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Plateau South Senatorial Zone is backward - Sen. Longjan
By Joseph A. Adudu
September 18, 2019
Plateau South Senatorial Zone has been described as the most
backward amongst all the states in the North in terms of infrastructure and establishment
Federal Government Institutions. This was the submission of the Distinguished
Senator representing the Southern Zone Senatorial District in the National
Assembly, Ignatius Datong Longjan in a chat with journalists in Jos today.
Sen. Longjan's election in the February 23 and March 9 general and
re - run elections under the platform of the All Progressive Congress ( APC)
was challenged at the tribunal by Barr. Peter Dandam of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP). However, the justice IT Joy led panel sitting at High Court 4 Jos
on Tuesday dismissed the petition for lacking in merit and upheld the election
of Longjan. African Drum reports
that Sen. Longjan stated that the degree of backwardness in the zone prompted
him to contesting the Senatorial seat. "My ambition did not start early
enough. Those of you who followed me closely know that I was a bit late. I must
not also go into details for this because it's immaterial. All I can say is that I
was a little bit reluctant but later, I was into the race. What really made me
to come to conclusion that I should have a go is the realization of the fact
that southern zone is backward. When I was the deputy governor, I went round
all the local governments in Northern, Central and Southern Plateau and in the
end, I realized that Southern Plateau is the least in terms infrastructure and
Federal Institutions compare to all the states in the North. So, when there was
a call by my political associates, I decided to come out essentially, to get
the national cake for my people", said Longjan.
Some of the projects the Senator said he had itemized as priority
and intended to lobby to ensure the attainment of these projects were achieved
include the Lafia, Shendam, Ibi road, Pambeguwa, Saminaka, Manchok Jos
roads respectively. " Lafia, Shendam, Ibi road has
been my concerned. I have been talking about this road since I was deputy
governor and I had the road in mind when I contested the senate seat. The road
was constructed by the Yakubu Gowon regime. Gen. T Y Danjuma made efforts to
ensure the construction of a bridge across the Ibi river but probably because
of the economic gains, (as some people make a living in fishing in the river),
wouldn't allowed for a construction of a bridge across the river. The road
itself is already affected by heavy trucks. So, I intend to raise this very
important issue in the chamber and follow up with lobbying vigorously to ensure
that it is captured in the budget", said Sen. Longjan. He added that
Saminaka road that has also served as an easy link to Jos from Kaduna was in a
sorrow state while the Manchok road that was constructed few years ago, was
also in delipitated condition.
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The Senator further stated that Southern Senatorial Zone also
lacks Federal Government Institutions compare to Northern and Central Zones
Senatorial Districts. Consequently, he said that in the spirit of fairness, the
proposed Federal Polytechnic should be established in Southern Zone. He said that
the three Senators from Plateau state have agreed to sit and discuss on the
location of the institution stressing that the Polytechnic should be located in
the Southern Zone in the spirit of fairness and in the interest of one Plateau.
The Senator however said that Governor Lalong has a big say on this and further
advised against quarreling as the President reserved the prerogative of
establishing the Polytechnic anywhere in the Country.
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