27th June, 2023
ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS,
PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER,
KALWA HOUSE,
YAKUBU GOWON WAY
JOS.
We read with consternation a press statement credited to a faceless group which calls itself “Peace and Good Governance Advocates.”
A statement made available to this medium and was Signed by Hon. Sylvanus Namang,
APC State Publicity Secretary stated that the statement which was signed by the group’s Chairman, one Manny Imman, alleged that the All Progressives Congress mobilized thugs to assault Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the Tribunal sitting of yesterday, 26th June 2023.
While it is surprising to us that the said tumultuous outbursts took place at the venue of the Tribunal, it is utterly unacceptable for the People’s Democratic Party, in its usual politics of deceit and conceit, to associate such acts with the All Progressives Congress in the state. What a diversionary allegation by running from pillar to post!
We must place on record that when we watched the video clips closely,, we could visibly see some youths, who were dorning the ‘green caps’ (symbols of the Governor Mutfwang’s rag-tag army of over-zealous supporters) and, yet, chanting “ba mu yi” and “sai Nentawe”.
This scenario was going on even when our gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda was neither in the State nor at the Tribunal venue.
It is equally important to state that the youth who had been going to the tribunal sitting at the High Court situated at West of Mines, Jos in their large number without posing any problem but which venue has been relocated to the Jos High Court complex, never had an inkling that the Governor of the state, would on the very first day of the Tribunal’s official commencement of sitting there be at tribunal.
We also have it on good authority that the PDP had hired thugs and brought food and drinks to the venue to cheer up and boost the ego of their Principal who had planned to intimidate his opponents at the Tribunal with his officious presence.
Nevertheless, our findings have clearly revealed that the action of the youths who cut across political inclinations, was obviously a spontaneous reaction to the very retrogressive and vindictive policies of the Governor Mutfwang-led PDP administration which, in just three weeks, has unleashed so much pain and agony on citizens, especially the youths.
Further revelations indicate that the ill-advised suspension of the recently employed youths in the State Civil Service, is one of the spark-points of the reaction against Governor Mutfwang whom they booed at rather than assaulted as insinuated by the faceless group which wants to draw the APC into the unfortunate incident.
The APC, as a a law-abiding Party, would be the last to encourage or promote any acts of hooliganism aimed at desecrating the hallowed temple of justice. Right from the onset, we have, through series of press statements reiterated our support of the Tribunal as the most acceptable legal and constitutional means of resolving all electoral disputes. This is still our position. While we appeal to our teeming supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, we on our own part will not undermine the due process of law which is sacrosanct.
