By Chuwangs Dungs, Jos

Angered over the appointment of Shehu Bala as the Management Committee Chairman of Jos North local government area by Governor Simon Lalong, the autochthonous people of Jos, Plateau State have kicked against the appointment alleging that Governor Lalong has joined forces with aliens to take over Jos North.

However, the indigenes said they are ready to die in defence of their land which was bequeath to them by their forefathers in the face of internal and external conspiracy.

Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday in Jos, Hon. Theresa Nyako, who spoke on behalf of the autochthonous people of Jos said “We want to state in clear, unmistakable and unambiguous terms that we totally reject and condemn in the strongest terms the suppression of our franchise in Jos North LGA among others.”

Bala is of the Hausa community and was the Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the yet to be conducted election. His appointment has generated controversy and protests from various indigenous groups even many in his political party are against the action by Lalong.

The indigenes further aledged that Gov Lalong was pressurized by forces alien to Plateau to take this action if his fluid victory at the Elections Petitions Tribunal must be sustained at the appellate and possibly Supreme Court levels.

Adding that his action was also aimed at demonstrating is loyalty to President Mohammadu Buhari.

“We understand Gov Lalong’s desperation to demonstrate his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari whom he once shamelessly and publicly confessed he would die for (not his people), but we completely reject the idea that it should be at the expense of our freedom of choice and destiny.”

Azi, flanked by Community leaders of Afizere, Anaguta and Berom, the indigenous tribes in Jos North local government area stressed that. “We are equally prepared to die for our people and for our collective heritage just the same way Gov Lalong is prepared to die for President Buhari.”

The group observed that the appointment of Bala is an attempt to dash the Hausa-Fulani oligarchy an undeserved “victory” their fore-bearers failed to secure through Usman Danfodio Jihads.

“The imposition of a non-indigene who also double as the APC candidate during the pendency elections completely rubbishes global best democratic practices, it is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

“It is a great disservice to our people in particular and indeed Plateau State in general as it has the capability to breach peace in the tin city. It makes a mockery of Governor Lalong’s pillars of his purported three point agenda,” she stated

The group then called on Governor Lalong to direct Plateau Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to conduct election in Jos North, Jos South, Barkin-Ladi and Riyom LGA where polls were suspended in October, 2018 for security reasons.