Social media was agog these last few days with news that there is a
crack in the PDP on the Plateau as a result of the emergence of Senator
J.T. Useni as its governorship candidate. Nothing is farther from the
truth. If anything, the party has continued to wax stronger since the
primaries ended last month.
After the keenly contested primaries that produced Sen. JT Useni as
the flag bearer, all the other 12 aspirants who contested with him
rallied round to congratulate him and also promised to work with him in
the interest of the party and the state. This was because the primary
election was free, fair and transparent, fully expressing the wishes of
the people. At the present moment, Sen. JT Useni is receiving
substantial goodwill from the aspirants. This is a verifiable fact.
Further, you would recall that the Director-General of Sen. J.T.
Useni Campaign Organization (JUCO), Prof Dimis Mai-Lafia, hosted the 12
DGs of the other aspirants. All the DGs unanimously agreed to work
together with the PDP State Campaign Council towards winning the
forthcoming general elections at all levels.
Another heartwarming milestone is the unity of purpose demonstrated
by the 17 PDP LGA Chairmen on the Plateau and the State Working
Committee. On Monday, 5th November, 2018, the joint meeting accepted and
approved the nomination of Dr. James Dalok as the running mate to Sen.
J.T. Useni. The joint meeting also agreed to work as a team towards the
success of the party at the poll in February.
A communique was released by the State Publicity Secretary Sir Johns T. Akans after the meeting, and it reads in part:
“The joint meeting therefore resolved as follows:
1. On the Governorship Running Mate:
a. The meeting observed with concern the divided interest among the
party members both within and outside the Executive Council on the
choice of the running mate by our Candidate Senator Jeremiah T Useni.
b. The meeting noted that this issue should not be allowed to divide
the party considering the fact that all members will be treated fairly
as we prepare to form the new government in Plateau.
c. The meeting unanimously stood in complete support of the choice of
Dr James Dalok as the running mate in the 2018 general election.”
This resolution puts to rest the arguments and counter-arguments on
the choice of the running mate. It also dispels the rumours on social
media that the house is divided. For emphasis, it is important to
restate this: the party has never been so united, as we have observed
that party members and leaders have no other interest than the interest
of the average Plateau person who is aching to see good governance and
strong leadership return to Little Rayfield.
So as not to be misquoted, the full text of the communique is presented verbatim:
“COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE MEETING OF THE
PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), PLATEAU STATE, HELD ON MONDAY,
NOVEMBER 5th 2018, AT THE PARTY SECRETARIAT, NO 20/21 YAKUBU GOWON
WAY JOS.
PREAMBLE
The joint leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the
state and local governments level has met and discussed a number of
issues bordering on the progress of the party.
At the meeting were members of the state Executive and party Chairmen of the 17 local government areas.
The joint meeting marks a new beginning of dedication within our
party and a new spirit of sacrificial service amongst all party
faithful.
The meeting:
1. Thanked leaders, elders and stakeholders of our great party,
especially aspirants to various political offices, for their
contributions and sacrifices to the party in the process of keeping the
party very vibrant and bring about healing in our land and among our
people.
2. Noted that Plateau was the first state to openly define its
spirituality and human liberty, and therefore gave a special appeal to
our members to forgive one another for the survival and progress of our
dear state.
3. Observed the need to create together a new party spirit of unity,
trust and wisdom to minimize mistakes and maximise our strength,
The joint meeting therefore resolved as follows:
1. On the Governorship Running Mate:
a. The meeting observed with concern the divided interest among the
party members both within and outside the Executive Council on the
choice of the running mate by our Candidate Senator Jeremiah T Useni.
b. The meeting noted that this issue should not be allowed to divide
the party considering the fact that all members will be treated fairly
as we prepare to form the new government in Plateau.
c. The meeting unanimously stood in complete support of the choice of
Dr James Dalok as the running mate in the 2018 general election.
d. It therefore called on all leaders, stakeholders and members of
our great party to forgive one another and work toward genuine
reconciliation, leave behind the past and work assiduously towards
winning elections in 2019 in the interest of Plateau.
2. The meeting passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the
party from the state right down to the ward level. We noted happily that
the people of Plateau have already resolved to give PDP another mandate
come 2019. We must show that we all have confidence in ourselves as
party members.
3. The joint Executive resolved to work as a team for the success of
all candidates across the state with a view to winning the next general
election. We must bury all our differences in the interest of our
people who have been subjected to hunger, poverty, and killings under
the APC- led government.
4. The meeting condemned in very strong terms all forces, both within
and outside the party that are trying to bring the party to disrepute
and to make it more vulnerable to defeat.
Thanks and God bless us all.
Signed
Sir John Telpark Akans
KSM FCAI
Publicity Secretary.”
My submission therefore, ladies and gentleman, is that this
communiqué, together with the convergence of the DGs of the former
aspirants, and the commitment of the former aspirants to work with our
candidate, Sen. JT Useni, have put paid to all insinuations about a
crack in the party over the choice of our running mate.
We at the Secretariat of the campaign organization are excited about
the unity that these events have engendered. We thank all who have made
it possible.
God bless Plateau State.
Prof. Dimis Mai-lafia
DG, Jeremiah Useni Campaign Organization (JUCO)