By Teryima Andrew
The immediate past governor of Plateau state, Mr. Jonah David Jang has said he can not advise governor Simon Lalong, because the governor have been avoiding him since he succeeded him as governor in 2015.
Dr Jang, a serving senator representing northern senatorial district, made the revalation Sunday evening in Jos, at his residence in Du, Jos south local government area of Plateau state, in an interview with Journalists in Jos, Sunday evening.
The former governor of Plateau state said he has not meet with his predecessor, governor Simon Lalong since he left office as governor two and a half years ago.
“Shortly before Lalong was inaugurated as governor, I personally invited him to talk with him, I wrote him a letter that I personally singed, he never came nor reply me till today, as we speak, I have not seen Lalong since he became governor. For God sake, even by age, am older than Lalong, I’m above 70 years. He should pay me homage as an elder in this state (Plateau).”
“I was ready to help him, (Lalong) guide him on how I was able to govern the state successfully, but he never honour my invitation till date. So how do I contribute to the development of the state.”
“So, I can’t assess him, Plateau people should assess Lalong not me (Jang).”
The legislator call on the federal government to prosecute herders who are attacking and killing Nigerians.
“Federal government need to take more proactive and drastic actions against herdsmen who are carrying fire arms killing people, to my understanding, those herdsmen carrying fire arms and killing people are not Nigerians, they should be shown the way out of the country (Nigeria) Federal government must answer this question. How do this killer herdsmen again assess into Nigerian territory? Someone should be hold responsible for this.”
Jang shared his bitter experience with herdsmen attacks while in office as governor of Plateau state; and proffer solutions.
“I was confronted with herdsmen attacks for eight years as governor of Plateau state. State governors should be given powers in there respective States to prosecute criminals, not just herdsmen. During my regime as governor, some of the criminals were arrested, taken to Abuja, and they disappeared in the thin air till date, non of them was prosecuted.”
On the proposed cattle colonies, Jang advise federal government not to commit public funds into establishment of cattle colonies, he urge Buhari administration to hands off the cattle colony business to herders to handle individually.
Commenting on the calls by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the former Head of state Ibrahim Babangida, who have urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to contest the forthcoming 2019 general elections, Jang said Buhari should consider the calls as wise counsel, he however said the calls by Obasanjo and Babangida was their personal feelings about the person of Buhari, therefore do not represent the views of entire Nigerian electorates.
“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and General Ibrahim Babangida just expressed their feelings among many Nigerians, probably, they voted for him (Buhari) in 2015, and they are just telling him (Buhari) that we won’t give you (Buhari) our votes again.”
“But for God sake, they (Obasanjo/Babangida) have done nothing wrong, they have the right to express how they feel about his governance. Most Nigerians did same during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration even when he was trying his best, why will Buhari’s own becoming an exception.”
He said APC administration at all level has no excuse to have under performanced, because PDP set a good foundation for it.
“I don’t understand the reason for the blame game, if till today, after two years in governance, and APC administration is blaming PDP for it failures, then the time is up for them to leave.”
Speaking on restructuring of Nigeria as it is been agitated for by most Nigerians, Jang said “I’m a disciple of restructuring.”
On the comments that he “Jang” had reportedly said senate position is not meant for young politicians, he reiterated that it was constitutional, therefore senate seat is meant for mature minds.
“If you have both hot heads of youthful exorbitants in the Senate and House of representatives, what kind of Laws do you think the National Assembly will produce for Nigerians? That is why the House of representative is always rowdy, full of young people, though we have a few of them (youth) in the senate, the likes of Dino. That is why I said senate is not for the young ones. And in Hausa language the ssnate is called “Maijelisan Datibai” meaning assembly of elders, so where is the position of the youth here?” Jang asked.
