Attai Audu Jos

Chief Jerry Danjuma Gushop a seasoned Banker and Finance, Agric. Value chain Consultant has declared his interest to contest the 2023 governorship election in Plateau state under the people’s Democratic party platform

Chief Gushop in an interview with newsmen in Jos said his what his state needs now, is a well experienced person that has done NEEDS assessment of the state to be able to provide leadership that will meet the yearnings of the Plateau man .

According to him, unless someone has carried out a research on the challenges of the state before coming into power as a governor of the state, the person might end up performing worse than Governor Lalong .

Chief Gushop said at the moment the revenue that comes into the state from the federation account together with the internally generated revenue on the plateau are nothing to write home about and as such one needs to look outside the box to look for investors to develop the state

He said that the number one problem of the state as of today is security and that if one is able to take care of the security challenges of the state, you have almost done everything.

He noted that the state at the moment is highly indebted and that the state government has borrowed and borrowed again and again which accounted for the high indebtedness.

However, he assured that there is need for the incoming government which he hopes to lead to operate Private public partnership ( PPP) to be able to run the government

According to him they need to look for investors to get a lot of development done in the state.

He regretted that the business that is thriving in Nigeria today is criminality and kidnapping by the youths in their quest to get quick money.

He said if given opportunity to govern plateau state, he will concentrate on three areas of development which are health, education and human development, saying” we need to bring in investors in to these areas to see how we can take the state to the next level.

He added that they are thinking of building one of the best hospital in plateau so that there will be no need for people to start rushing abroad for their medical needs .

He also said that the state can also get a lot of revenue from agriculture if they are able to address Agricultural and rural development.

He also added that the state can also get revenue from tourism development as well.

Similarly, he said there is need to establish three fertilizer blending plants in plateau north, plateau central and plateau South.

According to him the farmers in the state are presently planting grains not seeds saying grains does not generate good harvest.

Attai Audu Jos.Plateau Commissioner for Land and Survey/Town Planning Yakubu Dati has Commended Governor Simon Lalong for working round the clock to ensure his state secure the approval for the establishment of a campus of the Nigeria Law School in Jos by the Senate.Dati in a statement in Jos tittled ” Law School Campus: Lalong Brings Home the Bacon” made available to Newsmen including Oracle Reporters , said this singular effort of the Plateau Governor and several others he has done had brought torrents of comments extolling the deft and strategic manoeuvres of the peace loving governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong.According to Dati, a one time Commissioner for Information on the Plateau, the showers of encomiums on Lalong have been deafening and as critics and naysayers who have made it their stock in trade to question every action of Governor Lalong especially his loyalty to the Federal Government, are hiding their faces in shame.” This latest achievement has clearly overwhelmed them.” Dati stressed.He added that the inclusion of Plateau State as one the beneficiary states of Federal Government’s expansion of legal education in Nigeria is not a mere happenstance but a consequence of the vision and pragmatism of the Governor, a lawyer and longest serving Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.” For good reasons, Gov Lalong from the inception of his government, made education one of the cardinal pillars of his administration,
Armed with Nelson Mandela’s dictum that
“education is the most powerful weapon to change the world,” Governor Lalong’s intervention in the education sector has not only been sustained but has become one of the most impactful in Nigeria.Dati noted that on assumption of office, Governor Lalong reopened the Plateau State University, (PLASU) which was shut down by his predecessor and today, this citadel of has successfully got 15 out of the 16 courses it offers, fully accredited while graduating thousands of students over the years.”Appreciative of the role of education as the first step towards acquiring knowledge, Gov Lalong devoted huge resources into the constrution and renovation of thousands of primary school blocks and for the recruitment and training of teachers to educate pupils’.Dati further stressed that the administration’s flagship project – the Lalong legacy project- consists of 12 primary and secondary schools of world class standard spread across the three geopolitical zones in the state, all at advanced stages of completion, adding that to create opportunities for further education, the Governor also facilitated the establishment of The Federal Polytechnic, Nyak, Shendam and The Federal University of Education, Pankshin in Plateau State.Not done with that, Governor Lalong he said, saw to the sustenance of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Training School and the NDLEA Academy in Plateau State.Added to that, the Governor has encouraged private sector investment in education through several policies and programmes including the establishment of one-stop-shop and the 50 percent waiver for land titles and documentation, in the Plateau State Ministry of Lands andSurvey where I oversee.”Little wonder, two private universities, Karlkum University Vom and ANAN University, Kwal found the necessary synergy to rev up to life and open its campus for learning.”The Switch Foundation, an initiative of the wife of the Governor, Mrs Regina Lalong has equally tapped into the vision with the promotion of the girl-child education through provision of computers and other learning materials that will encourage scholarship in the state.The establishment of a campus of the Nigeria Law School in Plateau State, Dati stressed will no doubt add zest to the growing academic environment in the state and further instill in the youths the virtues of scholarship and good character.This is not to talk of other benefits like employment opportunities and boosting of the tourism potential of the state.According to him there’s no doubt that the Lalong administration is clear on its set goals for the betterment of the people of Plateau State using solid education as the foundation.He added that the most striking is the assurance that the Governor knows how to go about bringing goodies to the state.That the Federal Government which in the past has had cause to relocate key strategic institutions in Plateau State to other places has now considered Jos as a first choice for its expansion of legal education in Nigeria, speaks volumes about the confidence Plateau has earned through its Governor.”As the Americans would say, Lalong is a leader who knows how to bring home the bacon’ saying
Lalong is working and to God be the glory.

