Is Jang’s political dynasty under threat in Plateau State?

ISAAC SHOBAYO, writes about recent happenings on the political terrain in Plateau State as regards supposed loyalists of Senator Jonah Jang and the future of his seat in the Senate.

Former Governor Jonah Jang, now a senator, representing Plateau North, is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to Plateau politics. His eight years as governor will, for long, remain a reference point despite security challenges that nearly marred his eight-year tenure.  As a retired military general, his no-nonsense approach to governance endeared him to many and helped to instil discipline in the administration.

One of the peculiarities and marks of his administration was his strong belief in and passion for the youths. Eighty per cent of his cabinet members were youths between the ages of 35 and 45 years. This did not go down well with his contemporaries, who felt sidelined in the scheme of things. In spite of this, Jang stuck to his style on the premise of moulding and mentoring the youths for leadership.

For eight years that he governed Plateau, the youths, most of who were commissioners, special advisers and assistants in his administration, were under his tutelage and later became his foot soldiers in different parts of the state. Prominent among the  ‘Baba’s Boys’, as they were often referred to, were Honourable Edward Pwarjok (SAN) who was the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for eight years and now a member of the House of the Representatives; Honourable Istifanus Gyang, a Permanent Secretary, Security, for  eight years, also now member of House of Representatives.

Others are Honourable Emmanuel Marren, former Commissioner for Urban Development and now a member of the House of Representatives; former Commissioner of Works, Honourable Chris Hassan, among others.

The attachment was very strong; they believed in Jang’s leadership quality and were always willing and ready to defend the policy thrust of his administration anywhere they found themselves.

But the ugly incident which trailed 2015 governorship election, where Senator Jang was alleged to have imposed his kinsman, the late Senator Gyang Pwarjok, as governorship candidate of PDP and the protest vote that followed seem to have whittled down the influence of Jang over the party and his followers across the state.

Though Senator Jang had since apologised to the party for his action, that singular act has continued to hunt him.

Some of those who felt hurt by the choice of the candidate are yet to put the past behind them and fully embrace reconciliation.

One his political allies, considered as a close confidant, Edward Pwarjok, now member of the House of Representatives, recently jettisoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). The movement was a rude shock to the PDP family on the Plateau. It was learnt that Pwarjok, who was his Commissioner for Justice for eight years, left the party without informing his former principal and political mentor.

A source close to the PDP revealed that the relationship between Jang and his godson suddenly nosedived shortly after the gubernatorial election which the PDP lost to the APC.

The source further revealed that the fight became more visible during the state congress of the party when the former governor supported Honourable Damishi Sango and Pwarjok threw his weight behind Honourable Bitrus Kaze for the state chairmanship of the party.

According to the source, in most of the meetings that culminated in the state congress election, the duo of father and son were not always on the same page.

“So, when he left, some of us were not surprised. But I can categorically tell you that 2015 governorship election caused the rift,” the source said.

Apart from Pwarjok, there are other disciples of Senator Jang  that have left the PDP while some of those in the party are no longer willing to toe his line as far as politics is concerned. There is also an insinuation that another of his disciples, Honourable Istifanus Gyang, representing Riyom/Barakin Ladi federal constituency of Plateau State might dump PDP any moment from now. Nigerian Tribune learnt that some stalwarts of the APC in Plateau State  are mounting pressure on him to dump PDP, with a promise to give him senatorial ticket of the party.

Though Honourable Gyang has not made up his mind to dump the PDP, it was learnt that some of his followers are considering the option and have started attending nocturnal meetings with APC leadership in the state.

In addition to this, a source close to Jang and Gyang stated that the relationship between the two is no longer as cordial as it was when the former was the governor of the state and the latter Permanent Secretary, Security.

Those who have been watching the trend of political events on the Plateau believe that the APC in the state. Is cashing in the misunderstanding within Jang; political family, especially in the Plateau North, considered as the stronghold of PDP, to make incursion into the political terrain.

It was further gathered that another reason some notable APC stalwarts  are mounting pressure on Gyang to defect to APC is to reduce the influence of  the political dynasty of Jang in Berom land, which might pose as a threat to the political survival of APC and  second term aspiration of Governor Lalong in 2019.

The alleged political manoeuvring of Gyang is already creating a big rift between him and the former governor whose body language suggests that he is interested in a second shot at the Senate. On the surface, no one would believe that former governor Jang and his godson, Gyang are at war. They will stop at nothing to embrace and throw banters when their paths cross at public events. But there is an ongoing cold war between the two, mostly fought on their behalf by their political foot soldiers.

The cold war came to the fore recently when some of the supporters of Gyang, during the launch of his empowerment health programme in Barakin-Ladi Local Government Area with Senator Jang in attendance, became unruly, shouting that Jang should forget going to the Senate for the second term and allow Gyang to take over from him. It was learnt that the development rattled Senator Jang who perceived it as a sponsored protest and also an assault on his personality

Though there are those who still believe in Senator Jang and want him to run for the second term in the Senate, there is another school of thought within his senatorial zone that he should dump his second term aspiration and allow the young ones, especially those he mentored, to step into his shoes for some obvious strategic political reasons.

One of the state officials of the PDP, who craved anonymity, disclosed that the party is contemplating constituting a committee made up of elders of the PDP to meet the former governor on his plan to return to the Senate in 2019.

He further narrated that some concerned party members are trying to avoid a situation whereby the former governor will slug it out with some of his boys who defected to other political parties, adding APC in the state is also working assiduously to demystify Jang.

“Jang remains a factor in Plateau politics. Many of us want him to begin to play a fatherly role. Some of his boys who defected to APC are collaborating with the party in a plot to demystify him, though it will be difficult to achieve this. Due to age, he should backpedal on this ambition and support one of his boys who are still loyal to him for the senatorial race. From investigations, the gang up against his aspiration is swelling on daily basis,” a source said.

Though media aide to Honourable Gyang, Mr. Chuwang Dungs, denied any rift between Jang and his godson, saying it was wrong for any person or group of persons to say that the former governor and his political son were at loggerheads over some unresolved issues.

He noted, “You need to know who Barrister Gyang is and how he holds Baba Jang in very high esteem. ID had, on several occasions, attributed his greatness in politics to Jang, so what would ignite a crisis between such persons? We need to discard such rumours. I am also not aware of any plans by my principal to join the APC,” he said.

However, a source close to Senator Jang said the former governor had commenced consultations, especially among his kinsmen in Berom land, on the way forward concerning the 2019 senatorial seat.