Miskom Puepet: Remembering a man of peace

Sometimes in 1988 or thereabout, I had decided that I was going to travel to Lagos to look for a job in three media houses: Champion, Punch and Vanguard; where Jonathan Ishaku, Chris Mamah and Toye Akiode were editors. I knew only one of them, but I had notes for the others, and I was prepared to give a trial; even if I failed to accomplish my heart’s desire.

I had dreamt of being a journalist; wherever it was going to be I had no idea. To be under the tutelage of any of the three then was an hounour. Back in Jos then I had in my hand two appointment letters: One by the Plateau State Ministry of Education, and posted to Ganawuri; the other from COCIN, posted to Girls’ High School, Gindiri.

While waiting to travel to Lagos, I remember it was the late Barnabas Gomam, one of Miskom Martin Puepet’s closest associates that insisted I went to tell him my problem. I told him I didn’t know him to the point that I should approach him. He insisted if it was Miskom Puepet, he never had room for protocol; meaning I was free to see him without a prior appointment. He insisted I visited his office, even if I was just going to establish a relationship for tomorrow.

I did. And it was a sweet experience, if you must know. That started a relationship that made me get in contact with several names. Several years later, I was to share a neighbourhood with him at his office at No 4 Barracks Road near St Theresa’s Catholic Church. Each day, it was difficult to escape his face and of the several friends, associates and workers who made the place, the people’s office.

I saw several people; men and women of different political persuasion come to visit him on a daily basis. He had as guests Christians, Muslims, Italians, Arabs and all manners of people needing assistance and or counsel. Of course, there were political associates who needed to settle certain issues about politics; and to be fair to him, to be assisted.

Several times, I avoided him; but when it became obvious that I was always talking to those who came to see him, he would tell them: ‘Gobum is my neighbour, he sees more of my visitors than I do’. Truly, I stole none; yet his humility and warmness were thoroughly infectious. They both stuck, and for no reason have I regretted meeting him.

I told him it was a learning process which I needed, and he understood. To tell you, it helped me when I led the Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Such people I often met in his office, I saw in them a desire for a formation of a movement to move Plateau State and place it where it should be. He often told me, there are lots of things we needed to do, only then can the state sell its potentials. No wonder, in his quest to change what he perceived was lacking, he once contested to be the governor of the state.

Before long, the office was sold to another politician, Senator Solomon Ewuga. Sadly to many who wanted him close by, he had to relocate to Abuja to start an office of his law firm, Miskom Puepet and Company on Suite 2/3, Silla Zeika Plaza, Utako District, Abuja Municipal, Abuja, Nigeria employing several vibrant young hands. Today, they are a testimony of what he wanted them to become later in life.

It is not for us to state the reasons for his relocation, however, there comes in the life of a man, when certain decisions, though painful could be taken. Today, people leave where they were used to ply their trade in the federal capital. That does not mean one should be restricted to an environment. Perhaps moving to Abuja was by all means traumatic, but settling down may have been less stressful given the connections that his name could draw.

This was one of such. It was gathered that the relocation took many by surprise; and made some even angry. But a man has got to be one: He established himself as soon as he got to Abuja. Such can be seen in the capacity of his conviction and quality in reasoning, if he was to take a decision.

Those who know the late Miskom Puepet are quick to point out that he was dogged on the fight for justice; above all he was a patriot ‘simple, approachable, calm but firmed on issues when established to be serious. In conviction, he is assertive on them and so never take him for a pushover’. If anyone did that, such a person, would, for long remained surprised.

It may not have been out of place that several of those who came to see him must have been assisted in their cases on pro bono basis. He was a man for all. And always, people were about him. I just wonder if he had time for his family, because he was always involved in causes for the sake of people. He did because he gave the same measure of discipline at home as much as for those outside.

The organization I work for benefited from his services. He was, we were told co-counsel with Barr Isaac Dimka for the Standard Newspapers in Jos when they defended Clem Oluwole, Editor, SUNDAY STANDARD and his crime reporter, Steve Raymond, on trial under Decree 4. Such period was a difficult one for the media and its practitioners generally, as the capacities of many media houses and souls of practitioners were tried by the obnoxious decree.

