Plateau Central Regional Raises Concern With Plan To Concentrate Ministerial Slot In Plateau South

Yakubu Busari

A group under the aegis Plateau Central Equity & Democracy Network raised concerns on the Ministerial slot and Equity for Plateau Central Senatorial District as we bring you the warm regards and esteem of the good and patriotic people of the Plateau Central Senatorial District.

 As a political sensitization, advocacy, and lobby group, ladies and gentlemen, we have been compelled to speak to you today — the beginning of a series of such sensitization and equity drive, on a specific political development in the state, and its implications for the Plateau Central Senatorial District.

In a press conference held along Old Airport Road, Opp Lutheran Church, Jos Plateau by Samuel Joshua made available to this Medium in Jos.

He said,”As you may be aware of, the recent judicial pronouncement in respect of the Plateau South Senatorial election petition in which the Court of Appeal pronounced former governor Simon Bako Lalong as the actual winner, and to whom a certificate of return has been issued, implies that certain political adjustments, especially in terms of appointments, will occur in the State APC.

“”It is apparent, ladies and gentlemen, that Simon Bako Lalong, who has since been a member of the federal cabinet as Minister of Labour and Employment, has opted to resign his cabinet position and membership, to be sworn in as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said .

Thus, another nomination is to be made from the state to fill the vacancy created by Lalong’s departure from the Federal Executive Council.

 Without mincing words, the main thrust of this conversation with you is to pronounce our call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC national leadership to favour the Plateau Central District because it is simply equitable and just to do so; and because the records and history stand in favour of the Plateau Central zone.

The statement said, the facts are obvious and impeccable, and date eloquently way back to 1999. Between 1999 and 2023, out of a total of eleven (11: ministerial appointments, Plateau North has had five (5) turns, Plateau South, Six (6), and Plateau Central only one (1) slot during the Presidency of Late Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

The roll call of the former ministers in Plateau North includes Hon Damishi Sango, Hon Mark Ishaya Aku (late), Hon Dasuki Ibrahim Nakande, and Honorable Mrs Sarah Ochekpe. Plateau South Senatorial District with record

the highest patronage, but cursively with ne remarkable electoral performance — especially in the lest general election to show for « — has the following in its roll call Deme Pauhne Talten, Sic Fidelis Tapgun, Hon Phiiomenes Tapgua, Hon Solomon Delung, Dome Pauling Tallen, and most recently ar currently, Rt ton Simon Beko Lelong, white the Plateau Central senatorial District, according to the same official records, he’s only the tenure Ambassador Bagudu Hirse as Minister of State(2) in the ministry of foreign affairs, to show for off these twenty-four years af electoral commitment and confrontations to the government at the centre.

As a group, let us remind the President and the leadership of the APC that the only Mateau indigene in the National Working Committee of the Party, occupying the position Of Assistant National Secretary, Hon Festus Fuanter, t.e from Shendam, the same local government is that he’s dominated in the political patronage of Plateau South. Let us reiterate our position that the President and the leadership of the APC should uphold equity and justice in post-election remuneration and patronage, especially its on record that the total votes scored by the APC in the last Presidential election in Plateau, # is Plateau Central that turned in the highest number of votes, and recorded clear-cut victories in some its local government areas!

We also frown at and condemn alleged efforts by M Hon Simon Bako Lalong to mislead President Boils Ahmed Tinubu to accept and get the same Festus Fuenter to abandon his position in the APC National Working Committee, and replace him as Minister in the Federal Executive Council. We call on Mr. President to resist any such overtures from Simon Beko Lalong, reach out and consult widely with other stakeholders in the State, 10 that. At the end of the day. Renewed Hope will also translate to some poetical reprieve and ventilation for the Plateau Central Sensational district..

Thus, we call on President Sols Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC to be guided by the grace and infallibility of history and the imperative of equity and justice to give the Plateau Central zone a much-needed sense of belonging.