The Tarok Progressive Youth Association, (TAPYA) has counter the the porported endorsement of Gen Jeremiah Useni by some Tarok elders, as the sole candidate among the Tarok extraction, contesting the forthcoming governorship 2019 elections in Plateau state.
President of the group (TAPYA) Comrade Lohnan Samson, who addressed a press conference at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Plateau state council, on Friday eveninig, in Jos, said the Tarok elders who endorsed Gen Jeremiah Useni, a serving senator, do not represent the interest of the entire Tarok people, therefore disassociate themselves from the endorsement.
“We hereby make a clarion call on all the people of Plateau state to disregard in all respects the statement issued by the Selccan Miner led group regarding the endorsement of some consensus candidate.”
It will be recalled that a group of Tarok elders led by Selcan Miner, had earlier this week endorsed Gen Jeremiah Useni among the ten Tarok extraction vying for governorship of the state, as the candidate from Tarok speaking people for the forthcoming governorship polls.
General Jeremiah Useni, was the Military Administrator of the then Bendel state 35 years ago, and later became Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, during Gen Ibrahim Sani Abacha regime as Head of state in Nigeria, he is currently the senator representing Plateau south a the national assembly.
The group said the endorsement by Tarok elders is unacceptable by the generality of Tarok speaking people, pointed out that the statement was capable of making Plateau people beliving that the Tarok ethnic group has a self-centered agenda in governance of Plateau state if elected governor of the state.
“We reject any attempt to portray the Tarok nation as one that is set out to achieve a sinister ethnic agenda, as against the collectivist and engaging political approach that has, over time, defined us (Tarok) as a people within the larger Plateau political family.” It said
It also said the endorsement of Gen Useni, who is the serving senator representing Plateau southern senatorial district, can set up the Tarok extraction against other Plateau indigents.
“We hereby view that statement as nothing but an attempt to first of all create disaffection among the Tarok gubernatorial aspirants, and by extension the Tarok nation and secondly, to place us (Tarok) on a collision course with the rest of the ethnic nationalities in Plateau state.”
According to the group, the statement by Selcan Miner, was condemned, not just by the Tarok Progressive Youth Association.
“The widespread condemnation that has greeted the press statement issued by some Tarok elders has lend credence to the fact that, if there is anything that such statement has attracted to the political standing of the Tarok nation, is scorn with its attendant effect of whittling down our political clout.”
Comrade Lohnan denied insinuations making around that the Tarok Progressive Youth Association, (TAPYA) was sponsored by some aggrieved gubernatorial aspirants who were sent parking by the Selcan led group, to address the press conference, and condemn the action of the Tarok elders..
“We are not a political group, non de we belong to any political party, ours is the opinion of the masses.”
