Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang has been warned to desist from pursuing selfish interest, using what is refers to as, undemocratic intrigues capable of throwing the state into another round crisis.
This has been reactions from a cross section of Nigerians toward the recent declaration by Governor Jonah Jang at a public function, over the who succeeds him as the next Governor of the state, where he claimed that PDP in Plateau state has no zoning formula for the seat of Governor in the state.
Since then, criticisms has continued to trade his claims resulting to counter accusations thereby creating tension in the state.
One of those who didn’t hided their feelings on the matter is the member representing Jos-East/ Jos-South Constituency in the National Assembly, Bitrus Kaze who described the governor’s utterances as most unfortunate.
” I may not have any document to hold onto say this is the zoning formula since 1999 to 2003, 2007, 2011 but no body can denied the fact that PDP constitution sates clearly, providing in favour of Justice, fairness and equity of which the PDP constitutions in unequivocally terms spelt out”.
“And I maintain, if any body claim that there is no zoning anywhere at all levels such pearson can not be a PDP member. When Dame Pauline Tallen contested against Jonah Jang, the People of Plateau voted her out, not because she is a bad candidate, but because it was the turn of the Northern Zone and it will make no sense if Dariye in the Central Zone did eight years and the turn of the Northern zone would be caught shot”.
Again, the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria provides for federal character commission which is a formal name for zoning, and the principle of this is to ensure that there is no section of this country that dominate any affair of government. And if you take away this system out of the constitution, you will not have a Nigeria that you would like to contest any position and the tendency of break away will become more pronounced”.
In the same vein, Member representing Mikang/Quanpan/Shendam in the house of representatives, Hon. Innocent Tirse said the southern senatorial zone deserves express ticket for the next Governorship slot in Plateau state, arguing the point that Joshua Dariye did eight years in the center zone between 1999 to May 2007 where Jonah Jang from the Northern zone took over and will be completing his uninterrupted eight years next year.
According to Tirse, since the two zones have had their shares, the Southern zone, in the spirit of togetherness, should have been given the ticket uncontested for.
He described Jang’s comment over zoning as mischief, and an affront to other zones, which he said is capable of over heating the polity.
Neutrally speaking, Senior Special assistance to Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state Abdulhameed Kwara in a telephone conversation blames Governor Jang for taken such a stance.
“I am not saying the next governor should not come for Berom extraction, but for Jang pick his younger brother , GNS Pwajok successor is undemocratic and unpatriotic. Even if there is no zoning as he claimed, there are other tribes that form the northern zone, and if he feels it must be Berom, he should have given it to another Berom in another local government and not for the same family house, so as to avoid the unnecessary tension he is creating to the state.
