By: Valentine Adese (JP),
The weekend was filled with lots of political activities in Plateau State, Nigeria, from the State Local Government Council elections to reactions in the streets, ending with political tantrums from political gladiators, which were filled with anger, frustrations and uncertainties for the future of the state.
The face-off between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All progressives Congress (APC) became more obvious and deepened, with the exclusion of the PDP from the Local Government Councils elections in the 17 LGAs in the state.
Although huge numbers of the electorate shunned the exercise, the election conducted the the Plateau state Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) still produced APC as winners in the 325 Wards in the state, made up of Local Government Chairmen and Councilors.
However, a press statement signed by, Clinton Garuba, the Media Consultant to Senator Jonah David Jang has described the exercise as unfortunate and act of cowardice for the state Governor, Simon Bako Lalong to have excluded the PDP in the exercise.
The text in part reads, “As Plateau people go to the polls today to elect Local Council Chairmen for the 17 Local Government Areas, it is unfortunate that what should have a evoked joy for the people as they file out to elect the leaders closest to them will be nothing more than a charade, a show of cowardice, mockery of democracy or simply standing logic on its head.
“At no time in the history of Plateau State since the return of Democracy in 1999, has Plateau State experienced this kind of impunity as is perpetrated by the APC government of the day. We must admit that this is the lowest we have descended to, by whatever parameters of governance we judge the current administration. To say that is it appalling that a government will do everything within its powers, not minding the political, socio-economic or even judicial consequences to the state and is to say the least.
“This is a clear show of shame exhibited by the government and the APC in the State. If the APC government was as popular as it has portrayed itself to be, the right thing to do was to allow its state funded umpire conduct a free, fair and credible election to test its popularity.
“The Plateau State government must bury its head in shame, denying the people their right to choice of candidates is the worst kind of impunity and anti-people treatment to receive from those who occupy elective office. If the performance of the government resonated with the people, there wouldn’t be any need to disenfranchise them but the only way out of a looming disgrace and a taste of what is to befall the APC anytime elections were held, was to remove the only hope of the people, the PDP from the ballot. What a show of cowardice”.
However, in a swift reaction, Gov. Lalong’s RESCUE MONITORING TEAM in a press text, dated 9th October 2021, signed by, Comrade Iliya Mark (JP), as Chairman and Comrade Tina Dabak, as Secretary, called on Sen. Jonah Jang to “SHUT UP HIS MOUTH”.
In their text in part the group said, “Let’s begin with Dara Jonah Jang, who is our elder statesman, which we would have loved to accord the dignity he deserves, if he had “shut up his mouth”, about democracy in Plateau. His antecedents are very well known to even children, who were not born during his reign of impunity where he was practically a bully, despot, dictator and bigot of the highest order.
“We find it preposterous that Baba Jang, as he is fondly called will have the effrontery to issue a statement condemning an election that followed due process and survived rigorous scrutiny of the courts, including the second highest court in the land (Court of Appeal) even up to few hours before the opening of polls”.
In his reaction to the group text, Clinton Garuba, the Media Consultant to Sen. Jang in a telephone chart with REALITY said, “I saw this ad two others yesterday. Unfortunately, the response of this particular one is more of a “Motor Park Approach”.
READ THE FULL TEXTS BELOW:-
PRESS RELEASE
BARRING PDP FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE PLATEAU STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS, A SHOW OF COWARDICE, TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE AND A MOCKERY OF DEMOCRACY
As Plateau people go to the polls today to elect Local Council Chairmen for the 17 Local Government Areas, it is unfortunate that what should have a evoked joy for the people as they file out to elect the leaders closest to them will be nothing more than a charade, a show of cowardice, mockery of democracy or simply standing logic on its head.
At no time in the history of Plateau State since the return of Democracy in 1999, has Plateau State experienced this kind of impunity as is perpetrated by the APC government of the day. We must admit that this is the lowest we have descended to, by whatever parameters of governance we judge the current administration. To say that is it appalling that a government will do everything within its powers, not minding the political, socio-economic or even judicial consequences to the state and is to say the least.
This is a clear show of shame exhibited by the government and the APC in the State. If the APC government was as popular as it has portrayed itself to be, the right thing to do was to allow its state funded umpire conduct a free, fair and credible election to test its popularity.
The Plateau State government must bury its head in shame, denying the people their right to choice of candidates is the worst kind of impunity and anti-people treatment to receive from those who occupy elective office. If the performance of the government resonated with the people, there wouldn’t be any need to disenfranchise them but the only way out of a looming disgrace and a taste of what is to befall the APC anytime elections were held, was to remove the only hope of the people, the PDP from the ballot. What a show of cowardice.
