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| Sen Useni |
TAROK ELDERS’ PURPORTED ENDORSEMENT OF
USENI IS AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE DISAFFECTION- TAPYA
By Lovins Yakubu
September 08, 2018.
The
purported endorsement of Sen. Jeremiah T. Useni by Tarok Elders Forum led by
Selcan Miner as the sole aspirant for Tarok extraction for the 2019
gubernatorial election in Plateau State has been described as an attempt to
create disaffection among the Tarok gubernatorial aspirants and by extension,
the Tarok nation and placed the Tarok on a collision course with the rest of
other ethnic nationalities in Plateau State.
This
was the submission of the Tarok Progressive Youth Association (TAPYA) during a
press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) press centre Jos.
TAPYA
said that the Tarok Elders Forum hitherto inaugurated by the Ponzhi Tarok, His
Royal Highness, Mr. Edward Cirdap Zhattau ( of blessed memory) was later
disbanded by the paramount ruler in December 2008 and could not have issued a
press statement on a “consensus aspirant” as far as gubernatorial aspiration of
the Tarok nation was concerned.
The
group, speaking through its President, Comrade Lohnan Samson, observed that the
widespread condemnation that has greeted the press statement issued by the
Tarok Elders has led credence to the fact that, if there was anything that such
statement has attracted to the political standing of the Tarok nation was scorn
with its attendant effect of whittling down the political clout of the nation.
The group said it recognized and respect
the rights of the elders to peaceful assembly and association as well as
freedom of expression as provided for in the constitution, however said that it
would not stand idly by and watch as misleading information being deposited and
peddled within the public domain., Speaking further, the group said
“we
are not unaware of the fact that there are many gubernatorial aspirants of
Tarok extraction who have picked up nomination forms of their various political
parties; these include, among others: Mr. Godfrey Manzhi of the SDP, Mr.
Nanzing Bako of the ANN, Senator Victor Lar, Senator Jeremiah Useni, Engineer
Jimmy Cheto, Engineer Ponyak Ibrahim, all of the PDP etc.
“And
as bona fide Tarok sons, we could not have jettisoned one for the other by way
of endorsement, except where the aspirants themselves arrived at a consensus
which would imply a voluntary withdrawal by the rest of the aspirants in
recognition of the aspiration of one person, and not the coronation by a group
of elders as is the instant case”.
TAPYA
said that to the best of its knowledge, there was no time whereby the Plateau
family resolved that the 2019 election was strictly a Tarok affair, as the
earlier statement by some Tarok elders would suggest.
“Accordingly,
we need not speak of the fact that the office of the Governor is open to all
qualified indigenes of Plateau State and Nigerian citizens alike and cannot be
the exclusive preserve of a given ethnic nationality to warrant the statement
issued by the elders concerned.
“We
hereby view that statement as nothing but an attempt to first of all create
disaffection among the Tarok gubernatorial aspirants and by extension the Tarok
nation, and secondly, the place us on a collision course with the rest of the
ethnic nationalities in Plateau State”.
The
group further observed that being critical stakeholders who would fight to the
last to preserve the political future of the Tarok nation, it rejected any
attempt to portray the Tarok nation as one that is set out to achieve a
sinister ethnic agenda, as against the collective and engaging political
approach that has, over time, defined Tarok as a people within the larger
Plateau Political family.
“We
need not speak of the grand design to hoodwink some political benefactors
outside Plateau State into making financial donation to the cause of a Tarok
consensus aspirant, as it is now public knowledge.
“However,
we consider this medium apt in admonishing such benefactors that they would
only be investing in an individual and not the Tarok cause, as all the
gubernatorial aspirants of Tarok extraction are fully committed like never
before, in canvassing for votes from the delegates of their respective
political parties.
“In
recognition of the fact that electoral victory in a democracy such as ours is
determined by the garnering of majority votes, we would not be averse to
working with anybody that will emerge as the Governor of Plateau State, as
anything to contrary would be antithetical to the spirit of democracy”.
The
group said it was not oblivious of the fact that some persons in their
desperate bid to cause mischief would deliberately choose to interpret its
position as one that is against the emergence of a Governor of Tarok
extraction.
“Far
from it! we hereby state in explicit terms that we are not against the
emergence of a Tarok man as Governor come 2019, as aspirants of the Tarok
extraction already on show are not short on the requisite qualification for
that office; however, we must concede that in view of our electoral history and
recent experience, our dream can only be realized with the support of the rest
of the ethnic nationalities in Plateau State”.
TAPYA
stated that being a youth socio-cultural group, it was very much aware of the
numerous benefits of ethnic solidarity, but when the solidarity is such that
will be inimical to the political future of not only the youth, but also that
of the entire Tarok nation, it would not hesitate to send it crashing like a
pack of cards.
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| TAPYA President, Cmrd Lohnan Samson reading the text of the press conference with other members of the association |
“Following
from the above, rather than wade into the murky waters of complex partisanship,
we wish to call on this group of elders to bring their wealth of experience to
bear by joining hands with other elders of the Tarok nation across board with
the view of resolving the lingering impasse surrounding the paramount traditional
chieftaincy stool of the Ponzhi Tarok. For us, that will mark the proper
beginning of the journey to resolving our challenges as a nation”.
Consequently,
the group called on all the people of Plateau State to disregard in all respects
the statement issued by the Selcan Miner Led group regarding the endorsement of
a consensus candidate.
Concluding,
TAPYA said, “We cannot conclude this press conference without registering our
deep appreciation to the coalition of ethnic nationalities on the Plateau which
has never doubted the political astuteness of the Tarok nation. We assure you
that we as one of the ethnic nationalities will continue to engage all of you
on any matter that is of interest to the whole of Plateau State”.
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