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| Chief John Akson, PDP Chieftain |
I did
not say Sango remains authentic PDP Chairman, Chief Akson refutes media report
By Dickson Gupiya
July 27, 2019
Chief John Akson has vehemently denied online media reports
credited to him yesterday that the embattled Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) Plateau State chapter, Hon. Damishi Sango remains authentic PDP
Chairman. The reports further quoted elder Akson to have said that Ambassador
Fidelis Tapgun once left the PDP for All Progressive Congress (APC)
However, speaking to African
Drum on the issues on Saturday, chief Akson noted that he was quoted out of
context. " The media misquoted me. Probably they didn't understand me.
What I actually said is that there are crises in the PDP and there are two
factions; the Chris Hassan's faction and the Damishi Sango's faction and each
faction is claiming the authenticity of the leadership of the PDP in the state.
That's exactly what I told the journalists but they probably misunderstood me.
As a father and founding member of the PDP, every member of the party is mine
and when crisis erupts which is normal in every family, I would always wade in
to ensure there is an amicable resolution so we can come out stronger of it and
not to take side because I am a responsible father", said Chief Akson.
He said that while as Acting Chairman of the Party Elders’
Committee in the state, he set up a committee to look into the crisis rocking
the party and that the committee did a wonderful job and level of success was
also achieved through out the period up to the time he handed over to Sir
Fidelis Tapgun.
The former chief Whip of the Plateau State House of Assembly in
the second Republic further stated that he was shocked to have also quoted in
the same publication to have said that Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun once left
the PDP for the APC. According to him, " this is completely false. I did
not say anything close to that. As far as I know, Fidelis Tapgun never left the
PDP so I couldn't have even contemplated making that statement. I mentioned
Tapgun' s name in that interview to explain the fact that after my tenure as
the Acting Chairman of the Elders' Committee of the PDP, I handed over to him.
I never said Tapgun left the PDP. He is a leader in the PDP, he is a committed
member of the PDP and presently handling the leadership of the Elders Committee
of the party in the state. I have confidence in him and his leadership style
because he has been doing a marvelous job to see to an end the crisis that has
engulfed the party and ensure a harmonious relationship amongst members of the
party.
“Now that the issue has been referred to the David Mark's
committee, I believe that in no distant future, all issues would be resolved
and we would come out stronger than before because, we have learnt our lessons.
I have confidence in David Mark because he is equal to the task and I believe
he is capable of bringing an amicable resolution to all issues."
He called on members of the PDP in the state to remain calm and
await the outcome of the committee. " I want the faithful members of the
PDP in the state to remain calm as we await the outcome of the David Mark's
committee. And like I said earlier, I have confidence in David Mark and I
believe he would resolve this issue and I also believe that PDP would surely
reign in Plateau state."
Chief Akson observed that there should be strong synergy between
the press and politicians toward building a better society and advised
journalists to be sincere to themselves and to politicians in their reportage
stressing that it was important to always seek for purpose of clarity grey areas
after interview is granted. " My advice to journalists is that they should
be very careful when reporting and to also make sure that what they report is
factual. Journalists should desist from misquotations because if they continue
to misquote those that grant them interviews, you would find out that at the
end of the day, they may not get someone else to interview out of fear that
they may be misquoted or might be quoted out of context. So, journalists should
be sincere both to themselves and to those they interview by ensuring that they
seek clarification on grey areas after interview before going to press to
ensure a cordial relationship between we, the politicians and the press. This
is important because we are supposed to have a synergy towards building a
better society,” he said.
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