The PDP approached the Courts, which should be the hope of the masses, with the hope that the sham of an election being held today will be stopped but the court in its wisdom thought it otherwise to allow the elections to hold. While it is too early to conclude that the Honourable judges erred, by not seeing the consequences of the elections, we hope that when the substantive suit is heard and the fallout of the elections will make them recant the decision and subsequently declare the election an illegality.
The will of the people to choose those who should govern them overrides the personal or even collective will of a few people to subvert the process that recruits leaders and twist it in favour of primordial sentiments over the truth.
Senator Jang believes that truth, no matter how it is suppressed will always come to the fore and it is only a matter of time before the courts will prove that the desperation of the APC to capture power by force was an exercise in futility.
The act of cowardice displayed by the government and the APC in plateau state is a clear indication and further confirms that the people are not in support of the puppetry and subservience which the government of the day represents. To use state organs to deny parties participation in an election is a travesty and the height of mockery of democracy. This is not the Plateau that our founding fathers envisaged.
To say that the Governor who is a lawyer and had served as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly will engage in such blatant disregard for due process is a thing of concern, especially that it is ordinarily expected that he should be above board. Such acts by a few put a dent on the highly respected legal profession, which practitioners should know better.
As things stand now, the government has gone ahead with the process of affirming its candidates for the election, shamefully in some LGAs as sole candidates but plateau people must not despair. This is not the time to allow the desperation of a few people to cling on to power, make us lose faith with the PDP. We assure our dear party faithful and all peace-loving Plateau people that we would do all within the ambit of the law to invalidate the illegality perpetrated by the State government and will work together to end the impunity even as we approach the general elections in 2023.
For now, Senator Jang plead with you to remain calm, law abiding and keep faith with the only hope for redemption from the cluelessness that pervades the land. We must remain resolute as plateau people, not relenting in our efforts to see that our dear state is delivered from the hands of those who do not wish us well and wish to relegate us to perpetual subservience or second-class status.
Plateau will rise again! Our collective efforts in sustaining our heritage and building the plateau of our dream remains the task ahead of us and all hands must be on deck.
Clinton Garuba
Media Consultant to Senator Jonah David Jang
“SHUT UP! YOU ARE THE GREATEST ENEMY OF DEMOCRACY IN THE HISTORY OF PLATEAU STATE”; GROUP LAMBASTS JONAH JANG OVER CRITICISM OF PLATEAU LG POLLS.
We are appalled to read some offensive write up from a certain Clinton Garuba who claims to be speaking for former Governor of Plateau State Dara Jonah David Jang as a Media Consultant or (Kwan-sultant). In the shameless statement, h3 called the hugely peaceful, successful and court-sanctioned Local Government elections held today throughout the 17 Local Government areas of Plateau State as “show of shame, travesty of justice, cowardice and rape of democracy.
We would have ignored this piece of trash as a “shure shure” (ranting) of a nonentity, rusty, jobless and shameless busy body, but because of the historical antecedents of the message and the messenger in the democratic history of Plateau State, we cannot allow it pass or fail to put the records straight.
Let’s begin with Dara Jonah Jang who is our elders statesman which we would have loved to accord the dignity he deserves if he had shut up his mouth about democracy in Plateau. His antecedents are very well known to even children who were not born during his reign of impunity where he was practically a bully, despot, dictator and bigot of the highest order.
We find it preposterous that Baba Jang, as he is fondly called will have the effrontery to issue a statement condemning an election that followed due process and survived rigorous scrutiny of the courts, including the second highest court in the land (Court of Appeal) even up to few hours before the opening of polls.
This is the height of irresponsibility and rascality from an arrogant leader that forgets that he has had his time and history has judged him harshly as far as democracy and the rule of law is concerned in Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
Does he think we have forgotten how he recklessly trampled on Court judgements that were validly delivered during his reign of impunity? Let us remind him about the following.
- The late Baba Amagon won election as Executive Chairman of Bokkos Local Government under ACN but the undemocratic dictator forcefully removed him when he came into office. Despite several court judgements mandating him to reinstate him, he refused blatantly. It took the intervention of his alma mater the Kuru Old Boys Association who reminded him that Baba Amagon was his Head Boy in Secondary school. He reluctantly swore him in after 2 wasted years. Baba Amagon died out of frustration and humiliation he suffered in the hands of Clinton Garuba’s “hero of democracy” Jonah Jang.
