Ahead of the 2019 polls, gladiators in Plateau State appear to be flexing political muscles already as evidenced by an embarrassing encounter which involved the erstwhile governor of the state, Jonah Jang. ANAKOBE MOHAMMED reports from Jos.
There was a mild drama recently when a young man publicly challenged the immediate past governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang, over his second term bid for the Senate.
It was all at an Empowerment Programme held in Gwol Motel in Barkin Ladi. The programme was organised by Hon. Istafanus Gyang a member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency of Plateau State. Trouble started after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who was represented by Hon. Zafania Zifalo, called for the re – election of Gyang to the House of Representatives in the forthcoming election in 2019.
Zifalo’s comment elicited an uproar from the over 300 beneficiaries of Gyang’s Empowerment Programme, who hailed him, calling him their next senator in the presence of Senator Jang.
Then, when it was Senator Jang’s turn to deliver his goodwill message, one of the youths declared: “Baba, you are too old to go back to the Senate. Come back home and look after the children in the PDP.”
Jang was apparently embarrassed by the young man’s statement as he comes from the same senatorial zone as Gyang who had invited him to grace the occasion.
An angry Jang, while delivering his message fired back. “Young man, if you have the guts to talk rudely to an elder like me, it is possible that you can strip your biological father naked in an open market place.”
It was the intervention of the elders at the occasion that calmed frayed nerves. However, reacting later to the incident, media aide to Gyang, Mr. Chuwang Dung, said his boss would not run for the Plateau North Senatorial seat to displace Jang contrary to speculations.
Dung asserted that the whole thing was part of a ploy to foul up the relationship between Jang and Gyang “by those who are desperately manoeuvring to make political gains.” Jang brought up Gyang politically by making him Permanent Secretary (Security) when he was governor of Plateau state.
This development, according to insiders familiar with the political development in Plateau State is not unconnected with the battle for the 2019 governorship election in the state.
Said an insider, “This is just an indication of what is going to happen in the 2019 elections. It is a plot to stop Jang. The state governor may also be involved in the whole deal. Don’t forget that Jang is also keeping his cards close to his chest. So people are also worried. That insult or rudeness exhibited by the young man is part of a larger political plot to check- mate Jang in 2019. One, to stop him from putting forward a candidate to tackle the sitting governor.
Two, to also destabilize him. But don’t forget, Jang is also an old political war horse. He knows the game in the plateau and he perfectly understands how to neutralise theses political foes.’’
Certainly, the battle for 2019 in Plateau promises to be interesting.
