From Yakubu Busari, Jos
Gov Lalong
Plateau state youths under the umbrella of Jos South Advocate for Democracy and Good Governance have called on Governor Simon Lalong to adhere strictly to Supreme Court judgement of December, 11 2019 which barred governors from appointing Management Committees or Caretaker Committees in all the local government councils across the country.
The group in a press conference in Jos on Monday called on Lalong to refused being swayed by bad advisers to push him into taking decision which has denied Jos South and three other LGAs in the state of elected Chairmen and counsellors for the past four and half years.
Leader of the group, Rwang Joseph Dung, said; “We want to use this opportunity to call on Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State to direct the state electoral body to immediately put in motion the machinery to conduct local government polls in the affected Local government Area of the state to enable the people of the area elect their democratic leaders at this third- tier of Government”.
The group urged Lalong not to be afraid to conduct elections in Jos North, Jos South,Riyom and Barkinladi local government areas because the four councils in Plateau North senatorial district are all PDP strong holds in the state.
According to Dung, going by the results of the 2019 General elections in the State Jos South, Riyom, Barkin and Jos North LGCs respectively are the stronghold of the PDP.
” Let us state here that going by the recent judgement by the Supreme Court, both the State Houses of Assembly and Governors of 36 states no longer have any constitutional backing to dissolve Local Government councils not to talk of appointing transition committees in Place.
The youth body therefore rejected the recent tenure elongation of the Management Committee chairman of Jos South LGCs and three others by the Plateau State House of Assembly, by six months.
“The People of Jos South participated in all elections that were conducted during the 2019 general elections in the State such as Presidential, Governorship, National and State Assembly elections under Peaceful atmosphere and why should that of the LGC be suspended based on security issues”.
The political pressure group however said they will resist any further attempt to stop the people of Jos South from deciding who govern them at the grassroots in Plateau state, saying they will no longer support the idea of management committees as they are not accountable to the grassroots
