Group Accuses Sen. ID Gyang For Anti Party  “,BYM President Blackmail For Endorsement LP”

Yakubu Busari

A group under the aegis of   Berom Youths on Wednesday lambasted the People Democratic Party ,PDP, for Plateau Northern Senatorial District,Sen.Istifanus Gyang for endorsing the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for Plateau North Senatorial District on February 25, 2023 General Elections, Barr. Gyang Zi by the Berom Ministers’ Forum (BEMFO).

According to the statement,Sen. Istifanus Gyang, the Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District in the Red Chamber of sponsoring the BYM President to anoint someone  as calculated attempt to destroy the peaceful coexistence in Berom Nation.

The spokesperson of the group, Mali Samuel Jok stated that the group appreciated the role of BEMFO for consistently praying for the Berom land and organizing the yearly “WUSAL Berom” which is one of the program for healing the Berom Land .

Advancing their spiritual growth, the youth group however, described BEMFO’s endorsement as a misadventure and total deviation from their calling thereby, bringing the organization to total disrepute and causing acrimony among the peace-loving Berom-speaking natives in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria .

According to him,“We expect our spiritual leaders to be concerned with their calling not allowing themselves to be used by desperate politicians.

The Berom Elders’ Forum (BEC) is the highest decision-making body in the land, though they are apolitical, they have a duty of playing advisory roles in the land, which we consider them eminently qualified to advise the Berom nation on whom to endorse”.

He expressed concern that what it described as the active involvement of the BYM President in amplifying the purported endorsement of the LP Senatorial Candidate.

“He has since abandoned his role of the office and has taken the role of Campaign Director General of the Labour Party Candidate.

“This is seen in his engagement with the stakeholders of Tudun Wada (Jishe) communities on Sunday 19/2/2023 where the BYM President openly announced to them that the Berom Nation have endorsed the candidate of the Labour Party”.

Mali accused the BYM President of also taking the campaign to his CWC where he is said to be making frantic efforts to compel them to endorse his preferred candidate. “In a meeting of the CWC chaired by him on Monday 20/02/2023 at BECO Secretariat, he practically tried to force members to endorse the Labour Party Candidate which was resisted by the majority”, the Group added.

Samuel Mali described the decision of the BYM President as an act of desperation and a ploy to create confusion and disunity among the Berom Youths.

Speaking further, the Group said, “This act alone has desecrated the reputation of our Organization, the BYM which has remained apolitical over the years.

“We call on the BYM President to step aside and join politics fully since he has deviated from the mandate of his office”.

The Concerned Berom Youths also accused Sen. ID Gyang of being the invisible hand sponsoring the BYM President into what it called act of recklessness.

This allegation by the Group is hinged on the relationship between the BYM President and Senator Gyang whose Senior Legislative Aide has declared support for the LP Senatorial Candidate in Rim, Riyom LGA and many other places.

The Group also alleged the Mobilization of thugs by the BYM President to intimidate voters into voting his preferred candidate saying it was a strategy he used in getting himself into office. “We call on our fellow youths to remain resolute, not to be intimidated, and vote for candidates of their choice in the general election”, the Group concluded.

Efforts to speak to Sen. ID Gyang on the issue before press time proved abortive as his cellphone number wasn’t going through.