Former governor of Plateau State now a senator representing Plateau North, Senator Jonah Jang has told his successor, Governor Simon Lalong, that he could start preparing his handover note in 2019.
Jang, now a senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, believes Lalong cannot secure a second mandate through the next general election.
But in a swift reaction, Governor Lalong said Jang’ was only trying to play God, hence he should be ignored by the people of the state.
“My second term is in the hands of God and the good people of Plateau State,” the governor said.
Jang spoke at a constituency outreach empowerment programme organized, by Honourable Istifanus Gyan, the member representing Riyom / Barkin Ladi federal constituency.
He said he was convinced that the people had made up their mind to vote PDP in the next general election because of the economic challenges facing the citizenry.
“The people of Plateau have decided to vote the PDP in 2019 and would vote against Governor Lalong if he decides to contest,” Jang said.
He called on the members of PDP to unite and work towards the victory of the party in 2019.
“During my first year in office, I did not travel for once abroad; but as it is in Plateau now, your governor has travelled abroad so many times, all in the name of bringing in investors. Where are the investors,” he queried.
Taking on Jang on his criticism, the governor through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Dan Manjang, said the era of impunity was over, as the present administration in the state strongly believed in the rule of law and due process.
He said the former lacked the credential to determine who would the governor of Plateau in 2019.
”The year 2019 is in the hands of God and the people of Plateau State, not in the hands of any man. Senator Jang himself cannot go beyond 2019 as the senator representing Plateau North, because two years down the line, we have not heard anything from him as our representative.
“His voice is not heard; nobody knows what he is doing in the Senate. It is surprise to us that it was Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State that got Plateau State enlisted into the North-East Commission. Where is Senator Jang? Presently, we have more respect for Senator Kwankwaso than Jang.”
The spokesman said the prevailing peace on the Plateau as a result of the good work and governance by Lalong, having created a conducive atmosphere for business to strive.