Attai Audu Jos

Senator I. D. Gyang Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Defence has bagged “Legislator of the Year” Award Of Daily Asset Newspapers during it’s annual award,/lecture held at NICON Hotel Abuja at the weekend.

The event which is themed “The Media, National Security and 2023 Elections” had an array of personalities from all walks of life

The Chairman of the event, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Former Senate President and National Chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in his address at the event, stated that the greatest resources of Nigeria is not petroleum, gas or agriculture but the youths of this nation.

Senator I. D. Gyang, Esq was accompanied to the event by Distinguished personalities from Plateau North Senatorial District which includes, Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos, Member Representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Rose Ndong Commissioner Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Dr. Simon B. Harry Statistician General of the Federation, Hon. Dr. Timothy Golu, Hon. Peter Ibrahim Gyendeng Minority Leader Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Surv. Esther Simi Dusu, Member Jos North/West State Constituency, the Diplomatic Corps, Business Community and Young men and Women across Plateau state and beyond.

Goodwill messages came from the representatives of the Governor of Benue State and Dr. Simon B. Harry who both acknowledged the outstanding performance of Senator Gyang saying the award was well deserved.

Mr. Ayo Adeoye who represented the Guest Speaker of the occasion Mallam Yakubu Ibn Mohammed Director General, NTA, said”it is incumbent upon the media to make the right choice in its reportage as we approach 2023″.

The Legislator of the year award on Senator Gyang is in recognition of Senator Gyang’s outstanding Constituency engagement, activities and interventions to address inter ethnic and religious tension as Peace Ambassador; and for the numerous empowerment programs targeted at widows, the youths and indigent students through scholarships among others.

Senator Gyang who spoke on behalf of all the award recipients, admonished Nigerians not to loose hope despite the myriads of challenges facing the nation as there’s respite underway.

He asked Nigerians to pray and work for the emergence of a more focused and purposeful leadership in 2023 that can turn around the current security, economic and developmental challenges of the nation for the better.

Attai Audu Jos

Leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Plateau State under the aegis of APC Bigwigs have called on those aspiring to contest for the 2023 governorship election of the state under the party platform without political and grassroot structure should have a rethink and drop from the race in order not to heat up the polity and tension in the party before the forth coming Governordhip primaries in the state.

Speaking with newsmen on behalf of the party stakeholders in Jos the Plateau State capital at the weekend, Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, said there are too many aspirants whom are not abreast with proper workings or in and out of the state, or that have worked within the essential structure of the state.

According to him, such Aspirants are the ones likely to complicate the situation that could lead to division in the party if things are not properly put in place to manage the situation

He Said constitutionally speaking there was nothing wrong with people coming out to contest for any position of their choice, but argued that due to the fact that understanding, stepping down for one another, consensus candidate and other unified agreement by the party to bring out a sellable, more qualified or a candidate the party generally deem fit is very important.

Zazzaga argued that now that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is strategizing to take over the state in 2023, if APC does not put its house in order, the PDP could spring a surprise, adding that rumours are already going round that some of the aspirants are being sponsored by the PDP to destabilize APC ahead of the election.

“So that is why we are pursuing any cause that will minimize crisis in the party ahead of the 2023 elections.

He added that one of the basic drivers of conflict which “we have discovered in a political party is usually the issue of aggrieved members which usually takes off from the aftermath of primary elections that produce a party flag bearer.

“That is why we are making efforts to ensure that any issue that will breed disaffection, hatred, division and eventual defection from the party should be checked. In this respect, we are reaching out to all those coming out with governorship aspiration to be cautious so that the party don’t get enshrouded in crisis.

“Our simpe call therefore is that those who have no strong threshold for the gocernorship aspiration should not come out just for the fun of it. Those who do not understand the intricacies of Plateau, don’t know the yearnings and aspiration of the people or the workings of the state governance are such people.

“This is because even after the primary election upon which a winner has already emerged, an aspirant who does not succeed at the end of thr day may understand, but his/her supporters may not. That is if such aspirant does not care to enlighten his/her supporters of the need to continue supporting the party regardless of the candidate elected by the party as its flag bearer,” he said.

