By: Joseph A. Adudu, February 12, 2023
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| Gov Lalong |
The immediate past Governor of Plateau State, Sen. Jonah David Jang has said that his successor, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong rather than denigrating him (as his record of performance dot the Plateau landscape) should be hiding his face in shame for spending 8 years as Governor but failed to do what makes for the welfare and wellbeing of his people; in addition to the dismal performance in terms of basic infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, education and all the sectors necessary for the people.
Sen. Jang said this in reaction to comments attributed to Gov Lalong at the flag-off of the APC campaign rally, held at Wase Local Government Area of the state.
Recall that several sections of the media quoted Gov Lalong to have said among other things (during the APC campaign rally in Wase LGA) that the G5 PDP governors and allies including former Governor Jang were supporting the APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
However, in a swift reaction, Jang posited that such comments were obvious signs that Governor Lalong was daydreaming. In a press statement signed by Clinton Garuba for Sen. Jang and a copy made available to African Drum stated that the comments which sought to disparage and cast the former Governor in bad light as well as scurry some favour for his anointed candidate and the APC was nothing but the "last kicks of a dying horse."
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| Sen. Jonah Jang |
He added that Governor Lalong, it seemed has just woken up from his slumber of almost 8 years and discovered he has spent these years doing nothing in the interest of Plateau people, hence the degeneration to day dreaming.
According to the statement, the vituperations would have been dismissed as the outbursts of a deeply frustrated person who has taken a difficult task of marketing a bad product all in the need to stay relevant.
"But for the misleading statements he made, there was no need to dignify him with a response since we know that anything outside his written speeches are not only disjointed but profane babbling that makes no semantic sense".
Making clarifications on the issue, the statement stated that the G5 Governors have repeatedly said they do not have personal problems with the candidate of the PDP but with the process that brought him up and the ensuing structural imbalance it has created in the party.
"Yes the integrity group has disagreements with the PDP and their withdrawal of support for the PDP presidential candidate’s campaign does not in any way suggest that they support the APC candidate.
"Only Lalong and his fellow dreamers think so and will stop at nothing to mislead the public in order to get favorable feedback for a bad product they so desperately want to sell".
In the same vein, the statement noted that the governor has been struggling to show that he is in good terms with former Governor Joshua Dariye to no avail and that the latter supports the APC candidates.
"Need we remind the governor once more that this again is a figment of his imagination conjectured to put him in good stead with the Plateau people he long abandoned in pursuit of interest that clearly undermine the Plateau people he claims to govern".
The APC according to the statement has done a good job of de-marketing itself that the opposition does not need too much time talking about it.
The statement continued, "Nigerians have been subjected to tortuous life never imagined and they are willing to express their anger through the ballot box.
"Thinking of delivering APC top to bottom by Lalong and his ilk is mere wishful thinking. No right thinking person will consider an extension of the present situation we have found ourselves in.
"That is the kind of hardship that Lalong and co want to perpetuate just in the name of seeking relevance".
It added that many a discerning heart need not be surprised at the way Governor Lalong has used every opportunity he got to say disparaging things against the former Governor, having failed woefully to use the instrumentality of government to convict Senator Jang in a court of law over some trumped up charges of corruption.
"Plateau people saw how he petitioned Governor Jang to both the EFCC and ICPC and went further to line up government officials to bear false witness against Jang, thankfully at the end of the day the truth prevailed as the courts spoke in very loud voice in defense of Senator Jang .
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| Gov. Simon Lalong |
"Having lost all the goodwill of 2015 and taking Nigeria, Plateau State inclusive, through harrowing times, the only thing the party can do is to whip up sentiments as it did in 2015.
"However, they have failed to realize that Nigerians have seen them for who they truly are and will speak through the polls in a matter of weeks.
"Taking the Governor serious on his promise to deliver APC in all elections is like believing that the Naira will be parallel to the Dollar as promised or that electricity would be stable.
"What one can say at this point is believe the APC at your peril, more still believe Lalong and have more disappointment. His outings at campaign rallies both as DG of the APC presidential campaign and back home in plateau state have been embarrassing.
"He speaks without the tact required of leadership and his utterances are akin to verbal diarrhea, words spoken without first weighing the gravity of what is said or lacking in communicative competence", the statement added.
Further clarifications were made on the accusation of non-payment of salaries, which the statement said governor Lalong has turned to a sing-song in the last seven years plus as one of his major achievements thus; "the Jang administration left unpaid salaries of 4 months which was later paid by the Lalong administration.
"In any case, former Governor Jang is not proud to have left unpaid salaries but the most recent refund for the infrastructure executed by Jang to the tune N6.5bn is evidence that he spent Plateau people’s commonwealth in their interest.
"The recent N6.5bn is only a part of the already refunded funds Jang administration spent in constructing federal roads.
"If Lalong has received such a huge amount, why then is he still owing salaries when there is no infrastructure to justify the spending of the equally huge allocation the state has received in addition to the mindless borrowings he has engaged in?",
the statement asked rhetorically.
The statement added that it was important for Governor Lalong and those who advise him to note that the 2023 elections is a referendum on the 8 years of the APC in the saddle and if they do not have anything to show, they could simply admit failure and prepare to hand over the reins of power to another party.
It further noted that had the Governor spent his time working for the plateau people and their interests, he would have had several projects to showcase as a bait to wooing the electorate not the needless whining about what he met on ground in 2015 saying; It was unfortunate that 2015 as it were, seems to have been a better place for Nigerians than what the APC has unleashed and want to continue to unleash on Nigerians.
"Governor Lalong should stop referring Plateau citizens to what happen in 2015 and market himself and his so called candidates through his performance of his nearly 8 years administration.
"The people are watching and they will hold you accountable at the poll for your inept leadership, underperformance and the shame you have brought to Plateau.
"Governor Lalong and his ilk must stop day dreaming and start preparing to take their place in political oblivion after Nigerians have sent them there for the pains and agony they have inflicted on them", the statement concluded.
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