On the tenth day of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in Jos, Plateau State, the demonstrators’ leaders met with Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the New Government House in Little Rayfield. The meeting brought together youth leaders, security agencies, state government officials, and other stakeholders to discuss the protesters’ demands and seek a way forward.
The protesters, who had been peacefully demonstrating against what they described as poor governance in the state and country, presented their demands directly to Governor Mutfwang. The governor, in response, assured the youths of his commitment to addressing their concerns and emphasized the importance of their actions.
Mutfwang told the youth leaders, “I sincerely appreciate you for agreeing to come for this town hall meeting. If we were not in government, we would be with you on the same side. We have been a part of this struggle to make life better for Nigerians. I am one of you.”
The governor acknowledged the frustrations expressed by the youths, particularly regarding challenges such as electricity shortages and economic hardship.
“I feel your pain when I know that somebody who is willing to work hard but is frustrated by electricity and can’t make a profit out of his business. When I was elected, the fact was not lost on me that we came in at a very difficult time,” he said.
Reflecting on the state of the nation from 2015 to 2023, Mutfwang described those years as a period when “Nigeria and Nigerians were stripped of the dignity of humanity.”
He agreed with the protesters that it was time to change the narrative and promised to work towards building a better Plateau State.
“We started below ground zero, and we are inching our way to the point to lay a new foundation for the Plateau of our dream,” he stated.
Mutfwang also expressed gratitude for the peaceful manner in which the protesters had conducted themselves. “
Protest is a right, but you have a responsibility to ensure the protest does not degenerate to a point where it is hijacked by the enemy of Plateau,” he cautioned.
Regarding the specific demands of the protesters, Mutfwang addressed several key issues.
“We have instructed that all demolitions be halted, and we are looking for spaces to develop community markets within the state,” he explained.
He reassured the protesters that his administration would not take actions that would impoverish citizens but also emphasized the need for law and order.
“We won’t do anything to push citizens into pennilessness, but no society develops with lawlessness,” he added.
Earlier in the meeting, the youth leaders, including Ishaya Inuwa, Mildred Bakwo, and Sam Odey, voiced their concerns.
Inuwa underscored the legitimacy of the protest, stating, “The protest was a legitimate one because of the desire to end bad governance. The protest shows we can make our demands without violence.”
Bakwo emphasized that the protests were not a direct attack on Mutfwang’s administration. “The leaders of #EndBadGovernance protest are Nigerians; the organizers of the protest are hunger and hardship,” she said.
She called for a review of electricity tariffs, explaining, “We run petty businesses and can’t afford the high tariffs.”
Odey presented two charters of demands—one for the federal government and another for the state government. Governor Mutfwang received the documents and promised to deliver the federal demands to the appropriate authorities.
The meeting concluded with a sense of cautious optimism as both the protesters and the state government expressed a mutual commitment to finding solutions to the challenges facing Plateau State and its citizens. The protesters, while awaiting concrete action on their demands, left the meeting encouraged by the governor’s willingness to engage in dialogue and address their concerns.