By Moses Gbande
The Plateau State cuapte of the peoples Democratic party, PDP says it has completed arrangements for the commencement of zonal Campaign rallies in the state.
In the statement issued by the chairman Media and publicity sub committee of the party, Yiljap Abraham says the Council has approved the adjustments of its Zonal Rallies as follows:
1. Southern Zone
Date: Thursday, January 24, 2019
Venue: Shendam
2. Central Zone
Date: Friday, January 25, 2019
Venue: Pankshin
3. Northern Zone
Date: Monday, January 28, 2019
Venue: Jos South Local Government Area.
The decision was taken on Monday, January 21, 2019 at an emergency meeting of the Council held at the State secretariat of the party in Jos. It was presided over by the party’s Chairman, Hon DT Sango.
The Chairman said the meeting was called to enhance the quality of campaigns toward the general election.
Local Government tours will follow subsequently.
The State Campaign Council has also condemned in the strongest terms the intimidation and air of unruliness that characterised the APC presidential rally that held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 in Jos.
It notes with serious concern the atmosphere of intimidation on peaceful residents perpetrated by weapons-wielding young people who made life most uncomfortable for the people all through the rally period.
PDP maintains that the crowd that made the President’s speech impossible was ferried into Jos from Kaduna, Bauchi and Nasarawa States as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Everyone saw them during their passage and arrival. Their rancorous behaviour showed they were neither resident in Plateau nor were they voters that would add value to the politics of Plateau.
The Council expressed dismay at the Plateau State government’s directive to traditional rulers to go and line up to welcome the president who was not on a state visit in Jos but was here for his personal political activities.
It said it has also received information about a deadly plan by the state government and the APC to train and arm thugs for the upcoming election.
PDP wants the public to recall that Governor Lalong has no qualms about the use of thugs for political ends.
As a matter of fact, on the 28th May, 2018, he specifically used the following words, “You need them because they will help you with elections when they are clearing places.”
This is a recipè for disaster in a state that has for sometime now been traumatised by wanton killings and displacement of many communities.
It is truly amazing that the government’s priority in using the youth is to recruit, train, retain and deploy squads of thugs rather than empower them to be society builders and peace makers.
PDP cautions the ruling party and the government to rethink this borrowed concept, because it is totally unacceptable and retrogressive in a Plateau that is intensely hungry for development, not violence.
It calls on the people of Plateau to interrogate, speak out, roundly condemn and reject any foreign element being imported that is inimical to the progress and security of the State.
The Council assures the State that PDP will continue to do all within its power to keep the peace as it works to *Restore* the fortune and dignity of Plateau.
It calls on all PDP members and sympathisers to remain alert always, and cooperate with security agencies in the discharge of their constitutional functions.
Nasarawa Reporters 