Jos south All Progressive Congress APC stakeholders on Monday said it
remains committed in ensuring that the Plateau state Governor Simon
Lalong wins the forthcoming 2019 elections
Addressing newsmen in Jos the spokesperson of the group Hon Pam Ayuba
said Lalong remains our Rescue Captain and together we shall work to
deliver all our candidates at the forthcoming elections God willing.
Also speaking on the recent defection of Hon Edward Pwajok (SAN) to
the the PDP, the group said ,Pwajok returned alone to PDP.
“We have gathered here today to address you on certain political
developments particularly, the recent defection of Hon. Edward Gyang
Pwajok, SAN, to the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP. He is the
current National Assembly(NASS) member representing the good and hard
working people of Jos South/Jos East Federal constituency of Plateau
State at the 8th NASS!
As you are aware, the Hon was received back to the PDP on Saturday, 12th
January, 2019, at the Polo Field during the Plateau State Presidential
Campaign Rally. His defection was long anticipated after he failed to
secure the Senatorial ticket of the Plateau North Senatorial Zone of our
great party the APC. To those of us, his political associates who knew
him; and to those who have followed his political antecedence, that he
decamped back to the PDP was not surprising but he was merely
demonstrating a character trend he is known with closed to three
decades that he has been in active politics. To us, it was a familiar
terrain he was working and passing through!
Recall the Hon member early January, 2018; printed posters that littered
major streets of Jos and environs seeking the position of the northern
zone Senator. The posters took many of his supporters unawares and there
was no explanation from him in spite of several entreaties on him to
explain the status of the posters! When we demanded a meeting be called
to discuss on the political future of the group, especially his
aspiration then, he rebuffed each advice and went on to continue with
his political activities silently without recourse to his supporters. ”
“Recall also, that since May, 2017 when we officially defected to the
APC, he has never for once saw wisdom in calling us together to sit and
reappraise our status. We were all kept in a political limbo, hanging in
the air not knowing where to go except that we should wait and dance to
his tune. This continued up till the late hours that he contested for
the primaries of the party for the northern Senatorial seat which he
lost to Hon Rufus Bature, the immediate past Secretary to the Government
of the State-SGS.
“Immediately after he failed to secure the ticket of the Senatorial
zone, he began to show trends that were peculiar to him and to those who
knew his antics, knew that the time was up as he was such a man that
never took lightly failure, not even of this magnitude. ”
At the meeting he held Friday, 11th January, 2019, eve of his
re-defection at his residence with majority of those who are here except
for a few of us who were not invited including the Management
committee chairman of Jos South, Hon. Dr. Gideon Davou and the Works
commissioner, Hon. Pam Botmang who together with majority of those here
gave their hearts out to work for his Senatorial ambition. ”
It is instructive to note that at the said meeting, many were taken
aback when he announced that he was rejoining the PDP. Many spoke their
minds denouncing and condemning in strong terms his decision warning
about the political consequences that were to follow such actions if he
went ahead to do that. In fact, some walked out of the meeting in total
anger! He was reminded that if he went ahead to defect, how will he feel
being the first federal lawmaker to decamp from a political party to
the other and within the same legislative calendar year re-decamp again?
What Honour and respect would he earn if he does that? He insisted on
leaving the APC avoiding any entreaties that came closed to his ears.
At that meeting, he was asked how will he face his supporters if he
insisted on leaving? He was asked to explain what was the main reason
for him taking the decision he was about to take? Of the several
questions put across to him, he merely responded that “since when he
lost the party’s Senatorial primaries, neither the governor, deputy
governor, the state party chairman and the candidate who won the
primaries had come to him. He said too, he was being left behind and no
body again consulted him about any party activities and he felt he was
no longer needed! Asked further what happens to his supporters who
joined him to decamp to the main party and what arrangement has he made
to accommodate them if they followed him back to the PDP? No answer was
given which almost made all concluded that it was a personal political
trading he was embarking on other than group interest!
“On whether it is true he was neglected by the governor! Here the Hon
member lied! Since 2017, no body has enjoyed the closeness and goodwill
of the Governor than Hon Edward Gyang Pwajok SAN. Before our decamping,
we organized a medical constituency outreached in Vwang where the
governor led the entire state executive to grace the occasion. This was a
clear demonstration of the love the governor had for him and in the
spirit of a by-partisanship attended. ”
“Again, the governor had been more forthcoming calling him and at some
point traveling with him to state functions home and abroad, a rear
opportunity that he did not get while he served as the State attorney
general for more than eight years. ”
The appointment of the current management committee chairman Jos South,
that of the commissioner for works, Plateau State were done with his
consent including many others. The governor never did something in Jos
South without consulting him and to insinuate he was neglected was a
blatant lie!
On further findings, we learnt on good authority, the Deputy Governor
was reported to have gone to his residence and had useful discussions.
This was after several phone calls we learnt were put across to him that
he could not pick nor return such missed calls. This story is similar
with the state party chairman who was said to have called him severally
and was said to have shown to some people with him that it was the state
chairman calling but that he would not pick!
After the primaries, Hon Rufus Bature met with him and they talked. He
even congratulated him for winning the primaries aside many calls he put
across to him.
He was invited to many state functions as usual including the opening of
the governor’s campaign office and the official flag-off, but failed to
honour any claiming he traveled out of the country.
“For the avoidance of doubts, we still respect Hon. Edward Pwajok,SAN.
We have no doubts about his credibility however, let us say with every
sense of responsibility that the latest action he took to return back to
the PDP has put his revered credibility into question. It’s painful to
walk with somebody and coming to a point of decision,he abandoned ship.
We feel if there was anything concrete to hold unto it shouldn’t have
been the reasons he gave. As his political associates we feel betrayed
and disappointed. ”
Let us also make it clear that the Hon member returned alone to PDP. We
have resolved to carry on and vowed to ensure total victory for the
party in Jos South. We want to make it abundantly clear that we have
total confidence on the capabilities and doggedness of the management
committee chairman, Hon. Dr. Gideon Dung Davou to lead the entire local
government to victory in this coming elections. We are proud of his
leadership style and assure him of our loyalty and support. It is the
resolved of our local government that Governor Lalong remains our Rescue
Captain and together we shall work to deliver all our candidates at the
forthcoming elections God willing.”
