By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
The Plateau State Southern Youths has petitioned former governor of the State and current Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, for what it termed as gross misconduct by withholding two political positions meant for the State.
The group argued that since the “jungle justice” delivered by Appeal Court that sacked Senator Napoleon Bali, Plateau Southern Senatorial zone has no voice in the Senate of the National Assembly.
The Group has therefore, asked Code of Conduct Bureau to sanction Lalong for holding two political positions as against ethical practice.
Lalong was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Minister of Labour and Employment after he was defeated by AVM Napoleon Bali on 25th February, 2023 during general election.
However, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Lalong approached the tribunal to nullified the victory of Senator AVM Napoleon Bali.
Napoleon defeated Lalong with a gap of 57,145 votes and emerged as lawful winner of the Senatorial election, yet former governor Lalong manipulated the Appeal Court with allegedly bribing his way, and was declared winner.
The group called on President Bola Tinubu to relief former governor Lalong from his ministerial position and appoint any qualified Plateau son or daughter as his replacement.
The youths further express displeasure over former governor Lalong’s poor performance during his eight years as governor of the State especially in his senatorial zone Plateau South.
“The past eight years of governor Lalong features incompetency and insecurity without any positive development.
“We never felt any positive impact of Lalong in his eight years as governor and now we don’t expect anything different”.
The group led by Comrade Adams Yerling says, “we are fed up with the Nigerian Judiciary because there is no justice in recent happenings in Nigeria especially on 2023 election matters. It is quite surprisingly that a collective decision of millions citizens were left in the hands of 3-man panel to decide. “It is irrational for 3 man panel to decide the faith of millions citizens.
“Former governor Lalong should decide which position he is settling for and allow Plateau South Senatorial District to have a voice in the National Assembly.
Also speaking, a political Activist, Comrade Emmanuel Nimzing view political development in Plateau South as quite disheartening as no voice of representation in the Senate for over two months of nullification of Senator Napoleon Bali victory’s.
He added that the zone has been left vacant as former governor Lalong refused to decide which position he is to settle for.
