Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong said the unprecedented massive turn out of Plateau people across party lines for President Muhammadu Buhari presidential campaign rally in Jos was an endorsement of the President and APC in the state.
Lalong, in a press statement signed by Commissioner for Information and Communication Hon. Yakubu Dati, said the turn out was as a result of the success of the APC administration in the state.
Lalong said the nonpartisan welcome confirms the restoration of Plateau’s status as the ‘Home of Peace and Tourism’.
“Though the Presidential campaign launch was an APC affair, citizens crossed party lines and endorsed President Buhari, Governor Lalong and the APC for a fresh mandate in the 2019 general elections.”
Lalong commended Plateau citizens who renounced their former parties for the APC, noting that there is more room for those waiting in the wings to join the party.
“The response of Plateau citizens to President Buhari’s visit has put to rest the lies that Plateau is a PDP state. The remnants in the PDP are gasping for breath for survival and have resorted to noise-making and blackmail to gain cheap popularity.”
Lalong assured that a fresh mandate for President Buhari, himself and the APC will witness a massive turnaround for the good of Nigeria and Plateau State.
He appealed to APC members, supporters and well wishers to go on with their campaigns, eschewing hate speech and bitterness, expressing confidence that victory awaits APC at the polls.
On his part, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in Plateau state, Gen. Jeremiah Useni (retd), said Governor Simon Lalong has institutionalised thuggery in the state, and predicted that APC will lose the middle belt state at the coming election.
Useni, in a statement through the Chairman of Media and Publicity of PDP campaign council, Hon. Yiljap Abraham, said Plateau people have given Governor Simon Lalong and President Muhammadu Buhari quick notice to leave Plateau State Government House and the presidency.
“As PDP prepares for the Zonal and Local government campaigns, the State Campaign Council has expressed grave concern that the Lalong government has institutionalised thuggery as its official policy in electioneering.”
“The party noted that the attacks on PDP members in Mangu town after the official flag off on Tuesday January 8, 2019 and the intimidation of those attending the presidential rally on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at the Dadin Kowa area of Jos South.
“The intemperance of the APC is also manifest in the quick and total resort of its followers in the destruction, removal and defacing of posters and billboards of political opponents, especially those of the PDP. The Lalong government must realise that this is a denial of justice and expression of freedom in a humane society.
“The Council warns that with such unrestrained attitude, PDP is being compelled to take every legal action to check the increasing cases of intolerance and violence by APC and its members on PDP supporters. PDP members must henceforth raise and sustain their level of alertness at all times to steer clear of danger.”
