.PDP Kicks
By Teryima Andrew
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state on Tuesday applauded the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari for seeking to recontest his position come 2019.
Governor Lalong stated through his commissioner for information and Communication, Yakubu Dati, governor Lalong said the declaration by Buhari was an indication of the President’s firm belief in democracy and the rule of law.
Stressing that Buhari decision to seek second term has equally demonstrated that he is willing to submit himself to democratic processes and the will of the people.
“The President made it clear that his declaration is as a result of a popular clamour by Nigerians thereby reinforcing his belief in listening and rendering service to the people,” he said.
The Commissioner said that by endorsing the President’s declaration, Governor Lalong of Plateau State has shown that he is fully in support of the President’s bid to seek to serve the country for another four years.
Dati said this is not surprising as Lalong was among the first set of governors to call on the president to re-contest.
“So for us, it is a positive response to our wishes and an affirmation that the president is a listening leader who is committed to doing what is in the public interest.”
Meanwhile, chairman, of a youth group, “APC youth online” Pius Tongmaan, and scribe of the group Makut Mashat in a press releasealso on Tuesday, has given governor Simon Lalong two weeks to also declare for governorship of the state.
“We want to use this opportunity to call on the Rescue Governor, SIMON BAKO LALONG to follow suit and declare his intention to run for a second term to rescue Plateau wholeheartedly. In this regard, we want GOVERNOR, SIMON BAKO LALONG to declare within Fourteen (14) days or we will declare his intention in absentia as we are confident that the Lalong/Tyoden administration should continue with the rescue agenda come 2019.”
The group appreciated President Buhari for making his 2019 ambition public “the APC Youths Online Forum want to join millions of Nigerians worldwide to applaud the bold step of the people’s President,MUHAMMADU BUHARI on his historic declaration to run for a second term.”
However, PDP youth led by national coordinator youth league and publicity secretary of the party led by Inioribo Tamunotonye and Zainab Al-Amin, in a statement said the declaration by Buhari to recontest his position as efforts in futility, it said it was Buhari was a disappointment to Nigerians.
“Buhari’s declaration for a fresh term is simply an exercise in futility, a dead on arrival project.” It stated.
It stressed further that “we are disappointed in this new low of President Muhammadu Buhari and we assure him of the determination of Nigerians to disgrace him at the poll and unceremoniously send him packing from Aso Rock.”