The present state of affairs in Nigeria, in which individual and collective safety are heavily threatened by prevailing national security problems, challenging market fluidity as a result of economic debacles at the approach of the 2023 election year, all leaders at the political, traditional, religious and other circular levels are necessarily called upon to provide advisory directions for peoples of diverse backgrounds. These are difficult times that need resolute minded directing hands for the collective survival of the Nigerian Nation State. It is in pursuant of this existential necessity that it has become timely for all spectrum of leaders to engage in sincerely grounded, cross-cultural, intra political party and multi-religious Save Nigeria Conversations to promote peace, economic development and progress for the good of all Nigerians. It is a Corporate Social Responsibility Project of Wind Sound Africa aimed at bridging communication gaps between the various segments of the nation and the government which fake news merchants can exploit to the disadvantage of all.
Map of Plateau State showing the LGAs of the State
In one of such Conversations with Wind Sound Africa, the Acting Paramount Ruler of Bassa Kingdom, Utu Ngo Kiche His Royal Highness, Ati Adamu A. Ingmala, flanked by the National President of Bassa Community Development Association, Jacob Agal Adingbu and the Village Head of Igbak, Ati Hara Ajina, strongly implore all descendants and residents of Bassa land to continue to persevere and live their lives in strick accordance with the laws and orders of Nigeria and Plateau State no matter what forms of enticements come their ways in these times of economic difficulties and possible deceptive offers from enemies of the nation and political jobbers. He emphasized the fact that at all survival gatherings in Bassa land, the main point that often prevails is their often repeated great desire to avoid the mistake of politicizing any development issues in the land.. He said what the Traditional leaders usually do is to enlighten all residents in the nooks and crannies of Bassa land on their duties to participate in all civic activities such as obtaining their Permanent Voters Cards, avoiding the acts of selling their votes so that they can vote in accordance with their conscience and then .wait upon God on the performances of elected politicians. According to him and his two companions, this is the guiding principles of Bassa traditional leadership at critical times like this.
Gov. Simon Bako Lalong,
Executive Governor, Plateau State.
On the general issue of economic development in Bassa land, the Acting Paramount Ruler and his companions. said development must come when the Almighty God wills it and not by any political party negotiation that could deprive the masses of their freedom to vote according to their conscience. They pointed out one reason for the paltry state of infrastructural development in Bassa land which can be described as a “geopolitical misplacement”. They are of the strong view that taking into consideration the geographical proximity of the land identified as Bassa Local Government Area to the city of Jos, the LGA should have been identified as Jos West Local Government Area as other surrounding LGAs were named. According to them, the most significant advantage of this inclusive identity would have been the infrastructural development that would have spilled over to Bassa land from the implementation of Jos Development Master Plan as enjoyed by other LGAs like Jos South, Jos North and Jos East. They pointed at the terribly embarrassing state of disrepair of the road that links Bassa to Jos city after its diversion from the one that links the 3rd Brigade Headquarters of the Army and Rukuba Barracks which is about five kilometers long. The Development Association Chairman lamented the state of the road, saying that as the only one that links the administrative headquarters of the Local Government to the State capital, it could have enjoyed the attention of the State. Government if the LGA had been Identified as Jos West Local Government Area. He called upon all the relevant arms of the state and federal government to pull all the necessary ropes to make this a reality for the good of all residents of Bassa land.
The only road that links Jos, the State capital to Bassa LGC, The Administrative Headquaters off Rukuba Barracks Road.
The substantive paramount ruler of Bassa, who is the Chairman of the Traditional Council and the only First Class Chief is very unfortunately indisposed as at the time of our visit. The team which had the CONVERSATION with Wind Sound Africa lamented that his indisposition has occasioned great Traditional Leadership losses on the land even as continuous prayers for his quick and full recovery were joined by our Team.
When our Team spoke to a mixed segment of members of the public on what their expectations are with respect to their state of preparedness for the forth coming general election and the present state of the economy, the preponderance of them were of the view that this is a very challenging time for almost all occupants of the stratas of the society even beyond Bassa land and Plateau State. They said the prevailing cost of living index across Nigeria makes the preaching of living honest lives to the elderly and the youths a harculean task.
A senior civil servant who spoke to us on condition of anonymity said he is sure that every one, including traditional and political leaders are aware that the take home pay of the civil servant is presently far from being adequate for the upkeep of a family of five in view of the runaway inflation that prevails in the market. He lamented the fact that all Nigerian cultural norms place the burden of sharing extended family financial encumbrances makes the situation even worse for the Nigerian worker. A mother of five and food stuff trader in Rukuba market also explained the dilemma family sustainers like her whose husband is a retiree are facing is quite detrimental to good moral upbringing of youths. She said ever changing cost of food stuffs in rural markets makes the prospect of gainful profit for family upkeep unrealizable and this exposes all components of the family to all forms of unhealthy manipulations from dubious political jobbers, insurgence recruiters and kidnappers in urgent need of insider information. According to dispassionate observers, in deed, these are trying times for traditional, political and religious leaders in their duties to keep Nigeria united
