The 2015 general elections has come gone and those who emerge victorious have been sworn in.
In Plateau State, since 1999, the PDP has been at the helms of affairs, so the emergence of Barrister Simon Lalong of the APC is not surprising, because he enjoyed immense goodwill from the Plateau PDP, despite being from an opposition party.
This came through the combined efforts of traditional PDP voters and the contribution of majority of Plateau PDP elders, who worked against their party to give APC victory.
Amongst the PDP stalwarts who openly supported the APC were, former governors of the State, Senator Joshua Dariye and Amb. Fidelis Tapgun.
Others are, immediate past State PDP Chairman, Dr. Haruna Dabin, Arch. John Alkali, Senator Victor Lar, Engineer Jimmy Cheto and a host of others, crossed party lines to lend support to the candidate of the APC in a rare cross-party political cooperation, never seen before in the State.
Having won the governorship election on the cooperation between these PDP stalwarts and the new APC regime appears to be waxing stronger.
This was evident during the battle for the Speakership of the State’s House of Assembly where despite the PDP having 13 members against the 11 of the APC, Hon. Peter Azi of APC emerged victorious.
It was clear that following the first deadlock, when both party candidates got 12 votes each, Hon Istifanus Mwansat of the PDP, was prevailed upon to step down for the APC candidate in the interest of equity and fairness.
It was reliably gathered that the people who prevailed on Mwansat to give up his ambition, were again PDP elders/stakeholders.
This is contrary to what happened at the National Assembly where PDP pulled up a coup-like strategy to ensure the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President and secured the seat of Deputy Senate President.
However, this massive sacrifice done by Plateau PDP elders/stakeholders for the APC means PDP has handicapped itself in the race for the 2019 polls, because PDP now controls no principal office in the State.
If elders/stakeholders of PDP in the State, believe that they can impeach the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon Peter Azi, nearer 2019 to install a PDP Speaker, then then they missed it, because two-third majority is required to impeach a Speaker and the PDP doesn’t have that.
This puts Azi at a very strong position because he knows that the PDP lawmakers cannot impeach him and so also the APC cannot either, knowing that the PDP has the numerical strength.
So it appears PDP have cleared the coast for the Governor Lalong to have a smooth running of his administration.
However, on the cooperation between PDP elders/stakeholders and APC. Former Governor of the State and Senator representing Plateau Central, Joshua Dariye, had worked tactically and assiduouslyto install, his former aide, as Mr. Letep Dabang as APC Chairman in the State and subsequently Governor Lalong, appears to be mentoring and guiding the Governor in his early stages of his administration.
This is evident by the calibre ofcappointments the Governor has made. A bulk of them were principal lieutenants of the ex-governor.
His Chief of Staff, Mr. John Dafa’an, was Joshua Dariye’s Director of Protocol during his second term in office. Prof. John Wade who was appointed Director General Research and Documentation, was appointed the first Vice Chancellor of the Solomon Lar University Bokkos, by Senator Dariye. While Honourable Rufus Bature has been appointed as Secretary to the State Government.
Given this trend, analysts believe that Lalong’s cabinet, which is imminent anytime now will equally feature a lot of ex-PDP members predominantly those who served within the Dariye administration.
The main headache Governor Lalong is currently facing with these elders/stakeholders is in the area of what appointment they “the elders/stakeholders” get themselves?
Sadly for them, President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that he will not take any Ministerial nominations from State Governors; as such the Governor’s hands are tied as regards who the Minister from the State ultimately becomes, as there are many of the so calles elders/stakeholders who have been courting him for such nomination.
So with the ministerial slot off limits, it appears the only logical positions will be the Chairmanship of Boards and Parastatals, and it remains unclear whether Buhari will take such steer from the States.
Everybody in Plateau knows that the emergence of Governor Lalong was a protest from Plateau people who felt the immediate past Governor of the State, Jonah Jang was trying to impose his kinsman, Senator Gyang Pwajok, while they felt it was suppose to be the turn of Plateau South, where Lalong hails from.
However, for PDP to stay relevant in State affairs, it will require political and financial clout to remain strong, be a viable opposition before the 2019 polls.
But from all indications, most of the PDP Chairman of LGAs who had worked against their party in favour of the APC in the gubernatorial elections in April, 2015, have lost their seats.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon Rufus Bature, and made available to journalists, Monday (6/07/2015) in Jos.
It reads, “The Governor of Plateau State Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Edict establishing the Local Government Council Administration in the State, has approved the dissolution of the Seventeen (17) Local Government Councils in the State.
The statement added, “The Governor directs all the dissolved Chairmen of Councils; all Members of the Executive Arm, Councillors and other Political Appointees to hand over all government properties in their possession to the Directors of Personnel Management (DPM) of the Seventeen (17) Local Government Councils.
Will they still remain loyal to Lalong? Time shall tell.
What remains unclear though is how long would the PDP/APC cooperation especially among the elders/stakeholders last? Will there be a fall-out in they acrimonious relationship or will it continue?
Will Lalong consolidate and try to build his own political structures by becoming his own man? Only time will tell.
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