Mr. Simon Lalong, Governor of Plateau State.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Plateau State has accused the State Government of hiring hoodlums to intentionally destroy the State House of Assembly’s chambers with a view to relocating the factional Speaker of the State Assembly, Yakubu Sanda to the old government House for legislative businesses.
The Party lamented that democracy and governance in the State are in serious trouble as the State Governor, Simon Lalong has “abandoned governance and embarked on an agenda that will further destroy the Plateau heritage.”
Addressing journalists in Jos on Monday, the State PDP Publicity Secretary, John Akans said it was sad that Governor Lalong, who is a lawyer is behaving in a manner where rule of law is least observed with reckless abuse of the constitution and its laws and “judges being intimidated and harassed” in the State.
Akans pointed out the drama playing out in the State Assembly as well as the attempt to stop the Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area, Joshua Laven from returning to office even with a court judgment in his favour as examples to show that the State is in confusion.
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His words, “On behalf of our Party, I wish to address you this morning on some ungodly actions and evil plans of the Plateau State government under Governor Simon Lalong. We are worried that the governor has completely abandoned governance and embarked on an agenda that will further destroy the Plateau heritage. You are all aware that the State has been in a state of confusion for the past two months as a result of a failed leadership, ranging from the crisis in the legislature to an attempt to stop the Chairman of Langtang north LGA from returning to office even with a court judgment in his favour.
“It is sad that Governor Lalong, a supposed lawyer who is expected to preserve, protect and defend the constitution of Nigeria, is behaving otherwise. Here on the Plateau, we have found ourselves in a situation of unexplainable predicament where rule of law is least observed with reckless abuse of the constitution and its laws with judges being intimidated and harassed. Court orders are manipulated and given different meanings to suit the power that be in the watchful eyes of the Chief Executive ,a lawyer who has woefully failed to live up to expectation.
“… If government can hire hoodlums to intentionally destroy the State Assembly’s chambers with a view to relocating the factional Speaker to the old government house for the continued illegalities, then our democracy and the governance in the state are in serious trouble. We understand that the main reason for doing this is to silence and deny other 12 members from discharging their constitutional responsibilities as legislators because of their firm position against illegality and impunity as presently their allowances have been denied.
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“…It is disheartening that we have a Governor who can stand in the presence of God in church and lie to God and the people that he has no hand in the attempted change of leadership in the House of Assembly when it was obvious that he personally sponsored the illegal act supervised by the Secretary of the Government of the State, Prof. Danladi Atu and his Chief of Staff, Noel Dongjur. Fortunately for him God’s judgment is not instantaneous otherwise he deserved immediate strike of the thunder for lying in the church.”
He commended the court for nullifying nomination and administrative fees imposed on aspirants by the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission, PLASIEC, explaining, “We are pleased to inform you that on the 12th day of November, 2021 the Party got a judgment at the State High Court by Justice Ishaku Kunda against PLASIEC which was delivered in the second case of PDP against PLASIEC on local government council elections in suit No Pl/J249CV/2021. The court agreed with the PDP’s submission that PLASIEC has no power under the law to charge and receive nomination fees for forms, and that they also have no power to collect administrative charges from political parties and their candidates.
“This then means that PLASIEC guidelines imposing nomination and administrative fees has been nullified by the court. It should be noted also that our candidate of 2018 local government election, Dr Joshua Laven got his mandate through the court as the duly elected Executive Chairman of Lantang North local government for three years tenure which PLASIEC mischievously advertised his position during its last month sham election and by law, he still has one year in office which the court has since ordered that there was no need for PLASIEC to have conducted election into the office of Chairman, Langtang North local government and therefore any action taken by PLASIEC is null and void.
“But the confused APC led government through its agent, the Attorney General, is busy interpreting the law up side down in their usual characteristics just to frustrate the judgment. Even the motion for injunction filed by judgment debtors has since been struck out yet Governor Lalong has refused to allowed the law and order of the court to take effect. As a Party, we are very determined to stand up to defend the freedom, liberty and integrity of Plateau people as enshrined in the constitution.”
