Ahead of the forthcoming congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the immediate past governor of Plateau State and Senator representing Plateau North, Jonah Jang has denied reports making the rounds that he is backing a particular candidate for the State chairmanship of the party.
This was contained in a press statement signed by his Legislative Assistant, Clinton Garuba, and made available to journalists in Jos, the Plateau capital, yesterday, who disclosed that “It has become imperative to make this release in order to set the records straight and avoid the antics of a few people who wish to use falsehoods, half-truths and all manners of deception to sway the minds of unassuming loyal party members.”
The statement noted that following the failure of the PDP to secure electoral victory in the 2015 governorship elections in the state, some of the mistakes of the past must be corrected and not allowed to repeat itself if the party is to make any impact going forward.
“It is on this wise that the immediate past Governor of the state and Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial district in the National Assembly Dr. Jonah David Jang held several meetings with stakeholders and all those who matter in the PDP to initiate a reconciliatory move as well as healing process for the wounds of the past occasioned by issues of the last general elections.
“Seeing that congresses to elect new leaders for the party who will steer the affairs of the party and help to reorganize it with a view to regaining power in 2019 is here, Sen. Jang thought it wise to invite all PDP elders and stakeholders who had been hurt by whatever decision he took as the immediate past Governor to a meeting to apologize for his actions and inactions as well as to forgive those who may have hurt him too.
“By so doing, the ground will be set for going into the congresses without any bitterness or feelings of disgruntlement.
It was gathered reliably that, attendance at these meetings were high, pointing to the fact that Plateau is still largely a PDP state and those members who had voted in the 2015 elections against the party in protest have seen that they were better off with a PDP governor than what is obtainable today.
“It is on this bedrock and the displeasure of the immediate past Governor that this is not the Plateau he intended to bequeath to the people, hence the need for such reconciliatory and peace building meetings were held.
“During all the meetings that held, Sen. Jang had made it clear that all those contesting for positions in the next Executive Committee of the party were eminently qualified and possess the qualities to lead the party to victory in 2019 as such, he had no preferred candidates and would work with whosoever emerges as the Chairman and other EXCO positions,” it further read.
Garuba noted that, “the State Caucus of the party had zoned all the EXCO positions to the three Senatorial Zones and Zonal caucuses were therefore mandated in line with the party’s zoning formula to distribute the allotted positions to each zones equitably amongst all the LGAs that make up the zone.
“At the Northern zone Caucus meeting to which Sen. Jang belongs, his opinion was once again sought but he maintained his stand on having to work with whoever emerged rather than throwing his weight behind any of the aspirants for the office of the Chairman which was zoned to the Northern zone.
“The Northern caucus had in turn shared the allotted positions amongst the 6 local government areas of Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Jos East, Jos North, Jos South and Riyom that make up the zone.
“All those represented at the meeting expressed satisfaction with the zoning of the positions except Bassa and Jos East who have aspirants to the Chairmanship position and felt they deserved better positions than those they were offered.
“It is however, disheartening, to have read in the media reports obviously sponsored by a particular aspirant a few days after the meeting trying hard to malign the person of Dr. Jonah David Jang as having a hand in the zoning of the Chairmanship of the party to Riyom LGA.
“It is borne out of the above that we have taken the pains, not to join issues with anyone, but to put it on record once more and loudly so, that Dr. Jonah David Jang does not have a preferred candidate for the Chairmanship of the PDP in plateau State but as a loyal, disciplined and dedicated member of the party, he would work with whoever emerges as the Chairman.
“However, as a disciplined party faithful he will align with the position of zoning arrangements reached both at the level of SEC and the zone.”
The statement called on all party faithful to toe the line of statesmanship and work with the party to salvage the state from the current state in which it is.
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