From Christiana Gokyo, Jos
A bigwig of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State and Sen. representing Plateau South Senatorial District, Simon Bako Lalong, says the party is ready to participate in the upcoming local government elections and is very optimistic about victory.
Sen.Lalong, while addressing a stakeholders meeting at the state party secretariat in Jos, said the party has remained focused and strong as reflected in the last primaries where candidates emerged.
According to him, the party has not only sustained its strong followership but is receiving more support due to the state of affairs under the present dispensation.
He commended the party leadership for holding forth and pushing on with the reconciliation efforts that have largely addressed the grievances of members at various levels.
While also assured the party members that their concerns over the non-appointment of a Minister for Plateau State has been made to the President, who will soon rectify the matter.
On the refusal to swear in the remaining six elected APC House of Assembly Members, Lalong said it was regrettable that the Speaker has continued to disobey Court Judgement and also boasted publicly that he was at liberty to decide.
While maintaining that the APC has a majority in the House, Lalong said the alleged fear that the House will be used to fight the Governor is unfounded and mere political talk.
He, therefore, urged the APC members in the House to prevail on the Speaker to do the right thing as today’s injustice will consume those perpetrating it tomorrow. He also condemned the alleged request that the members have to sign resignation letters before they are sworn in, describing it as undemocratic and an affront to the rule of law.
Similarly, he asked the House to pass a resolution recalling all Local Government Chairmen and Councillors who were illegally removed from office.
Party Chairman Hon. Rufus Bature commended the party members for showing unity, maturity and capacity in the last Primaries where candidates emerged.
He reiterated that the Party was ready to participate in the upcoming Local Government elections and optimistic of victory as Plateau people are disappointed with the current PDP Government which has performed poorly without delivering the dividends of democracy despite the huge allocations running into billions of naira received over the past year.
Sen. Diket Plang, in his remarks,, asked the members to be steadfast and come together for the victory of the party in the elections. He also encouraged the party members to continue to explore the intraparty dispute resolution mechanisms.
Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Madaki Ajiji assured the party that the APC members in the House remain loyal to the party.
