By: Joseph A. Adudu, May 04, 2023
 |
| Barr Ado Ali Katyen |
The ruling All Progressive Congress APC, Plateau State Chapter is said to be the architect of its misfortune with regard to the poor performance in the 2023 General Elections which saw the Labour Party winning the Presidential election in the state while the main opposition, the PDP winning the Governoship.
In the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections, the incumbent Governor Simon Lalong also failed to secure the Plateau Southern Zone Senatorial Seat, as he was roundly defeated by AVM Napoleon Bali.
In his post election assessment during an exclusive chat with African Drum recently, a Jos based Legal Practitioner, Member, Chartered Institute of Mediators and Conciliators and Member Corporate Institute of Administration of Nigeria, Ado Ali Katyen said the APC in the state is responsible for its abysmal performance in the just concluded general elections.
According to him, poor performance in the last 8 years, politics of neglect and exclusion cost the APC the election.
He said that the APC had the opportunity of putting its house in order even before the elections but didn't and continued engaging in politics of exclusion.
"For instance, where are those who contested in the party primaries for various elective positions but did not win? I contested for primary election for the House of Assembly, Quan'Pan South and we have a forum, called APC Aspirants' Forum.
"This is a powerful platform that the party could have utilized during the 2023 elections but did they? Did the APC utilized this forum? No, they didn't, instead, the party decided to select and mobilize people without grassroot connections to deliver their Wards and polling units for the party.
"But did they succeed? No. Why? Because they are not in tune with the people at the grassroots. Most of them are not known at the grassroots. However, our forum, comprising of people who contested for elections and have supporters across the wards and polling units were neglected".
"Naturally, these people would get frustrated because having spent money to purchase forms and eventually neglected by the party having not won the primary is indeed frustrating and you don't expect this kind of people to be faithful to the party and work for its success.
"Simply putting it point blank, the massive defeat recorded by the APC in Plateau State was made possible by the same APC members".
Katyen, who is also pursuing a doctorate degree in Maritime Law, holds masters degree in entrepreneurship. A member of Chartered Institute of Insurance of Nigeria, Plateau State Chapter. Katyen has over 20 years cognate experience in the Insurance sub-sector.
He posited that aside the politics of neglect, it was obvious the APC wasn't going to win election in Plateau taking into cognizance the low performance of the Lalong Administration in the last 8 years.
"It might surprise you to know that when Lalong came on board in 2015, I granted an interview to Daily Trust where I said, Lalong represents a new dawn on the Plateau.
"The interview was published in the September 11, 2015 edition of the paper.
"Why I said that is because, Lalong represented a lot of hope because he came highly recommended having been speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and Chairman Speakers Forum of Nigeria.
"Beside that, he fought hard for democracy during Dariye Administration and stood on the side of truth when democracy was about to be raped.
"At the risk of patronizing Lalong, I know he is a good man but the truth is that Lalong was distracted.
"Lalong as Governor abdicated his responsibility and was busy chasing other things. Look, I can't be a Governor and leave governance in the hands of other people.
"The point I want to make is that; If Lalong had pay attention to his state, there is no how he would have been defeated for the senate seat.
"As I said earlier, people felt neglected most especially in his local government area which happens to be my area too.
"I am a Goemai man, the same tribe as Lalong and I can assure you that our people don't talk about Lalong in flowering terms.
"They are not happy with him. They feel he has failed them. If you go to my area, there is no light, no pipe borne water and other facilities".
Katyen reiterated his stance that Lalong did not achieve much in the 8 years he spent as Governor of Plateau State stressing that even the payment of salaries the Government and its apologists regarded as achievements is not.
"Some people have said that payment of salaries is an achievement but how is that an achievement? You pay workers their entitlements and you called that achievements? Are the workers not supposed to be paid? The workers are being paid for their sweat".
He noted that why such pettiness permeates the polity was because of so much sychophancy and mediocrity which he said have been elevated to a position of eminence in our society. "Yes, they have elevated sychophancy and mediocrity and that's exactly what is killing us as a people.
"Imagine somebody pay you your salary and you say it's an achievement? As far I am concerned, payment of salary is a duty you owe the civil servants and you have to do it.
.jpg)
"Look at Shendam General Hospital, it is a glorify mortuary and we have a Governor of the state for 8 years from the local government who could not fix it.
