen to work for the benefit of people on the Plateau. And I want to sincerely appreciate some of the developmental things I am seeing around me.
I see that the governor is working on most of the roads I have passed through. I saw most of the roads. We must be happy. If he is doing well or he is not doing well, we say it with love. If I’m doing well, say well done to me. If I’m not doing well, correct me politely, and I will do better. I believe that there will be a lot of results on the Plateau. We need to love one another. We are brothers.
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