A Senatorial candidate for Plateau North Senatorial District under the platform of the ruling APC, Hon. Rufus Bature has dismissed insinuations that the Governor Simon Lalong-led administration has not treated the Berom well.
He said the Berom have the highest number of appointments in the present government, adding that Lalong believes in the unity and prosperity of the people of the state.
Bature disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Jos the Plateau State Capital.
He said, “There is no tribe on the Plateau that has the number of appointments in Lalong administration like us the Berom.
Bature who recently resigned his position as Secretary to the State Government to vie for the senatorial seat maintained that, “If it were because of the votes we gave him in 2015, I wouldn’t have been appointed as the Secretary to the State Government before I resigned.”
The APC chieftain said he will work assiduously for the restoration of communities affected by the crisis in the state if elected Senator come 2019.
He said his primary concern was to ensure the rehabilitation of women and children who were displaced from Barkin-Ladi, Riyom and Bassa Local Government Areas, and also make sure they were resettled back to their ancestral homes.
Bature added that the Simon Lalong led APC administration in the State was concerned about the plight of the displaced persons and was working tirelessly for their return to their communities.
“I am concerned about the condition of my people in Barkin-Ladi, Riyom and Bassa Local Government Areas who were attacked and displaced from their ancestral lands.
“The Federal Government has been working round the clock with Governor Simon Lalong to address the social need of the people and make sure that they are secured.
“The Governor has gone to Gashish where the crisis was serious to inspect a site that the Police Mobile Squadron will be sited for the people to return to their homes,” he said.
Bature condemned the action of some people who have politicised the killings and taken advantage of it to gain cheap political popularity.
He called on all citizens of the state to stand up against all form of criminality, armed robbery, cattle rustling and encourage peaceful co-existence for the prosperity of the people.
On the IDPs participation in the election if they were unable to return to their ancestral homes before the general elections, Bature said, “I am aware that Government is making arrangement with INEC to ensure that all eligible voters at the IDPs camps in Plateau cast their votes.
“Though December 24 deadline has been given for the return of people who abandoned their villages for fear of being kill, we will not accept a situation where you have your PVC and opportunity is not given to you to vote”, he stressed.
Comments