By Chuwang Dungs
A prominent politician in Plateau state and a former member of the National Assembly, representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Hon. Bitrus Kaze, has joined a chorus of criticism of the All Progressive Congress (APC), lawmakers in the Plateau State House of Assembly for “shamefully” endorsing Governor Simon Lalong’s memo requesting the House to approve the appointment of APC flagbearers as Transition Management Committee (TMC) in four local governments in the state.
Speaking to newsmen in Jos, Kaze described the action of the lawmakers as “shameful and embarrassing to our democracy.
The former lawmaker however commended the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the house for standing firm in defend of democracy even in the face of intimidation.
“I wish to join all men and women of goodwill on the Plateau, particularly within the PDP family in commending the PDP legislators in the Plateau State House of Assembly for standing tall in the face of intimidation following Gov Lalong’s memo requesting the house to approve the appointment of new Management Committee in four local governments.
Kaze said, “By staging a walkout on the floor of the House yesterday, you defied all manner of intimidation and defended our democracy and the interest of your people to the best of your ability.
“In my view, you made us proud, you have simply written your names in gold and posterity will be kind to you.
“You have unwittingly become the symbols of our collective struggle but the battle is not over,” he stressed
EYEWITNESS gathered that plenary at the Plateau State House of Assembly was on Wednesday disrupted and the house adjourned unceremoniously to avoid violent clash among members.
Our source disclosed that the crisis started when the Speaker of the House, Hon. Ayuba Abok read out a memo sent to the House by the governor requesting the recomposition of TMC for Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyomlocal government areas.
The House immediately became divided as soon as the memo was presented as the majority APC members and minority PDP could not agree on the request of the Governor.
The PDP members opposed the decision of the Governor based on Section 7, subsection (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution which allows for democratically elected Local Government chairmen at the LGA level. The next action that followed was that the PDP members in the House staged a walkout from the chambers in Protest.
Minority leader of the House and member representing Barkin Ladi Constituency, Hon. Peter Gyendeng accompanied by all the PDP members told journalists that, the action of their colleagues in approving the appointment of the APC candidates is not only illegal but undemocratic and full-blown dictatorship gearing towards disenfranchising the people by denying them the right and liberty to choose their representatives.
“We the PDP members want to make it clear that anything short of the rule of law and due process from the APC led government in this regard will not only be vehemently rejected but will be fought to a standstill.
All the PDP members which include; Hon. Peter Ibrahim Gyendeng – Barkin Ladi (Minority Leader), Hon. Timothy Dantong – Riyom,
Hon. Musa Aga Avia – Irigwe/Rukuba, Hon. Dusu Esther Simi – Jos North-West, Hon. Fom Dalyop Gwottson – Jos South
Hon. Pirfa Jingfa Tyem – Langtang North-North, Hon. Daniel Nanbol Listick – Langtang North -Central and
Hon. Bala Fwanje – Mangu South; opposed the said request by the Governor, describing it as “an illegal move”, to deny the rural populace of the choice of their leaders.
The PDP Lawmakers also described it as “rape on democracy”.
Similarly, the Plateau State Chapter of the, PDP through its Publicity Secretary, Hon. John Akans said the action was undemocratic and an act of illegality and injustice, adding that it will be resisted by the people of Plateau State.
“As a party that believes in the rule of law and also that represents the interests and mandates of majority votes on the plateau, we are on this note sending a very strong word of caution to Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), APC and the state government that any undemocratic act of illegality and injustice will face appropriate resistance from the people of Plateau State.
“This illegal act will no longer be tolerated by the people, as they have had enough of this oppression by ungodly minds which are filled with ungodly values by an architect of injustice in leadership position.
It would be recall that local government elections were not held in those 4 local government areas due to what government described as “security reasons”.
