POLITICS EXTRA 73
THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 21, 2014
Power shift in Plateau: Between Pwajok and Lalong Yusufu Aminu Idegu examines the implication of the emergence of PDP's Senator Gyang Pwajok from Plateau-North and APC's Hon. Simon Bako Lalong from Plateau-South in 2015 governorship election in Plateau State following the campaign for power shift either from the old generation to the younger generation or from the other two zones to Plateau-South which is yet to produce a governor
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N the build up to the 2015 general election since the last two years in Plateau State, three fundamental issues were raised by the people to guide the direction of the people and determine their choice for political candidates during the election. The three issues are; rotation of power, based on zoning among the three zones of the state. The second factor was that of power shift to the younger generation. And the third factor was the choice for quality leadership. These three factors have actually served as the political agenda for the people of the state for the past two years. While political stakeholders in Plateau-South and Plateau-Central seem interested in power rotation among the three zones, the people of PlateauNorth are said to be more interested in power shift to younger generation as well as the quality leadership rather than the factor of power rotation among the zones. Plateau State governor, Jonah •Pwajok David Jang, who became governor at the age of 63 was leading the cru- ones serving in his government as sade for power shift to younger his successor. However, those who share the generation. The governor continued to preach the gospel of the same view with Jang joined him younger generation and has prom- and began to advance the course ised that at the end of his tenure, of a younger governor for the he would prefer to hand over to a state. They even set an age limit, younger successor. Jang even insisting that the next governor of promised to groom the younger the state should be those within the age bracket of 40 -49. Accord-
•Alhassan
ing to them any governorship aspirants in the state that fall within the age of 50 and above will not have a chance in the state. Notwithstanding, the opposition to power shift to younger generation rose against the movement, they said the only shifting of power they will accept is that which will see power shift from Plateau-North to Plateau-South. The proponents of power shift to Plateau-South said they stand on equal justice, fairness and equity. It was left for the electorates in the state to choose between power shift to Plateau-South and power shift to younger generation. Those who stand for power shift to Plateau-South began to look forward to pick from aspirants from Plateau-South only. At the same time, those who support Jang on the crusade to produce a younger governor began to shop for a vibrant youth who can govern the state. Eventually, the quality of a young mind who is matured enough to govern the state was traced to Senator Gyang
Pwajok, one of the youngest senators currently serving at the upper chamber in the 7th National Assembly. Sources say Pwajok's acceptance as candidate of the youths cut across the three senatorial zones of the state. The youths of the state began to imagine one of their own as governor, a position assumed to be an exclusive right of the older generation. Hence, he seems to be enjoying the support of youths in the state. But this development did not however weaken most elderly people in the state and some other youths who insist that power shift should be a shift to Plateau-South. Notwithstanding their differences, the two opposing groups continued with their ideological struggle up to the time of the primary election. There were 16 governorship aspirants screened and cleared for the primaries of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State. Ten of them were from Plateau-South, four from PlateauCentral and two from PlateauNorth. They are the incumbent deputy governor, Ambassador Ignatius Longjan, Senator Victor Lar, Prof. Longmas Sambo Wapmuk, Engr. Jimmy Cheto, Dr. Joseph Golwa, Hon. Kemi Nshe, Sir Fidelis Tapgun, Dr. Haruna Dabin, Prof. Sunny Tyoden, Mr. Chris Bature, Senator Gyang
How Alhassan emerged Taraba APC flag bearer
Fanen Ihyongo in Jalingo reports on the factors that led to Aisha Jummai Alhassan’s emergence as APC flag bearer in Taraba State.
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ANY believe a woman cannot be a state governor in Nigeria. But a female senator representing Northern Taraba, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, is on the verge of proving wrong this gender dogma. She has won an incredible poll, defeating four influential men, to clench the gubernatorial ticket of the most powerful and most consolidated opposition party in the country-the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was an easy cruise for 'powerful' Alhassan, who polled a landslide 2, 425 votes of the total 2, 471 valid
votes cast. The remaining 46 votes were shared among Mohammed Tumba Ibrahim, Yusufu Akirikwen and Julde Suleiman. Chairman of the electoral committee for the APC primaries in Taraba, Kola Shittu, described the election, which was held at the Jolly Nyame Sports Complex, as "free, fair and transparent." The outcome of poll was not totally ridiculous. It was her hard work and philanthropy that paid. Mrs. Alhassan, a lawyer, is arguably the finest politician in
Nyam Shom Pwajok, Rt. Hon, Clark Dabwan, Hon. Nandom Pyenap, Chief Godfrey Miri, Arch John Alkali, etc. Ironically, the large number of aspirants was an added advantage to Pwajok. This was because, while he had all the delegates of his zone to himself, aspirants from the other zones had to share their delegates. It was then understandably projected by political followers that Pwajok was already coasting to victory in the primaries even before the primary election commenced. The chance of Pwajok in the primary became even brighter when it was discovered that those advocating that the governorship candidate should emerge from Plateau-South failed in their plan to come to the primary with a consensus aspirant that will face Pwajok in the contest. All of them converged at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, venue of the PDP primary for the election. As would be expected, when the results were declared after the voting, Pwajok polled 434 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ambas Ignatius Longjan who got 168 votes. John Clark got seven (7) votes, Senator Vitor Lar scored 109 votes, Chris Bature got five (5) votes, Fidelis Tapgun scored one (1), Arch John Alkali, three (3) votes, Prof. Sonny Tyoden, seven (7) votes, Nabasu 10, Engr Jimmy Cheto got zero, Nandom Pyenap got one (1), Kemi Nshe 31, Godfrey Samson Miri, (four) 4, Dr Joseph Golwa two (2) while Prof Longmas Wapmut got zero vote. However, Senator Pwajok is going into the main election in 2015 with the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the former Speaker of Plateau-State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong. The APC flag bearer is from Plateau-South. So, it is left for those proposing power shift to Plateau-South to elect him in the main election. But with the resolve of youths of the state who have already adopted Senator Pwajok as their governor, it will be difficult to push for any other candidate using the zoning factor. It all appeared the people of Plateau state have decided.
Taraba State. She became senator on the platform of the PDP but she decamped to the opposition party to realise her ambition. Even in the PDP, then largely regarded as a political neophyte, Alhassan floored a serving senator, Anthony Manzo, to clinch the ruling party's senatorial ticket. At the general election, she crushed former Governor Jolly Nyame who was fielded by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Alhassan, who may had foreseen today's scenario, was prompt to join the league of senators who defected to the opposition when the PDP became polarised. Winning the APC ticket, she thanked delegates for the mandate given her. She extended the olive branch to her opponents who she described as gallant losers. The APC standard bearer called on her supporters and the entire people of the state to vote APC at the general elections in order to "erode PDP" from power. She accused the ruling party of failing the people and country. "PDP should not be allowed to continue in office in 2015," she crusaded. She told newsmen: "The primary purpose of government is to take care of the people and protect their lives and property. But under PDP rein, the people are dying in poverty; their children cannot go to school and there is no infrastructural development to show." Alhassan was the first female Commissioner of Justice and Attorney- General of the state, first female Registrar, Abuja FCT and first female senator in Taraba State before winning an incredible poll to become the first governorship candidate in the north-eastern geo-political zone. While she awaits the emergence of her opponent from the ruling party, Alhassan appears unstoppable. While the infighting in PDP continues, Alhassan has continued to nurture the broom party, which is effectively growing and consolidating its hold in Taraba State. She has often said she would be voted the first female governor in Nigeria.