Suave as ever, he couldn’t have been a push-over, if you ever thought so. He was determined for several causes that are needful, but particularly for a united Plateau. His calculative mien and assertive disposition was perhaps one of the reasons he ventured into politics. Politics, without doubt was in the family, if one considers Miskom and his brother, Oumar Shittien.

Don’t get me wrong, initially I thought it was ‘a people’s office for assistance. I thought he ran an NGO where people came to receive assistance. He was such a generous person, and gave time and resources as if both were going out of fashion. One wonders if all lawyers are in his mold: Give and never be bothered that one was helping the causes of people, who would not give him anything in return. When several years he had come to know what I do for a living, he gave me leads on what to write and or analyze.

His death on November 21, 2018 was a rude shock to those who know him. But they may not have known that he had prepared himself to travel ‘home’. It has been on the lips of many who should know that he sought for confession and forgiveness from those he may have wronged in the course of life’s journey.

He played politics as one who indeed understood Plateau and its people. If he is kept side by side with any other, he would first go for the people he has come to appreciate over the years. It is little wonder that during the Presidency of General Ibrahim Babangida, he aspired to lead Plateau State in 1991 under the National Republican Convention. His kinsman, Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun went on to win that election to govern the state from 1992-1993.

During this period, Miskom coordinated the Presidential Campaign Organization in Plateau State of Mallam Adamu Ciroma under the National Republican Convention in 1992 running to 1993.

Not satisfied that his ambition was not fulfilled, he again tried his luck in 1998. This time around, it was under the banner of APP. Luck was again not on his side as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Joshua Dariye coasted home to victory by becoming the occupant of the Rayfield Government House.

Sometimes in 2003, he was on the side of PDP as Coordinator, Obasanjo/Atiku Presidential Campaign. Such was the character of the man, who, once he had taken a stance on an issue he pursued it until it came to an end.

I moved to his office neigbourhood in 1998 and saw how people trooped to his law office on number 4, Barracks Road. Such was his acceptability with the ranks that months after, on a daily basis; he received people from all walks of life on solidarity urging him to keep faith alive with their aspirations.

After all, I have heard several people confirm that, if given the opportunity, he would have made an excellent governor; and some added: He was ‘another governor Plateau never had’. He was a stickler to the cause of his people. He believed he had something to offer to Plateau, it was however not to be during his life time. But he was able to serve the state and country in various ways.

He loved Plateau passionately; and because of that love, it consumed his time and energy. If you thought there was one who loved the state, wait until you hear of what he used to do for the state and had his plans materialized, they would have changed the course of things. God never wanted it that way.

Since leaving the services of the Plateau State Government as Ag Chief Magistrate in 1980 and going into private practice; he was board member of various organizations and blue chip companies, one being that of Julius Berger Plc representing Plateau State Government and that of Community Development Foundation, ‘a poverty alleviation foundation put together by a number of NGOs notably the renown Ford Foundation’.

He dared to be different, no matter what it cost. He had certain principles that he could die for while alive, as such became points others used to see him as a ‘hard man’. Indeed even his family misunderstood him for that. I guess not now anymore, given the tributes said about him on his burial day, November 30, 2018.

Today, this can be rightly said of him as recalled Matthew Kuju of the EggonNews: You were a great, passionate, relentless but decent fighter against whatever you perceived was wrong. Another Governor Plateau State never had! His gentleness and humility are rare to find. I never got close to him but I knew him from some people who worked closely with him and I really admired his simplicity. His transparency was such that he would neither fence his house nor even put curtains to cover the sitting room. From afar you could see through his house. That was one of the things I liked about him. I don’t know if that’s how he lived through because since the creation of Nasarawa State, I never got to hear much about him again. But truly, when he aspired for governorship of the then Plateau State, I rooted for him. What a loss to humanity and I guess gain to the angels!

After it all, it is time like Obed Dashan wrote to ‘take consolation from his life and replicate in generations to come. We come, live and die. We touch lives negatively or positively. Blessed be those whose life impacts others’.