Plateau Ministerial Slot : Ari, Faunter, Gizo, And Prof.Kanam Jostling For Lalong’s Replacement

Yakubu Busari

The All Progressives Congress, (APC) Plateau State Chapter stakeholders are in for consultation to find ta replacement for Former Governor Simon Bako Lalong as the minister.

The following are now jostling for the seat of ministerial slot aftermath of Lalong appeal court victory that declared him winner of the 25th February 2023 general elections for Plateau Southern Senatorial district.

The Election Tribunal and the Appeal Court judgment made a declaration that the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP) doesn’t have the structure to sponsor candidates in the 2023 election so the vacancy exists and the court declared Lalong the closest rival as the winner of Plateau South.

The Former Director of General Industrial Training Funds,(ITF) Sir, Joseph Ntung Ari, National Deputy Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Barr. Festus Fuanter, the Campaign Coordinator of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Amos Gizo, and Prof.Saleh Muhammad Galadima Kanam all joined the race for the seat of ministerial slot as replacement of Lalong.

However, the political atmosphere is now charged in Plateau State with a series of lobbying and contacting those that are close to the Mr. President to pave the way for whomever the cap fit.

A group of supporters from Kanam LGA on Wednesday were at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Plateau State Council  to address the media on the need to award hard-working members of the party with ministerial slot.

The Chairman of Kanam Progressive Youth for the need to appoint Prof.SMG.Kanam,Mr. Ali Abdullahi said ,”we also want to congratulate Dr Nentawe Yilwatda for the same victory in the appeal court and the eminent confirmation of the same in the supreme court.

These victories confirmed our party principle of upholding the rule of law and entrenching internal democracy within the party, “.

The group said SMG Kanam by his undisputable background as professor of law is more equipped and qualified for the Ministerial Position coupled with his experience as member of Federal Executive Council in Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Cabinet.

The group further described Saleh Mohammed Galadima Kanam as one of the APC finest Member in the state with track record of excellence in service, doggedness, capacity, and administrative acumen to deliver if given the opportunity as minister.

Stressed that he is a detribalised Nigerian whose personality is synonymous to discipline , decorum and strong supporter of APC and president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The professor pedigree in the field of academics and contributions to the political struggles over the years cannot be hidden in plateau political space.

According to the group, he contested and won into the office of Kanam local government of plateau state in 2008-2011 where his score card in the office has endeared him to the minds of the people and earned respect and popularity within the state and beyond.

As a progressive, the group pointed out that, his political dexterity becomes manifest in the manner he pursuit his Senatorial campaign to represent plateau Central Zone in 2011.

The group further adds that considering the achievements of Professor Galadima, although many vested interest may be eyeing the same position, we want to quickly remind the APC that as party members who are nominated by the party Exco and stakeholders at their respective wards , LGC’s and state levels.

He was also member Governing Board of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPPADEC) from 2020-2023 his incidents and footprints is highly commendable.

The group used the Press briefing to outline the achievement of Professor Galadima in plateau state APC which includes, one of the founding members of the party in the state, who has contributed tremendously to the growth of the party .

He unilaterally sponsored all programs of the party including the party Congress elections and registration of members across all the wards in Kanam and supplied the furniture and other office utilities.

He volunteered and contested the election for the position of local Government council Chairman under the party at its formative stage, where he advertised the party by campaign to all parts of the local government and state.

He sponsored candidates for elections into the positions of members of the House of Representatives and Senate in 2015, which his candidate won in Degi Constituency and went on to become the Deputy Speaker in the state house of assembly.

Other achievements of Professor Galadima include campaigning vigorously for the APC candidates in the state from the presidential down to the local government election.

He was the Secretary of the Plateau State APC campaign council that was instructional to produce his Excellency, Barr Simon Lalong , as Governor in 2015 and 2019.

And successfully headed the 3–man APC Membership Registration Committee for Sokoto State in 2021.

The group used the briefing to inform Stakeholders of APC in the state to stick to their resolution of recommending only Party members who are nominated by Party  EXCO and stakeholders at their respective wards, LGC and state levels.

Also called on all stakeholders in the state, party stalwarts and all believers of the Renewed Hope Agenda, in the interest of Justice and fairness, to reward Galadima for his faithfulness, hard work and loyalty to the party by recommending him to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Appointment as Minister to replace now-Senator Bako Lalong as member of Federal Executive Council.