- Late Chief Hitler Dadi also won election as Executive Chairman of Langtang North Local Government under the same ACN but the same emperor Jang forcefully removed him and other validly elected Local Government Chairmen but he refused to reinstate them in despite several court orders. They fought and got tired and case could not be solved because Jang hated the opposition. It was the grace of God which brought in a true Democrat and emancipator, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong who ensured that some remedy was done to compensate them after they were destroyed by the dictator.
- What about the late Chief Dan Dul who also won election and was denied the seat completely by the same emperor Jang? He was also not sworn in despite several Court pronouncements. The emperor and enemy of democracy was at work. Guess who ensured he got some respite by swearing him in, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong. They will not tell you this one. Another case of a Professor who won the Chairmanship of Kanam LGA but got the same treatment is also there. They think we have forgotten.
- The same man issuing sentimental Press Statements all over the place decided to demonstrate the highest level of ethnic bigotry and arrogance by jettisoning the gentleman understanding on zoning when he insisted in bringing his brother from the almighty Du Kingdom to succeed him as Governor in 2015. Plateau people rose up and showed him real people-power by soundly defeating his candidate Late GNS Pwajok. Thank God we are beneficiaries of this arrogance which gave a true Democrat, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong the opportunity to Rescue Plateau.
- This same Senator Jang even after office continued his journey to perdition by hijacking the remains of the crumbled PDP despite appeals by great Plateau sons and daughters like Gen. JT Usseni, Chief DT Sango, Late Senator Mantu among others to allow the people decide their leaders. He stubbornly insisted on foisting his stooge, Chris Hassan and a kangaroo Exco on the party. Of course, dogged fighters like Hon. Bitrus Kaze approached the courts and his Exco of cards came crushing down the drain. This was the genesis of the exclusion of the PDP from the Local Government elections which his is bemoaning and throwing tantrums at innocent Simon Bako Lalong and the APC. What a shame and pity.
- Is this not the same David Jonah Jang when he was Governor of Plateau State performed mathematical wonders beating Albert Einstein, Prof. Chike Obi etc, with 16 is greater than 19 in his desperation to become Chairman Nigeria Governors Forum? Can such a person speak about democracy in his life time again it he has any remnant of dignity and shame? Well, we hope he will humble himself to be schooled by the humble, calculated and honest political maestro, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG who without any interest or campaign, was unanimously elected as Chairman of the entire 19 Northern Governors. At least now we know why his supporters want to die anytime they hear this position of Northern Governors chaired by Governor Lalong. E de chok dem die!
Hear this truth Baba, there is no reason crying over spilt milk. Even babies know that. Was it the APC that excluded PDP or took it to Court? It was your arrogance and imposition that pushed your members to go to Court. Why turn around and blame the true Democrat, Governor Lalong? Please shut up and face the consequences of your actions.
As for the obscure hireling, Clinton Garuba who has another partner in a certain notorious former PA to Governor Jang by name Chris Gyang, we will reserve our energy for you because you are an insignificant irritant.
We know what you have been doing using Jay FM, which is owned by your sponsor to cause mayhem and instigate crisis in Plateau. We also know how you have spearheaded clandestine propaganda to preach hate and spread fake news not only against the person of Governor Simon Bako Lalong and his Rescue Administration, but against Plateau State with a view to destabilizing it.
After all, you have no stake in it because you are not an indegene. You left your State Edo to come and destroy Plateau because of money. If you cannot try this in your State and go free, we will not allow you to do it here. Go and contest elections in your State and stop trying to destroy Plateau. We welcome all good people but not criminals like you.
As for the elections, it will go down as the most free, fair, peaceful and successful Local Government election in the history of Plateau State and Nigeria. No efforts by you and your e-rats to tarnish this record will succeed. If you say Governor Lalong and the APC has RAPED democracy, then be ready to admit that Baba Jang and the PDP Murdered democracy and are bent on burying it despite efforts by Lalong and APC to resurrect it from the dead.
Wether you like it or not, Governor Lalong has written his name in gold and will go down in history as one who came, saw and conquered the anti-democracy, anti-peace and anti-people agenda of people like your ignomous benefactor, Senator Jonah Jang whose place in the history of democracy in Nigeria is offensive and in the dustbin.
God bless Governor Lalong,
God bless Plateau State,
God bless Nigeria.
BOTTOM LINE: JONAH JANG IS NOT QUALIFIED TO CASTIGATE ANYONE FOR ANTI-DEMOCRATIC ACTIONS. HE IS THE WORST!
Yours,
Comrade Iliya Mark, JP
Chairman
Comrade Tina Dabak
Secretary
For: RESCUE MONITORING TEAM
9th October 2021.
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