OPINION;THE ABUSE OF POWER AND THE CRASSNESS OF ONE MAN.

Unless something urgent and  drastic is  done, the administration of Caleb Mutfwang would continue to be ravaged by the poisonous influence of Mr Yari Kumchi, a mischievous figure looming large today in Plateau State. How can a government that claims to be righteous be led by men who are dubious, self-aggrandising, and obsessed with wealth accumulation by whatever means necessary? 

Close observers continue to be appalled and amazed at the state of affairs in our beloved Plateau state. That one man, Mr Yari Kumchi, is allowed to practically run and ruin the economy of the state is what remains shocking to many. This man is so dominant in the state’s economy and affairs and commands and controls so much that he is commonly referred to as “De-facto”,

 Meaning he is the de facto governor of Plateau State.

His greed has become common knowledge in the  State as there’s practically no lucrative contract in which he is not involved. He has amassed billions since the Mutfwang government came into power. This primitive acquisitive propensity became so much that the governor was advised to give him some sort of appointment since he was not a government official during the formation of the  administration. As such, the governor gave him the  token appointment of being a member of the  State’s economic team, a position that cannot possibly justify the immense resources he commands in merely 2 years of the Mutfwang administration. He has used his lackeys as well as family members to pocket as much as he can and still continues to do so to the disbelief of many. For instance, his brother, Boniface, who was a simple carpenter before now is known to be the one given the contract for furnishing the Government House after the Mutfwang government came to power; even when the furniture in the government house was as impeccable as can be found in any government house. 

This same Boniface Kumchi is also into several contracts on the Plateau on behalf of his brother Yari, who many claim or allege is  a front for Mutfwang himself, how can one man command and control so much in Plateau State with impunity and recklessness?

A case in point is the fencing of the Wild Life Park, a huge multi-billion-naira project that should ordinarily be handled by several contractors, yet Mr Yari was given the job as a sole contractor behind the scenes. This is supposed to be a World Bank project under the term ACRESAL which stands for Agro-Climatic Resilience in-Semi – Arid Landscapes. 

In executing the contract, Yari reached out to the family of the late Deputy Governor Professor Sonni Tyoden through his first son, Mr Walse Tyoden, for the use of their land which shares border with the Wild Life Park, in order for him to set up a construction site for the contract.  Mr Walse Tyoden entered into a lease agreement for the use of his family’s land with Mr Yari which was signed by Yari’s brother Boniface Kumchi, under specific terms and conditions which Mr Yari and his brother Boniface failed to keep. 

Given the breach of the terms under which the land was given to them, which among other things involved blocking a major water way that goes to the Jos city center, Mr Walse sought to convey this to Mr Yari and his brother but was disregarded. This led Mr Walse, known to many as a God-fearing man, to seek legal redress in a court of law against Mr Yari and his brother. The case is currently in the Plateau State High Court. 

Note that this is even the respectable family of Professor Sonni Gwanle Tyoden, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos who served the State as a Deputy Governor, the first to do so for two complete tenures of eight years and left without any scandal.

 Perhaps Yari feels the Plateau State Judiciary is also within his power as the Governor’s right hand man, especially as the former Deputy Governor has since passed on. Imagine the heartlessness of a powerful man who battles orphans. 

Yet this family was gracious enough to permit him the use of their land. 

Today, Yari even denies contacting or meeting the family’s representative in the person of Mr Walse Tyoden and has threatened to deal with Mr Walse given the case he has instituted against both Yari and his brother in court.

 He claims now that it is his brother who got a sub-contract for  the fencing of perimeter fence of the Wild Life Park from Rick Rock Construction Company and that he only met Mr Walse Tyoden once when he accompanied his brother to the site of the contract.

For a World Bank Project such as ACRESAL, it is  scandalous that such a project would be accused of blocking a major water way that leads into Jos city. But this is the kind of thing that happens when professionals are ignored and contracts are given to politically connected people like Yari. 

Unless the Governor is approving the activities of this man or he is himself in cahoots with these things, he needs to call Yari to order. If he doesn’t know, Yari is giving his administration a bad reputation and sooner or later, his activities will catch up with him.

Not surprisingly, he was recently invited by the EFCC to explain and answer questions as to his sudden and humongous wealth.  What a shame it is to see Plateau, of so many honourable citizens, descend to such depths as is now happening in the State