"Instead of completing some of the projects initiated and could not be completed by the previous Administration, Lalong decided to embark on what he called 'Legacy Projects' he cannot even complete.
"For instance, why didn't Lalong complete the Bridge along 18 street Utanko road leading to Abbatoir which construction started by the Jang Administration? Could it be that he doesn't want Jang to take the credit?
"But the project is not Jang's but Plateau's. You don't bring vendetta into governance and expect success".
In the words of Katyen, one other reason for the woeful performance of the APC in Plateau State is the fact that Lalong has abandoned those political gladiators who gave their best to ensure his emergence in 2015.
"Where are the people who started this journey with Lalong? Where are the elders of Plateau who supported Lalong in 2015?
"There are no longer with him because of politics of exclusion. So, how did Lalong think of winning the Senate seat without these people", Katyen asked rhetorically.
Speaking further, he said that in terms of empowerment even within Goemai ethnic nationality, the outgoing Governor did not deem it fit to empower those outside his family members and friends.
"Can you name a Goemai that is a millionaire today that is not Lalong's brother or friend? There is none".
He however noted that while all these were going on, some other people were highly committed to the APC and gave all within their power to strengthen the party.
"One of these people is Sir Joseph Ari KSM, the DG, ITF. This man is among those who has worked assiduously for the party and to ensure its success.
"If other appointees of government had put just one-quater of the efforts Joe Ari has put, the APC on the Plateau would have by now, singing a different song because they wouldn't have lost the election.
 |
| 2007 BMW 3 Series |
"And if you ask me, I would tell you Sir Joseph Ari deserves to be rewarded. But for people like him, the APC wouldn't have gotten the votes they got in Plateau State.
"It might surprise you that many people are in the APC today because of Joe Ari. He uses his strength and resources to ensure the party remains intact. He has excelled in terms of commitment and contribution to the party.
ON THE PETITION FILED AT THE PLATEAU TRIBUNAL BY THE APC
On the Petition filed at the Tribunal by the APC challenging INEC declaration of Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, the PDP candidate as Governor-Elect, Katyen said that in his view, the APC was on a wild goose chase stressing that the Grounds upon which the APC is challenging the election are lame.
"I have seen the grounds of the Petition and to the best of my knowledge and understanding, the grounds are very week and slippery. One of the grounds is that the PDP has no structure in Plateau State.
"If you look at chapter 8 section 50 (1) of the PDP constitution 2017 (As Amended), it empowers only the NWC (National Working Committee) to conduct congresses for the party from Ward to the National levels.
"The PDP constitution equally empowers the NWC to set guidelines and regulations for the conduct of congress. And in the event of crisis, the party constitution empowers the NWC to intervene and it has the final say as to who is a candidate of the party.
"The constitution also empowers the NWC to submit names of successful candidates emerging from any primary of the party to INEC.
"These are the issues that we need to look at but of course, all are subject to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and the Electoral Act 2022.
"Now, the PDP used 3 Adhoc delegates to conduct its primary that saw the emergence of its candidates for the 2023 general elections in line with the requirement of the new Electoral Act 2022.
 |
| 2008 Toyota Hiace Commuter |
According to him, this arrangement is a clear departure of the previous arrangements which allowed for the participation of state party EXCO in primaries of political parties in line with the old Electoral Act 2010.
He further made it clear that the case of Plateau PDP was not in anyway similar to that of Zamfara as being insinuated by some people noting that they are two different scenarios.
On the Judgments of Hon. Justice SP Gang and Hon. Justice Kunda, both of Plateau State High Court in which the APC is solidly relying on at the Tribunal, Barr. Ado Katyen said that a judgment cannot be given perpetually.
"The APC is relying on judgments given by Justice SP Gang and Justice Kunda in favour of Kaze & co and PLASIEC respectively.
"But the question I keep asking is; can you give judgment perpetually? No, and to the best of my knowledge, the PDP has since complied with the judgment of SP Gang which saw the emergence of Chris Hassan as Chairman who Hon. Bitrus Kaze contested against on September 27, 2021. I also remember vividly that at the end of that excercise, Kaze made a speech and congratulated Chris Hassan.
"Of course, Kaze bought a form to contest for that election and that form is available and can be tendered at the Tribunal. Equally, the INEC witnessed that excercise and its report is also available and can be tendered too, so what's the APC talking about?"
