From Christiana Gokyo, Jos
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) has round up its campaign rally in Plateau State, in the Southern Zone of the state, it gave assurance that it will fight to the last and do everything within its capacity to retain its leadership.
The party chairman in the state, Hon. Rufus Bature, disclosed this in Shendam during the rally to round up their campaign over the weekend.
He said some people wanted to claim, while others wanted to reclaim, but they would do everything within their capacity not to give it out.
Speaking, the state governor, Mr. Simon Bako Lalong, also gave an assurance that the party would coast home to victory in all elections, starting from the presidential and National Assembly tomorrow.
While thanking the people for their support and collaboration over the years, which he said, had given him the confidence to serve not only the zone, but the state and nation at large, he said in the zone, he did not have a record of contesting and losing any election, which clearly shows that Tinubu and all the candidates of the party would win in tomorrow’s and March 11 elections.
He noted that, his administration has paid back the people of the zone for their consistent support, by executing various projects in the area, which he described as far departure from the neglect that the previous administration meted out on them.
While enumerating some projects, such as roads, water, schools and hospitals among others that have been carried out in the zone by both the state and Federal Governments, under the party, he assured them that when elected as Senator with Asiwaju as president and Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as governor, they would witness yet another round of bumper harvest of projects and programmes, which have direct impact on their livelihoods.
He urged the people of the zone and the state to shun politicians who have nothing to offer, but using religion and ethnicity to deceive them in order to win.
He stressed that his administration had exposed such persons who also collaborated with some religious leaders to pretend that they were speaking for the people with the sole aim of deceit and propaganda.
The governor prayed for the victory of Tinubu/Shettima, Dr. Yilwatda, Chief John Dafaan, Rt. Hon. Idris Wase and all the party candidates of the zone during the elections.
Also, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Wase, described the party as that of equity and justice with track record of performance, evident from the collaboration between the governor and its Federal legislators to attract projects, such as the Federal Medical Centre Wase, Federal Polytechnic Nyak, National Orthopedic Hospital Jos, Nigerian Law School Jos Campus and Federal University of Education Pankshin among others.
The member representing Pankshin, Kanke, Kanam Federal Constituency, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi expressed displeasure with what he described as disloyalty of some members of the party, who hold political appointments, but have chosen to stay aloof from making tangible effort towards its success.
He said he has gone round and seen all the developmental projects Governor Lalong had done in the zone, saying that it would be devastating to find anyone from the zone and Shendam who would not vote for the party.
On his part, the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, reiterated that the immediate task for it is to elect Tinubu as president and Lalong as Senator with its other candidates to the National Assembly tomorrow.
According to him, this will usher in a victory for the party during the governorship and state Assembly elections in March.
He highlighted the turnaround of Lagos, which is attributed to Tinubu and stated that Tinubu had chosen state’s son, Governor Lalong, his Director General of campaign, which showed that Tinubu had great love for the people of the state.
He added that it would give them a prominent place in his administration.
At the rally, decampees from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) were received.
They were led by its state treasurer, who said they were among the six people that were entrusted with the party, but he and his people realized that it was full of deceit.
Earlier, the governor attended a thanksgiving mass and dedication of his campaign at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Shendam and also paid homage to the Long Gamai of Gamailand, HRH Miskoom Martin Shaldas III, who gave him his royal blessings.
In a similar development, Governor Lalong has said that the state will elect Tinubu and Sen. Kashim Shettima as it continued to play prominent role in the nation’s politics by remaining in the mainstream during the next dispensation.
Speaking at the rally held at the Bukuru mini stadium, recently, the governor said the state had seen the significance of remaining in national politics, adding that it would not go back to opposition politics.
While charging the people to vote for Tinubu and Sen. Shettima during the tomorrow’s election, which would usher in a period of renewed hope for the state and the nation at large, he urged voters to disregard the antics of the opposition who carry a baggage of unpaid salaries, insecurity, lack of unity and unfulfilled promises.
According to him, they cannot be trusted with power again since they did not perform well and were kicked out, saying that APC is the right answer for the continuous peace, stability and unity of the state.
The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Wase said the people of the zone have every reason to vote the APC from top to bottom as they have seen and touched dividends of democracy within their zone and the entire state.
Also, the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Yilwatda thanked the people of the zone for their support so far, which proved that the party was founded on justice, equity and fairness.
He said when elected, he would build on the wonderful performance of Lalong’s administration by ensuring that the state is taken to greater heights.
On his part, the deputy governorship candidate, Mr. Pam Bot-Mang, assured the people of the zone that party was not about religion, ethnicity or tribalism, but about justice and inclusive governance.
The chairman of the party, Hon. Bature charged its members to sustain the campaign tempo, which would lead to a victory for Tinubu, Dr. Yilwatda and its other candidates.
