The Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial zone, Istifanus Gyang, stated the belief displayed by his colleagues from the core northern States throughout the constitutional review has actually once again exposed the “deception and hypocrisy with which the core North views and treats ethnic minorities of the Middle Belt states, Plateau State in particular”.

He likewise said that in spite of the conspiracy of the core northern senators the “fate and heritage” of the state and its individuals can never ever be outsourced.

Gyang through his Special Assistant Media and Protocol, Musa Ibrahim Ashoms, stating their “religious and ethnic belief” reproduces what an Islamic cleric displayed at the wake of the just recently performed bye-election for Jos North/Bassa federal constituency, when he required voting on spiritual grounds.”

He stated, “The spiritual and ethnic sentiment which a Jos based Islamic cleric displayed at the Bye-election of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency when he called for voting on religious grounds has been duplicated by Senators of the core Islamic North who voted against the Bill for an Act to Alter the name of Barikin Ladi Local Government Area to “Gwol”, Local Government Area, Plateau State.

“The Senate voted on the Report of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution on Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bills, 2022 in which 6 Bills came for change of names of Local government Areas.

“All the Bills passed with the exception of Gwol, which stopped working due to the opposition of Senators of the core North”, he regreted.

“The belief in the ballot ended up being noticeable when the results for Gwol showed out of a total number of 96 Senators who signed up, 67 elected, 26 against, while 3 did not vote. The number needed for each of the Bills to scale through is 73 yes votes.

“Truth is, while the Northern Senators saw nothing wrong in voting to change the name of Kunchi LGA in Kano State to Ghari LGA, they turned round to oppose that of Gwol typical of their opposition against anything Plateau or that looks like Plateau State.

“The people of Plateau State hate the attitude and betrayal of Senators of the core North who voted against the cumulative decision taken at the conference of the so-called Northern Senators preceding the Senate sitting”, he decried.

“The action of the Northern Senators has again unveiled the deception and hypocrisy with which the core North views and treats ethnic minorities of the Middle Belt states, Plateau State in specific”, Gyang kept.

He nevertheless stated those that passed include; “Change of names of Afikpo North and Afikpo South in Ebonyi state to Afikpo and Edda LGAs– 93 signed up, 90 chose, 2 against and 1 abstained.

“Change of name of Kunchi LGA of Kano State to Ghari LGA– 93 registered, 89 voted for, 1 voted against and 3 did not vote.

“Change of name of Egbado North and Egbado South LGA of Ogun State to Yewa North and Yewa South– 97 signed up, 93 elected, two voted against, two stayed away and 2 did not vote.

Others are, “Correction of name Atigbo LGA of Oyo State to Atisbo LGA– 87 signed up, 79 elected, 6 voted against, none abstained and 3 did not vote.

“Correction of the name Abio/Akpor LGA to Obio/Akpor LGA. 96 signed up, 91 voted yes, 2 voted against, none abstained and 3 did not vote.

Gyang, who is the Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, stated, “Truth is, the fate and heritage of Plateau State and individuals can never ever be contracted out no matter the conspiracy”.