Governor Lalong and burden of second term

ISAAC SHOBAYO writes on the possibility of Governor Simon Lalong running for another term in office in 2019, and what he needs to do if he desires to see that dream actualised.

 

It is no longer news that the governor of Plateau State, Mr Simon Lalong, emerged as Plateau State governor in 2015 following the crisis that rocked the Peoples Democratic Party  prior to the election. The internal crisis over the choice of gubernatorial candidate of the PDP alleged to have been foisted on the party by the former governor, Senator Jonah Jang, caused  serious disaffection within the party. As a result of this, many notable members left for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in protest.

Jang’s political decision then was perceived as an aberration and injustice capable of causing disunity among diverse ethnic groups in the state, especially among the three senatorial districts. Though there is no written agreement on zoning among the zones, many believe that it was morally wrong for the former governor to be in office for two terms and pass the baton to his kinsman from the same senatorial zone at the expiration of his eight years in office.

But these are gradually becoming history; factors that played up the candidature of Lalong in 2015 gubernatorial elections are no longer relevant. Presently, there are alignment and realignment in political circles within the state. Major political parties like the APC and PDP are strategizing to position themselves ahead of 2019. Though Lalong has been able to woo some PDP members to APC, majority of PDP members who worked behind the scene to give him victory in 2015 have refused to join APC.

One of them declared during one of the PDP reconciliation meetings: “We are not leaving PDP. Some us worked against the candidate of our party in 2015 in protest against imposition and for Plateau the project. Though we are regretting it, the belief is that we have learnt our lesson. Nobody is joining the APC. It is time to reposition the PDP”.

While the  stalwarts of the PDP are trying to reposition the party, the APC on the Plateau is also making spirited efforts to lure some notable members of the PDP to its fold as a means of reinforcing the party. Some notable members of the PDP that recently defected to the APC are serving members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Edward Pwarjok, Chief Jethro Akum; former deputy governor  of  Plateau State, Ambassador Ignatius Longjan, among others.

From all indications, despite the fact that the APC is a party in government in the state, the opposition party, the PDP, has been able to curtail the incursion of the ruling party into its fold. Most of its staunch members who gave the party a lifeline in the past are still not willing to leave but ready to salvage it from abysmal defeat to reckoning again.

The circumstances and sentiments that brought the APC to power in 2015  are no longer there. Those who have been watching the trend of events are believe that it is not going to be a tea party for the APC in 2019, especially that the opposition party seems to be consolidating. The PDP is deeply engrossed in reconciliation to reposition the party ahead of the 2019 election.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, the state chairman of the APC, Hon. Latep Dabang, said there is no threat to his party in Plateau State, saying  most of the PDP activities are mere hypes and razzmataz. He said the achievements of Lalong-led administration in the past two years are feasible enough to convince electorates.

“The state civil servants are not neglected. We inherited huge salary arrears, but they have been paid and monthly salary regularised. Abandoned projects are also being completed. Above all, there is peace in all the troubled parts of the state. We have virtually met all our electoral promises to the people”

He said the party has continued to receive renegade members, especially from the Peoples Democratic Party, into its fold on a regular basis, and debunked the notion that the APC on the Plateau has become an orphan.

Apparently reacting to the APC chairman, the PDP through its state chairman, Mr Damishi Sango, said the past two years have revealed that APC has nothing to offer the people of Plateau State and lack required experience to govern a complex state like Plateau adding that state matters are being handled in amateurish way.

“At the appropriate time, people will ask the APC-led administration to give account of its stewardship. In the past two years, no project has been completed, while those inherited are still lying prostate. In fact, the party has no achievement,” he said.

Though Governor Lalong is yet to declare his second term ambition but his body language is loud and clear; he is angling to run again. His foot soldiers are already on the prowl, pasting materials around the state with boards announcing his readiness to contest. The belief is that over 150 special assistants recently appointed were part of the strategy to raise disciples for 2019.

Nigerian Tribune findings also revealed that there is a huge complaint of marginalisation by those who defected especially from the PDP to APC in 2015. The cry is that they are sidelined in the scheme of things and not accorded equal treatment and opportunity as those who are founding members of the APC in the state.

Recently, one of the stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Jimmy Cheto, who crossed to the APC in protest in 2015 recently returned to PDP on the ground of being marginalised along with his supporters.

In an interview recently, Cheto said  he was returning to the PDP because  the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state had lost focus and lacked internal democracy. He said that  the APC had sidelined those who worked to ensure that it came to power in 2015; majority have been shoved aside and relegated to the background.

“Quite a lot of us along with our followers defected to the the APC in 2015 in protest against the PDP choice of gubernatorial candidate in the guise of Plateau project. Ordinarily, APC cannot win the election without the support of some of  us from the PDP  who worked openly against the interest of the PDP candidate. But after helping the party to win the election, majority of us were sidelined.

“Politics is all about interest. The interest of the followers as well as that of the stakeholders, must be catered for. If that is lacking, there is no need to remain in such party. Most of our supporters who gave the party a lifeline are not reckoned with,” he fumed.

In a swift reaction, the APC state chairman, Mr Dabang, said the number of those coming into the party is higher than those going out, adding that the party operates open door and treats everybody equally.

“The statement credited to Cheto is not the reflection of happenings within the party. There are many that later joined the party and were compensated with appointments. Members should know that appointments cannot go round everybody,” he said.

Going by the present political calculations, Governor Lalong might pick the gubernatorial ticket of the party without opposition, unless the Minister of Youth and Sport, Solomon  Dalung  succumbs to the  pressure on him in certain quarters outside the state to run for the governorship election in 2019.

However, the governor, since he assumed office in 2015 has lived up to expectation in certain areas. Civil servants now receive their salary regularly, couple with return of peace to some  troubled parts of the state. But analysts say that Governor Lalong is yet to have a solid and reliable team that would drive his second term aspiration. Most of those considered as his allies are presently scheming to contest for one office or the other not minding what becomes the aspiration of their principal.

Checks revealed that most of his aides and principal political appointees are pursuing one political ambition or the other, leading to clashes of interests and ambitions. They are not much concerned  and amenable to the collective goal of the APC retaining Plateau in 2019.

A source close to the governor told Nigerian Tribune that the governor is presently disturbed by myriad of negative complain is about most of his aides expected to work towards actualising his second term aspiration.

The source declared thus: “The governor is aware of this and is highly disturbed. It has been negative reports, but we are surprised that the governor is not taking action on these aides. Quite a lot of them are more concerned about their political aspirations than the APC retaining power on the Plateau in 2019”

Analysts say unless the governor takes the bull by the horn and replace some of his aides that are not loyal and begin to take interest in party affairs, they might be stumble blocks to his second term ambition.