Dear Chief Femi Fani-Kayode,
I write this rejoinder not out of a desire to trade insults, but out of a moral imperative as a Plateau patriot and a God-fearing Nigerian who loves justice. I am not acting under the instructions of the Plateau State Government nor do I have the backing of any state apparatus. Rather, I speak as a university academic moved by conscience and a sense of corporate social responsibility.

Ordinarily, I would not have responded to your article, “You Have Bigger Problems to Face Than Worrying About Me”, recently published in the Daily Trust e-pages. However, the glaring distortions and lack of constructive content in your write-up demand correction—lest silence be mistaken for assent.

Your piece, sir, reads more like a reactionary rant than a thoughtful critique. It lacks depth, logic, and, worst of all, Christian grace. What you offered the Nigerian public is not an informed perspective but a poorly concealed attempt to sensationalize an issue that has nothing to do with the morality you pretend to champion. You took issue with Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s decision to welcome Israeli diplomats seeking to partner with Plateau State on agricultural development. According to your logic, this gesture was insensitive due to Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza. Let us be honest—your outrage is misplaced, misinformed, and misleading.

Shall we then cancel all diplomatic engagements with every nation embroiled in conflict? Should Plateau State halt all developmental partnerships because of global politics it neither caused nor can control? Your position, sir, is both illogical and hypocritical. If every Nigerian leader were to adopt such a stance, we would be cutting ties with almost every world power—Russia, China, the United States—because they have all been parties to conflict at some point. Are you saying we should live in isolation? That a governor striving to improve agriculture, fight hunger, and create jobs should be shackled by foreign wars? That’s not morality, Chief—it’s ideological extremism.

Let’s assume for argument’s sake that your criticism was made in good faith. Even then, your understanding of international relations is woefully shallow. Diplomatic engagements are not endorsements of a country’s internal policies; they are acts of pragmatism designed to serve local needs. Egypt, Jordan, and even Saudi Arabia—countries with deep Islamic identities—maintain diplomatic relations with Israel while also mediating in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These nations understand that economic development and foreign policy can run parallel without contradicting each other. Why then should Plateau State, which shares no border or direct involvement with the conflict in Gaza, be denied the opportunity to develop?

Or is this really not about Gaza? Could it be that your real aim is to undermine a governor whose calm resolve and disciplined leadership unsettle the loud theatrics you so often display? Your accusations smell more of mischief than morality. Plateau people are not fools—we see through the razzmatazz. Your posturing is becoming a tired act.
Most alarming, however, is your audacious advice that the governor should “take the money of the Israelis… but never trust them.” Sir, that is not counsel—it is corruption disguised as diplomacy. It is a prescription for fraud dressed up in political garb. You have essentially urged a sitting governor to enter into a partnership under false pretenses—to receive aid or assistance while harboring dishonesty. That is nothing short of incitement to deception. Is this what you call Christian leadership?

I ask you plainly: Whose Christ do you serve? Certainly not the Christ of the Scriptures who called for integrity, transparency, and love—even for enemies. Your kind of spiritual advice is dangerous. It’s the same mindset that has led Nigeria into the pit of corruption and hypocrisy. You, who often quote scripture and speak of faith, now recommend deception as state policy. That is not just wrong—it is spiritually bankrupt.

The Plateau people are not deceptive. We are honest, resilient, and proud. We value trust and honor in all our dealings. Governor Mutfwang, in engaging with Israeli diplomats, has not betrayed any cause. He has acted in line with the values of service, innovation, and accountability. He does not wear Christianity on his sleeve while encouraging dishonesty behind closed doors. Your suggestion is beneath even the lowest expectations of responsible commentary.

You have also, without evidence or insight, labeled Governor Mutfwang a coward. That is a grave and baseless accusation. Let me remind you, sir, that he hails from the Mwaghavul people of Plateau State—a people forged in centuries of resistance. These are no strangers to conflict, oppression, or aggression. The jihadist campaigns of Usman Dan Fodio bypassed them—not because they were unknown, but because they were unconquerable. They dwell on the heights, both physically and metaphorically.

Governor Mutfwang is a son of these mountains. His strength is not in bombast or media frenzy, but in resolve, principle, and strategic endurance. You may confuse his restraint for weakness, but those who understand leadership know that true strength often comes clothed in calm. The governor does not shout. He acts. He doesn’t stoke division; he fosters unity. And he doesn’t parade piety only to promote deception.
Chief Fani-Kayode, your loudness is not courage. Volume is not virtue. Platitudes are not policy. Real leadership is quiet strength anchored in truth. And that is what Governor Mutfwang embodies. The Plateau people are watching—and they know the difference between theatrics and leadership.

You claim to champion Christianity, yet your own words are devoid of grace. You advocate distrust while calling yourself a patriot. You seek relevance by sowing division. That is not noble. That is not spiritual. And it certainly is not Christian.

As a son of Plateau, I call on you to retract your misleading and dangerous commentary. Nigeria is a fragile nation. The last thing we need is political dramatists turning diplomacy into demagoguery. We need healing, unity, and progress—not self-appointed prophets hurling stones from glass pulpits.

In closing, Chief, I ask that you reflect—not react. Learn—not lash out. Build—not burn. There is still time to align your platform with the values you so often claim to represent. Stop attacking those who work in humility to bring solutions to our people. Plateau deserves better. Nigeria deserves better. And frankly, so do you.

May God have mercy on us all.

Sincerely,

A Plateau Patriot Who Fears God, Loves Justice, and Will Not Keep Silent in the Face of Falsehood

Professor Dr. Elias N. Lamle (Leuven-Cum Laude),
Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies,
University of Jos.