PDP ELDERS CHIDE LALONG FOR NOT CONDUCTING LG POLLS.

Sir Fidelis Tapgun (m) Hon Sango Plateau state chairman of the PDP (r)

PDP ELDERS CHIDE LALONG FOR NOT CONDUCTING LG POLLS.

By Joseph A Adudu and Udante Ugante

06 July, 2018

The Elders committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Plateau State Chapter yesterday lamented the inability of Governor Lalong to conduct Local Government elections since assumption of office three years ago.

In a communique after its meeting which was read by his Excellency, Fidelis Tapgun, chairman of the committee, observed with dismay and sense of worry another extension of the tenure of the present Local Government Transition Committee by one month adding that the act of forcing leaders on people at the third tier of government was tantamount to rape on democracy.

According to PDP Elders, the unending unconstitutional tenure of transition committee since 2015 was clearly a mockery of the much talked about peace the APC government claimed to have brought after its inauguration. Consequently, the committee commended its members in the State House of Assembly for opposing the unconstitutional extension of the tenure of the Management Committee an act the Elders described as a demonstration of the party’s resolve to stand with democratic ethos and the rule of law.

The elders Committee also noted with great pains the senseless killings recently experienced in Gashish District in Barkin Ladi LGA Mararaban Kantoma in Mangu LGA, and in Bokkos LGA and lamented the incessant butchering of human lives and attendant destruction of homes and properties of the ordinary citizens of Nigeria; in Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Zamfara and other areas which have gone on for too long with no concrete plan or clear roadmap to suggest that government is serious beyond its assurances and promises. According to elders committee, “We need more than assurances and promises to track down these criminals by the president. We note that much as these assurances are needed, they have become irrelevant in the face of continuous attacks that have claimed countless lives.”

“It is lamentable that communities can be attacked and hundreds slaughtered for over 48 hours without an immediate provision of rescue efforts. This obviously points to the fact that the nation’s security system has been compromised and the government lacks the will and capacity to resolve the challenges to peace and security”.

The Elders said that the frequency and the quantum of the despicable bloodletting attacks on innocent communities makes a mockery of the much taunted ‘security’ mantra of the present administration adding that it was unacceptable the mockery of the sanctity of human life.

The committee stated “we demand the immediate pursuit of the criminals under whatever guise or name; the disarmament of the occupied communities and rehabilitation of Rankum (Mahanga) Fass, Gash, Shong, Tanti and Exland (Gindi Akwati), all in Barkin Ladi LGA among others in the state. “We join similar voices across the length and breadth of the land to call on president Buhari to use his moral and constitutional responsibility as president, commander in-chief to protect our people and the land from these ruthless and inhuman attacks. We insist that the perpetrators and sponsors of these heinous crimes against humanity be arrested and brought to justice as this is the essence of the rule of law. This is the only full proof guarantee of their safety and security and the only way to rebuild confidence in their leader as one capable of defending them at all times”.

The elders committee expressed its deep condolences to the families, the people and leaders of the affected communities and prayed that their deaths ignite a resolve on our part to rise up against evil and wanton wasting of precious lives.

Cross section of PDP elders

The PDP elders Committee also noted with satisfaction the resolution of the State Executive Committee (SEC) which zoned the governorship and other notable positions in government for the purpose of the 2019 general elections and commended the courage of the State Working Committee (CWC) in contemplating zoning in the first instance and urged all party faithful to join hands with the leadership of the PDP and work assiduously to take back power in the elections ahead and further called on the leadership of the party to create a level playing field for all aspirants to various offices and positions as a safe guard towards avoiding what happened in 2015.

The Elders also noted with keen interest the emergence of the reformed All Progressive Congress (R-APC), a splinter group of the ruling APC and called on all those who left the party to return.

The committee further noted with sense of pride the appointment of its chairman, Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun as a member of the board of trustees of the party, expressed satisfaction and commended the gains made by the party in the state as a result of the focused leadership provided by Hon. D.T. Sango its chairman and urged him to remain unrelenting in not only keeping the party waxing stronger but by also preparing it for greater electoral gains in 2019.