Going further, the legal practitioner said if you look at section 84 (14) of the new Electoral Act 2022, the right to question the nomination of candidate rests solely on an Aspirant who participated in the said primary.
"No any other person has the locus standi to do that. You know election petition is sui generis which means it's in a class of its own.
"Therefore, pre-election matter must be file at the Federal High Court within 14 days after the primary, while post election matter must be file 21 days after the declaration of result (excluding Sundays and public holidays).
"And if you don't do that within the stipulated time, you are cut off with the status of limitation.
"So for me, the APC on the Plateau are meddlesome interlopers and busy bodies because it is not in their place to determine who is an EXCO in another party and who is not because it's none of their business.
"Another issue I want the APC to note is that, if you file a Petition, somebody is also going to file a cross petition regarding your loopholes too. Now, the presumption is that Barr. Caleb Mutfwang who is from Mangu LGA should naturally get a lot of votes from Mangu.
"In like manner, Dr. Nentawe Yilwada should naturally get lots of votes from Kanke too because he is from there.
"There is also a presumption that Langtang North, Langtang South, Riyom, Bassa, Jos South, Barkin Ladi LGAs are PDP strongholds. Naturally, you expect the PDP to win in these areas.
"And if the APC is accusing the PDP of irregularities in these places, the PDP too is not unmindful of what happened in Kanke, Shendam, Wase and Kanam and other places.
"So, there is going to be cancellations and counter cancellations and at the end of the day, whether you like it or not, you would find out that the APC is on a wild goose chase because the grounds upon which the APC are questioning PDP's victory are weak.
"What beats my imagination is that the APC is claiming to have won the Governoship Election having won only 7 seats in the House of Assembly as against the PDP with 16 members. Does that not tell you where the majority of the people are?
ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND MANDATORY 25 PERCENT IN FCT.
Barr. Katyen also stated that the issue of mandatory scoring of 25 percent in FCT before a candidate is declared winner of a Presidential election has since been settled by the Supreme Court in 2005 in Buhari vs Obasanjo.
"I have heard so many legal luminaries comment on this and they said that Abuja has a special status. But we never had a situation where a President ever emerged without scoring 25 percent in Abuja.
 |
| Barr. Katyen |
"I also know that in 2005, there was a case the Supreme Court decided on in Buhari vs Obasanjo where the supreme court held that getting 25 percent in FCT is a requirement of the law before one is sworn in as President. Are they now doing away with that or has that judgment be reversed?
"As I said earlier, we never had a situation (since 1999) where any of the Presidents did not score 25 percent in Abuja except Bola Tinubu.
"Again, as I mentioned earlier, this is something that is going to test our jurisprudence and I know there is going to be a lot of legal hair splitting but at the end of the day, it would boils down to the decision of our Lord Justices."
ON THE LEADERSHIP OF THE 10th NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Barr. Katyen faulted the sudden decision by the ruling APC to zone the Senate Presidency and the Speakership of the House of Representatives in a manner that accomodates our differences.
"The problem with us in this country is that we are very hypocritical. Recall that the APC said it sees nothing in the Muslim-Muslim Presidential ticket.
"Now that the election has been won, what moral right do you have to stop a Muslim from being the Senate President?. What moral right do you have to stop a Muslim from being the Speaker, House of Representatives?
"Politics is about number. The North-West is saying that they deserve the Senate Presidency because they brought the biggest meat on the table, because demographically, that's the most populated region in the country and they want the Senate Presidency to be rewarded for their efforts".
 |
| 2017 Mazda CX-5 |
"Taking the above into account, if someone is going to emerge from the North-West as Senate President, is he not likely to be a Muslim? So, we may end up with a situation where the President of the country, the vice President, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives all are likely to be Muslims".
Katyen however posited that for him, it may be a good development since we have decided to relegate religion to the background stressing that proberbly, we are opening a new vista of life and leadership in Nigeria where religion is no longer a consideration.
"So, I have no bad feeling about it but I know it was a mistake from the onset to have allowed a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
"If Nigeria is a secular state, then there has to be some balance in all that we do but since some of our brothers said this is the way to go, so be it and that's my take", Barr. Ado Ali Katyen said.
Post a Comment