By Teryima Andrew
Group of Plateau elders under the auspices of Plateau Political Elders’ Forum, (PPEF) has said that the postponement of the scheduled February 19 was to save lives following security reports that some politicians want to use the election to unleash mayhem in the State.
The group said therefore that it will be politically unwise to conduct an election that could throw the state into the dark days taking into cognisance the peace that the state has been enjoying especially during this Simon Lalong-led administration.
In a statement in Jos signed by the President, Elder Ayuba Shown and Secretary. Rev. Bitrus Naiwaazi, the group said that as elders, they would not sit by and watch the state burn as a result of circumstances that could be avoided.
The group recalled that the inability of the Jang administration to heed security reports in 2008 and conducted local government elections led to loss of lives and property, adding that wise counsel prevailed on the same administration to postpone local government election a record four times.
The statement said, “We believe that this administration will not be afraid of taking the hard decision of postponing the election if only if only it would help in saving lives and properly of millions of Plateau citizens.
“You recall that previous attempts at going ahead to conduct local government election in Plateau State had led to bloodshed and destruction of millions of naira worth of property.
“Previous crises had caught innocent members of the public unawares and rendered them victims.
“As much as political traducers would like to play politics with this decision, this government has not demonstrated that it will not play politics with the lives and property of its citizens.
“We therefore encourage the government to continue with the legacy that has become the envy of political naysayers whose only stock in trade is to seek unnecessary cheap political points even at the expense of people’s lives and properties.
