STRENGTHENING OUR TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS, PROMOTING UNITY AND ADVANCING DEVELOPMENT ACROSS PLATEAU STATE
On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, I had the honour of installing His Royal Highness, Miskagam Jerome Goewam Leklat II, as the new Long Pan of Pan Chiefdom and presenting him with the Staff of Office at the Ba’ap Mini Stadium in Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area.
This historic occasion represents more than the installation of a traditional ruler. It marks the restoration of a cherished institution, the preservation of our cultural heritage and the reaffirmation of the common identity that has united the people of Pan for generations.
Since the inception of our administration, we have remained committed to restoring, strengthening and repositioning traditional institutions across Plateau State. We recognise their invaluable contributions to governance, peacebuilding, cultural preservation and community development.
I commend the people of Pan Chiefdom, the traditional council and the royal family for demonstrating maturity, unity and respect for due process throughout the transition following the passing of the late Long Pan, His Royal Highness, Miskagam Emmanuel Dabang, on May 8, 2025.
In my address to the new Long Pan, I urged him to embrace his responsibilities with wisdom, humility, fairness and courage. Leadership must always be about service, inclusion and the collective well-being of the people.
I reminded His Royal Highness that his reign must be defined by the ability to unite rather than divide, to heal rather than reopen old wounds, and to build bridges wherever differences exist.
I also reiterated the important role of our traditional rulers in strengthening community relations, providing credible local intelligence and working closely with security agencies. The security of our communities remains a collective responsibility, and we must continue to work together to protect lives and property across Plateau State.
Beyond strengthening our traditional institutions, our administration remains committed to addressing the challenges affecting our communities, including drug abuse, insecurity and the indiscriminate leasing of ancestral lands for mining activities.
We are developing measures to ensure that mineral resources are responsibly managed and that host communities, legitimate landowners and all relevant levels of government derive appropriate benefits while safeguarding our environment.
I also used the occasion to reaffirm our commitment to accelerating infrastructure development across the Southern Senatorial Zone.
We are determined to complete the 61-kilometre Dokan Tofa–Ba’ap–Kurgwi and Jibam–Dokan Kasuwa Roads and improve access to reliable electricity across the Southern Zone.
These investments are essential to unlocking the economic potential of our communities, stimulating commerce, supporting businesses, creating opportunities and improving the standard of living of our people.
As part of our continued commitment to development, I also commissioned the remodelled Long Pan’s Palace and the newly constructed Snakebite Treatment Centre in Doemak, Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area.
These projects reflect our determination to strengthen traditional institutions while expanding access to essential services that directly improve the lives of our people.
I congratulate His Royal Highness, Miskagam Jerome Goewam Leklat II, on his ascension to the revered throne of Long Pan. I trust that his reign will usher in a new chapter of peace, justice, unity and sustainable development for the people.
Our vision remains clear: to build a peaceful, united and prosperous Plateau State where every community is empowered, every citizen is valued and development reaches every corner of our State.
Together, we will continue to strengthen the institutions that preserve our heritage, build the infrastructure that connects our communities and create opportunities that secure a better future for generations to come.