Andrew Ajijah, Jos
The lingering internally political supremacy crisis between Gen Jeremiah Useni (rtd) and Sen Jonah Jang over the control of Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Plateau state might have ended.
National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, indicated this on Thursday in Jos, Plateau State, during a mega PDP rally, where 23,000 members of the APC including the immediate past state chairman of the APC, Hon Latep Dabang defected to the opposition PDP in the state.
Dr. Ayu affirmed that “I’m happy because, today, two of my elder brothers Sen Jonah Jang and Gen Jeremiah Useni are now eating from the same plate as members of the PDP.”
It will be recalled that since year 2019, the two former military administrators, Gen Useni and Jonah Jang who later became civilian governor of Plateau state for eight years, and served as Senator who presented Plateau North at the National Assembly have been fighting, each claiming leadership of the PDP in Plateau State, a situation that brought misfortune to the party, making it lose several elections.
Also recall that Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike recently visited Plateau State to mediate between the two former senators on the same issue.
PDP National Chairman Dr. Ayu, during the rally on Thursday, urged leaders of the party in the state, Sen Jonah Jang and Gen Jeremiah Useni to unite, so that they can attract more defected PDP members back to the party.
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Ayu worried that Plateau citizens haven’t known peace since the inception of APC administration about seven years ago. “Plateau state have become a killing fields, our farms are no go area due to killers.” Ayu lamented
Earlier before the mega rally, Gen Jeremiah Useni, told his loyalists, and said the feud between him and Jang was being resolved.
Gen Useni, a former Minister of Federal Capital Territory canvassed support for the two PDP candidates contesting bye-election this Saturday.
Useni also solicited for cooperation of members to enable PDP reclaim leadership at the central government in Nigeria. “We must be united as a party and put aside our differences to take over power come 2023. Enough of this internal leadership tussle.” he pleaded.
Meanwhile, the National chairman of PDP had during the rally, expressed disappointments with the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari in assenting the new Electoral Act Bill.
Ayu, alleged that the action is to rig the 2023 general election by the APC administration.
“The delay in signing the new Electoral Act is part of the rigging process the APC government is planning.” Ayu stressed.
Dr. Ayu assured Nigerians that PDP shall take over power from the APC at all levels of governance. He expressed sadness that APC administration have failed Nigerians
“APC is not an organised political party, that is why they can not solve problems of Nigerians, for about seven years of their leadership, they have nothing to show. That is why there is hunger everywhere.”
Receiving the 23,000 members of the APC into PDP fold at the rally, Ayu described the mass movement of APC Stalwart into PDP as a journey back home.”They are not decampees, they are returning back to where they belong.”
He urged leadership of the party in Plateau State to accord the returning members needed enablement to be integrated as one united family.
Leader of the APC decampees, who is the immediate state chairman Latep Dabang, assured that his return into PDP is a good omen to the party, he pleaded guilty, for have caused the PDP harm while he was in APC, and sought for forgiveness.
Dabang said he will use his political connection to mobilize more people into PDP.
The former Plateau state APC state Chairman further stressed that he will ensure victory of the PDP in the forthcoming Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and Pankshin South state Assembly Bye-election slated 26 February 2022.
