There is so much controversies amongst my friends, fans and well wishers whether Iam the Governor elect of Plateau State in North Central Nigeria. I have received so many congratulatory messages and phone calls since the declaration of the results by INEC.
I contested for the governor ticket of APC in the state but lost the primaries to Barrister Simon Lalong who was more acceptable to the delegates of our party. Thank God after serious efforts God answered our prayers and the PDP was defeated woefully after being in power for the past sixteen years. Plateau people collectively united against common political tyrant who converted the leadership of a plural society like ours into a dynasty. Governor Jang after eight years of misrule imposed his nephew as candidate for PDP in the last elections.
Not only that but in the past eight years the state has been a stranger to peace which most people blamed Governor Jang because his body language betrayed his complicity. The administration was expert in lip service to security issues while lives were lost daily. All juicy political appointments in the past eight years were exclusive reserved of his family, in laws and concubines of his children. There are over fifty autonomous ethnic nationalities in Plateau state but non and I repeat non has been included either at the state or federal level. Even party positions at the state and federal levels are occupied by one ethnic nationality.
Despite all these, there is no evidence that Governor Jang is acting the script of community agenda but rather he overstretched his wickedness by blackmailing his own people. The level of poverty amongst his people is not distinct from others yet they are compelled to swing together for survival. Nobody body in our history as a people had divided us like Governor Jang including destroying our heritage. Thank God heavens had spoken and we are liberated from Nebuchadnezzar rule.
Now that we have won the election I need to make this clarifications because if I had done it before the elections it would have sent negative signals to many. Some people would have read sabotage from it, more so that I know my type of personality which is viewed by my antagonists as controversial. I misled many but Iam sorry it was for our common good and not deliberate. The stake was quite crucial for me to strike a bargain between self and collective interests but I preferred the survival of the state against self.
Therefore, the victory is for all Plateau people and we are all involved. Let us rally round the new administration with understanding so that it can succeed. I know the expectations are high but with God and good guidance we shall make it work. Iam appealing to all prospective office seekers to please allow the governor elect some time to recover from the stress of rigorous campaigns before considering your ambitions.
This victory has no father except the people therefore the Governor elect should be careful with urban gorillas who priced themselves as political godfathers who has converted their houses as Mecca of sort for collection of CVs. Nobody should deceive himself as any king maker but we shall give due respect to our elders who work hard for this victory. And nobody can claim the glory except God so we should be aware. What is important now is to pray for the incoming administration so that it can content with the multi faceted challenges on the ground.
I will remain SOLOMON DALUNG, Member of NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM, GARKUWAN AREWA, IGBARMAN OTAROK, WHISTLE BLOWER and above all, an ardent crusader for peace and unity who is a tall stakeholder in the CHANGE MANDATE 2015 in Nigeria.
No comments:
Post a Comment