A former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, on Wednesday, explained that voters in the state refused to re-elect the All Progressives Congress because the party, which has been in power for the past seven years, inflicted hardship and suffering on the people.
Jang said the people on the Plateau decided to cast their ballots for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Caleb Mutfwang, which made him win the March 18 governorship poll.
Results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission at its Collation Centre in Jos, on Monday, indicated that Mutfwang polled 5,252,999 votes, to defeat 17 other candidates, including his closest rival and candidate of the ruling APC, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, who scored 481,370 votes.
The former governor, in a statement signed by his Media Consultant, Clinton Garuba, on Wednesday, maintained that Plateau people rejected the APC candidate because the party inflicted them with hardship and suffering.
Jang noted further that the 2023 election showed that more people were more politically enlightened and decided to take their destinies into their hands, especially in choosing those who govern them.
He said, “We must confess that Plateau is endowed with people of character, capacity, will and strength to further the cause of the state. This keenly contested election had an array of some of Plateau’s finest crop of politicians and now that the people have decided in favour of the PDP, we rejoice with the winner.
“The wild jubilation which accompanied the announcement of the result of the gubernatorial elections is instructive. Plateau people have had to experience untold hardship to come to terms with the fact of the need for a change to return home to the PDP which has had a tremendous impact on the lives of the people in the past.”
The former Governor who congratulated the governor-elect urged him not to betray the confidence reposed in him by the people.
He also admonished the winner and in-coming governor to “embrace everyone,” and bear in mind that he will now be responsible for the wellbeing of not only his party members and supporters across party divides, but also for everyone who is on the Plateau.
Jang noted, “A lot of sacrifices were made by Plateau people to give him the mandate to govern over them, some even paid the supreme price with their lives. All these sacrifices were borne out of the passion to see a new Plateau, the incoming governor therefore, cannot afford to fail his people – the Plateau people.
“As part of his campaign promises, he pledged to carry everyone along, irrespective of tribe, religious affiliation, political inclination or other kinds of leanings. The time to prove to the world that he meant every word is now – be magnanimous in victory and be the leader everyone will love to have.”
