May 14, (THEWILL) – Barrister Umar Shittien and the former Chairman of the National Population Commission, Samaila Makama, have mobilised to stop Governor Simon Lalong from imposing candidate on the State APC in the 2023 elections, using a political action entity known as Equity and Justice Forum.
Addressing a press conference in Jos, Shittien and Makama, as Chairman and Co-chairman of the Forum, expressed fear that the same circumstances that gave cause and birth to the Forum, and formulated what is known now as the Plateau Project in 2014, are rearing their ugly head again in the countdown to 2023.
The Equity and Justice Forum noted that, “it would be recalled that in 2014, the Equity and Justice Forum did a press briefing, cautioning then Governor of the State, to halt the plan of imposing an anointed gubernatorial aspirant during the governorship Primaries in the State.”
The Forum had also warned of dire consequences, if the warning was not heeded, before the resultant protest action and voting caught up with the PDP and the Governor in the Secondary election.
According to the Forum, “unfortunately, it is now evident that the present administration and beneficiary of the Plateau Project appears not to appreciate the efforts of the good people of Plateau in combatting injustice and undemocratic processes.”
The Forum stated further that, “it will amount to total hypocrisy, bias, and injustice to Plateau State, if the Equity and Justice Forum keeps mute, and watches nonchalantly as the vice of undemocratic processes it fought against in 2014 and 2015, are being repeated.
“In the light of this”, it noted, “we are lending our voices against the undemocratic act about to be executed by the present leadership of the ruling Party in the State.”
Warning of similar consequences awaiting Lalong and the APC, as was the case in 2015, the Forum said “we call on the Governor and leadership of the Party to allow all aspirants access to delegates, and to ensure release of delegates forms allegedly hijacked for onward and equal distribution to those who wish to be delegates, and a level playing ground should be given to all.”
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