By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
A group under the aegis of APC Progressives Youth Forum (PYF) has caution the member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Yusuf Gagdi (APC) to stop undermining the immediate past Governor of the State and Minister of Labour and Employment, Barr. Simon Lalong, saying his action is “unacceptable”.
In a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Rotgak Victor, the group said it will not allow anybody no matter how highly placed to denigrate Lalong, because he is the leader of the party in the State.
It reads:”Everybody on the Plateau and even those outside the state are aware of the close relationship between former governor Simon Lalong and current Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, representing Pankshin/Kanke/kanam federal constituency of the state.
“While many see it as mere marriage of convenience, it is however true that Gagdi has been one of the trusted allies of the former governor.
Recall that Gagdi led the group that purchased the APC nomination form that enabled Lalong to contest for senate.
“Lalong had always carried Gagdi along in the scheme of things, particularly issues that has to do with the development of Plateau and its people”, the group explained.
“This simply means that Lalong holds Gagdi in high esteem and so have always supported him even in his political journey from being a member of the House of Assembly to the House of Representatives.
According to the Forum, “There is no gainsaying the fact that Lalong is the leader of the APC in the state and so, we will not allow anyone, however highly placed to denigrate the place of our revered leader.
“Barrister Lalong led Plateau as governor for 8 years and ran a faultless government with avalanche of visible infrastructural development that has placed Plateau top among the comity of states in Nigeria.
“But the unfolding event where Hon. Gagdi is seen to be undermining the place of Lalong as leader of APC in Plateau is unacceptable.
“We have watched with keen interest, how Gagdi is making efforts to downplay the place of Lalong in an attempt to assume the position of the leader of the party in our state.
“Gagdi is using his federal connection to become too overbearing, to the extent that he takes decisions without proper consultation with the leader of the party or even the chairman of APC in the state”, the Forum noted.
“While many party elders and loyalists are lamenting over this development in their closets, we have taken the bold step to speak out because we believe in party hierarchy and Gagdi shouldn’t be allowed to undermine it”, the group maintained.
“The reason for Gagdi’s overbearing posture is not far fetched; he is claiming that he has invested over N20 billion in the governorship election up to tribunal and the appeal court and vehemently wants to be in charge so that when Nentawe becomes governor, he will recover his money with ease”, the Forum alleged.
“Our findings reveal that it is on account of the above that Gagdi has warned Nentawe not to have anything to do with Lalong anymore.
“It is consequent upon this that both Nentawe and Gagdi were conspicuously absent at the INEC headquarters in Abuja last week when Lalong was issued a Certificate of Return having been declared the winner of Plateau South Senatorial Election by the Appeal Court.
“Recall that the event attracted staunch members and chieftains of our great party from Plateau and beyond except Gagdi and Nentawe.
“We also have it on good account that Nentawe doesn’t even pick Lalong’s phone calls or respond to his text messages”, the Forum also alleged.
“While we appreciate the role of Gagdi in the victory of Nentawe, we want to draw his attention to the fact that Lalong remains the leader of the party in the state and should be respected no matter what”, the group stressed.
“We call on Gagdi not to chew more than he can bite, but trade with caution because the overall interest is to see to the growth of APC on the Plateau”.
