Yakubu Busari
The PDP Presidential Campaign Rally which was held in Jos on Saturday, January 12, 2019 has been adjudged as the best so far in the series of such outings by the Presidential Campaign Council.
Yiljap Abraham Chairman, Media and Publicity PDP State Campaign Council Plateau State stated this in a press statement made available to journalists in Jos.
For this reason, the Presidential Candidate of the party Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has sent his utmost appreciation to the people of Plateau State for their impressive turn out.
Chairman of Plateau PDP State Campaign Council Hon DT Sango conveyed Alhaji Atiku’s appreciation to the meeting of the Council held on Monday, January 14, 2019.
The Council has in turn said “Thank You and Well Done” to all party leaders, elders, the gubernatorial candidate Senator JT Useni, his deputy, Dr James Dalok, Senator Jonah Jang, former governor Fidelis Tapgun, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, youth, women, State Campaign Council committees and all PDP supporters and members for their immeasurable support in making the Jos rally a very huge success. It specifically appreciated the roles played by security agencies and community vigilance groups in ensuring safety and security.
It observed that the enthusiasm shown by party members was unprecedented, and sent a very clear signal that the days of the APC governments at both federal and state levels are numbered. The Jos rally therefore serves as a definite quit notice to the ruling party as PDP is absolutely ready and waiting to take the reigns of government and return power to the people.
As the PDP prepares for the Zonal and Local government campaigns, the State Campaign Council has expressed grave concern that the Lalong government has institutionalised thuggery as its official policy in electioneering. It noted the attacks on PDP members in Mangu town after the official flag off on Tuesday January 8, 2019 and the intimidation of those attending the presidential rally on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at the Dadin Kowa area of Jos South.
The intemperance of the APC is also manifest in the quick and total resort of its followers in the destruction, removal and defacing of posters and billboards of political opponents, especially those of the PDP. The Lalong government must realise that this is a denial of justice and expression of freedom in a humane society.
The Council warns that with such unrestrained attitude, PDP is being compelled to take every legal action to check the increasing cases of intolerance and violence by APC and its members on PDP supporters. PDP members must henceforth raise and sustain their level of alertness at all times to steer clear of danger.
Such unmitigated violence by the APC indicates the level of frustration at their rapidly decreasing fortune as Plateau people turn their backs on Governor Lalong and are strongly embracing the PDP for more purposeful governance in 2019.
The resort to thuggery is APC’s admission that it is not prepared for any value-addition in the governance in Plateau. PDP will rather focus on issue-based campaigning than beating into the air as APC is daily mastering.
The party calls on Security agencies to urgently step up their game in ensuring public peace and decorum, as well as calling the APC leadership to order.
The State Campaign Council also observed one minute silence in honour of PDP Chairman and woman leader of Poeship Ward in Shendam Local Government Area who lost their lives in a fatal road accident after the presidential rally in Jos. Four other members of the ward injured in the accident are recuperating in hospitals in Jos and Shendam.
The Gubernatorial Candidate of the PDP, Senator JT Useni has donated N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) as assistance to the victims’ families. The State Chairman Hon. Sango also announced a donation of N200, 000.00 (Two hundred Thousand Naira) as the party’s support.
The funerals of the two deceased officials will be held on Tuesday January 15, 2019 in Poeship, Shendam LGA.
Meantime, the PDP State Campaign Council has approved that Zonal Rallies be held as follows:
1. Southern Zone
Date: Friday, January 18, 2019
Venue: Shendam
2. Central Zone
Date: Saturday, January 19, 2019
Venue: Pankshin
3. Northern Zone
Date: Monday, January 21, 2019
Venue: Jos South Local Government Area
In further support of the PDP campaigns, the Party’s flag bearer Senator JT Useni has donated a bus to the party, promising that more support is also coming from his friends in due course.
A former gubernatorial aspirant, Hon George Daika also announced the donation of a branded bus armed with a public address system to the party.
Senator Useni appealed to party members and supporters to work diligently in raising more support for the party to prosecute its campaigns and win this year’s general election.
