Proof Yourselves, Stop Running To Abuja- Jang Tells Plateau PDP Guber Aspirants

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Politics Saturday, November 8th, 2014

Agabus Pwanagba, Jos

Barely three weeks to the gubernatorial primaries ahead of the the 2015 general election there are indications that the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State, is overheating the polity, as aspirants battle to pick the governorship ticket of the State.

Key party elders are accusing the leadership of the party in the State of attempts to manipulate the delegates list for the forthcoming primaries.

AFRICAN EXAMINER gathered that several Plateau opinion leaders have been meeting in close quarters to consider guidelines and processes of the primaries and have raised alarm over what it calls a plan to doctor and manipulate the entire list of delegates.

The elders have have since gone to Abuja to protest against what they construe as the hijacking of election materials by Government agents. Among the elders, who have disagreed with the outcome of the ward congresses held last Saturday, are a former State Chairman of the party, Prof. Dakum Shown from Pankshin; Danjuma Maina from Mangu; Group Capt. Danyil Kanke(rtd), all from from Plateau Central; Ambassador B. C. Selchun, Langtang North; Ahmed Abdullahi, Wase, John Dafa’an from Qua’an Pan, all from the Plateau Southern Senatorial District and Elder Bulus Dareng was a close ally of Governor Jang, from Plateau North.

The aforementioned individuals have also been joined by former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, and former Governor and Senator representing Plateau Central, Joshua Dariye.

Reports say the trip to Abuja was to call on the National Secretariat to intervene as it did in Adamawa and Akwa Ibom States.

AFRICAN EXAMINER further gathered that the aggrieved elders are opposed to the emergence of any governorship candidate from the Plateau North, insisting that it is the turn of Plateau South to produce the next governor of the State.

One of the elders, Mr. Toma Davou from Plateau North, said it was wrong for the governor to contemplate presenting another candidate from Plateau North, when he the incumbent is from the zone, is about completing his tenure.

Also a group under the aegis of Plateau PDP Youth of Conscience has appealed to the party’s National Secretariat to dissolve the Ward Congresses held last Saturday in the State and conduct another fresh

At a press briefing journalists in Jos, Friday, the group through its Secretary, Pharmacist Mizim Haruna, said, “We urge the National Secretariat as a matter of necessity, dissolve the State congresses as conducted and another exercise transparently be conducted under her direct supervision.

“The National Secretariat should disband the committee that conducted the exercise and another committee of persons without any element of collusion be put in place to achieve the prayer in

The group further called on the party headquarters to, “Sanction the relevant State organ of the party for colluding and encouraging the flouting of our great party.

It called on INEC as an electoral umpire to take note of the threats to internal democracy in the State chapter of the

“We will stand against all who seek to use and destroy this platform that Plateau people so much cherish. We restate our absolute loyalty to the PDP and Plateau people. They assured.

However, Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang has taken a swipe at the State’s gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP saying they should prove their worth if they want to govern the State.

Jang who lambasted the aspirants for “black-mailing him before the Presidency and the Party leadership at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja stated, “Instead of you to campaign, you are running to Abuja, Abuja will not come and vote’’. The governor said.

Jang spoke at the Government House, Rayfield after swearing in four newly appointed Commissioners to fill the spaces created by four of the Executive Council members who resigned to contest other political offices.

According to him, “Politicians should stop black-mailing me and accept God’s will. There is no zoning in the Plateau governorship seat, those running to Abuja to report me should cease henceforth.

“It is God that gives power and no human being can stop who God has anointed and if you are not anointed, nobody can bring you into power.

“God has already anointed someone, instead of people to go round and campaign and tell people what they can do, they are busy running to Abuja; Abuja will not come and vote in Plateau. He stressed.