By John T. Akans KSM
This piece is to remind us of Joshua’s battle and victory with the Amalekites in Refidim as described in *Exodus 17:8-16.* when Moses told Joshua to choose men to fight the Amalekites, while moses, Aaron and Hur stand on a hill. As long as Moses raised his hands, the Israelites win.
When Moses lower his hands, the Amalekites win, and moses hands get tired, Aaron and Hur hold them up so that Moses can sit on a rock. And Joshua defeats the Amalekites with the help of Hur and Aaron. Because of Team work the Amalekites were completely wipe from the earth.” *What is the meaning of Exodus 17: 8-16?*
*How did Joshua defeated the Amalekites? The answer is Team work*
Those were the exact words of God to Moses. It is found in the Torah. It is also in the Bible. The question is: Where are the Amalekites today? A once formidable and ruthless people, they waged an unprovoked war against the Israelites, attempting to destroy the innocents. God despise everything evil done against an innocent, *Proverbs 6:16-19*.
In the Quran it is also written, Whoever kills one person”, it is as if he has killed all mankind.” *Ref Al-Ma’idah 5:32-33*; This verse compares killing a person to killing all people, and saving a life is to saving all lives. The same formulation appears in the Mishnah in San.he.drin. *So, why did God cursed the Amalekites*.
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Hebrew told us that – “when the Jewish people were recuperating in the desert after escaping from Egypt, the Amalekites made a vicious, unprovoked attack on them. This action earned them the wrath of God who promised to wipe every Amalekite from the face of the earth”. *Also see Ex 17: 14*
Today the Israelites, despite all odds, have grown stronger, their nation thriving and enduring through.Just like how Christ taught his followers, “Blessed are you when you are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely.
In reality today the Amalekites have vanished from the annals of the earth, their memory lingering only as a cautionary tale. The lesson is clear: those who seek to destroy what is righteous, what is rooted in justice and truth, will ultimately face destruction themselves.
This principle is also applicable to *GOVERNOR CALEB MUTFWANG*, whose enemies attack him not because he has done wrong, but because he has refused to join them in their pursuit of misappropriation, maladministration and self-enrichment in leadership as it were.
Just as the Amalekites’ aggression was unprovoked, so too are the recent criticisms against *GOVERNOR MUTFWANG* by few greedy and inefficient politicians who are criticising the Governor even when there is nothing to criticise but they will go out of proportion to criticise the Governor in an unrealistic manner. Yes, in as much as we will not stop the opposition from playing their opposing role but should be constructive in their criticism and it should come with feedback that offers specific suggestions for improvement in a manner that will promote unity, growth and development in the State in line with the Vision of the Governor, anything short of this is a personal and self pursued criticism, and any personal attack on the Governor who is selflessly serving the People of Plateau will not be tolerated.
The unforchunate thing is that those criticising the Government and Policies of the Peoples Governors, fail to acknowledge that Mutfwang’s refusal to engage in shady practices is a stance rooted in integrity and a commitment to the people of Plateau State. Like the children of Israel who survived because they remained faithful to God, Governor Mutfwang is standing firm and he remains faithful in his mission to protect the State, the people and its resources for the benefit of all.
The empty criticism coming from petty bourgeois elements, whose only business in public service is to seek ways to strengthen their economic base, do not care about the plight of the masses. Which has been the bane of our State in the past and this corrupt pattern must come to an end.
History also provides us with examples of nations that took a stand against corruption, refusing to let public officials enrich themselves at the cost of the people’s future. Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew is a clear example. Lee’s relentless crackdown on corruption transformed Singapore from a struggling nation to a global economic powerhouse. Also in Africa, Jerry Rawlings of Ghana took radical steps in the 1980s to root out corruption, executing corrupt leaders and instituting reforms that laid the groundwork for Ghana’s eventual economic growth. These leaders, just like *HE Governor Mutfwang*, were attacked for their stance, but history has vindicated them and history will certainly vindicate Governor Mutfwang too at the end of his stewardship.
It is a fact that the fall of every public officials who allowed corruption to flourish serves always as a riminder to us of the dangers of unchecked wealth accumulation in government. Examples. . Malaysian former Prime Minister, Najib Razak, was ousted from power and imprisoned for his role in the 1MDB scandal, which saw billions of dollars misappropriated by government officials. South African Jecob Zuma was equally forced out after it was discovered that his administration had allowed the Gupta family to loot the country’s owned enterprises.
These examples highlight the damage that can be done when leaders prioritize personal gain over the public good. *The question is – could these nations have prospered under such leadership*? The answer is definitely not at all.
The good story is that, Governor Mutfwang is on the right side of history, just like the righteous leaders of the past who stood against corruption. Since assuming office, he has focused on real development, channeling state resources toward projects that will benefit the people of Plateau State. What he has so far achieved within one year and some months in office and is still doing speak for themselves.
The reconstruction of some roads and provision of subsidised buses to ease the movement of civil servants, students and even business men within Jos city has significantly boosted economic activity and improved access to markets.
Governor Mutfwang has also made significant strides in healthcare, restoring and upgrading hospitals across the state to ensure that the people of Plateau have access to quality healthcare services. His focus on education has seen to the accreditation and rebuilding of institutions, creating an environment where students can thrive and contribute to the future of the state.
In the end, like the Israelites who grew stronger while their enemies vanished, the people of Plateau State will grow stronger and it’s enemies will vanished like the Amalekites and the people will benefit from Governor Mutfwang’s vision and dedication. His legacy will not be defined by the wealth of a few, but by the progress and prosperity of the entire state. Those opposing him are the Amalekites because they do so out of self-interest, but history will remember him as a leader who stood firm in the face of adversity and delivered the greatest happiness to the citizens of Plateau State.
John T Akans KSM.
Is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter -Party Relation.
akanstelpark@gmail.com