Zazzaga then advised the members of the party who are pasting their posters and banners all around town without a conviction on their aspiration to retrace their steps so as not to generate unwarranted problem for the party.

Former Plateau APC Chairman Hon Letep Dabang , 12,000 APC Party Members Defects To Peoples Democratic party on the Plateau.

Attai Audu Jos.

Former Chairman of the Plateau State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Hon. Latep Dabang popularly called the big Masquerade
and his supporters have decamped from the ruling party (APC) to the opposition party the People Democratic Party PDP in the State.

Among the decampees, were the former member of the Plateau State House of Assembly Hon. Nanpon Tom and former State Assistant Secretary of the APC Hon. Binkur N. and their supporters.

The decampees were recieved into the PDP fold at the the Langtang Mega Rally 2022 tagged the ” Great Movement.”

Speaking to newsmen shortly after receiving PDP flag at the Langtang North township Stadium Hon. Latep Dabang said PDP will take over the State in 2023 while calling on all right thinking person in Plateau State who are in APC to return back home to the PDP, saying APC is not a quality party.

According to Latep Dabang said by the Grace of God, PDP will win the Pankshin South State Constituency and Jos North/ Bassa Federal Constituency by-elections slated for 26th February this month .

“I have full assurance that PDP will win, because i don’t have any doubt in my mind, the two by-elections PDP will win them, Plateau people will say bye bye to APC”.

Hon. Latep who decamp to PDP with the Former State Assistant Secretary of the APC Hon. Binkur N. Among other Political bigwigs said he will deployed his political asenals against the APC in the State to ensure the PDP’s victory.

On his part, the chairman of the Plateau State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party PDP Hon. Chris Hassan in his remarks at the event,said they have recieved over 12,000 APC members into PDP in the state.

According to him, their assignment started from Langtang North LGA from where they are preparing to take PDP into Government House Rayfield come 2023.

Hassan further said with the defection of these heavy weights from APC to the opposition party, they expect total victory in 2023 general election in the State.

He added that in the next few weeks, there will be another rally in Jos where the national leadership of the party is expected to receive all those who decamped from All Progressive Congress APC to the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

Attai Audu Jos.

Joseph Abe Aku, the Immediate past Commissioner for Commerce and Industry has emerged as the winner of the APC re-run primary election for the Jos North /Bassa federal Constituency bye election slated by INEC for 26th February, 2022.

The re-run primary election was conducted at the Prestige Event Centre Jebu Bassa in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State on Friday.

Declaring the result of the election which was contested between Hon. Joseph Abe Aku, and Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, a two- term former Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Chairman of the seven- man electoral Committee, Rt. Hon. Habu Ajiya announced Joseph Abe Aku as the winner of the re-run primary election.

To emerged winner, Joseph Aku scored a total of 809 votes to beat Suleiman Yahaya Kwande who scored 74 votes.

He stated that a total of 888 delegates were accredited for the election which all of them voted with 5 invalid votes recorded.

The electoral Committee Chairman explained further that the rerun election was necessitated due to the tie recorded by the two aspirants who scored 344 votes each in the first round of the primary election held at Lamonde Hotel, Jos on 1st and 2nd February respectively.

He said by virtue of this development, the Committee was constrained to announce a winner and had to refer the matter to the national secretariat of the party which the National Caretaker Committee Chairman had to inform INEC, hence today’s rerun exercise.

Hon. Habu Ajiya thanked delegates for their patience and perseverance to participate in the first and second rounds of the exercise.

He said he was happy that the contest which started with eight aspirants had finally produced a winner.

According to him,even though a winner has been declared, the job had just began.

He urged the winner of the primary election to reach out to all other aspirants who contested with him in the spirit of sportsmanship.

He equally enjoined the losers, in the same spirit, to join hands with the winner to ensure that the All Progressives Congress retains the seat during bye -election.

Hon. Ajiya added that the committee had put in its best by providing a level playing ground for all the aspirants and noted that posterity would vindicate it.

He thanked the Plateau State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress for giving the committee members maximum cooperation to succeed in the tedious exercise.

He equally appreciated INEC and the Media for their patience and understanding and commended security agents also for the efforts put in place to ensure a hitch-free conduct of the primary election.

2023: Group drums support for Biggs as governor of Plateau State.

Attai Audu Jos

Ahead of the 2023 general election, a support group ” Plateau Democratic Movement” has thrown its weight behind the gubernatorial aspiration of Mr Sunday Garba Biggs who is a Permanent Secretary, Government House saying the state needs a dynamic and season administrator who is a

technocrat to take over from Governor Simon Lalong in 2023.

Addressing newsmen at the end of their meeting in Jos on Friday, the group Coordinator Ayuba Musa and Anthony Ibrahim respectively appealed to All Progressive Congress youths in the state to back Biggs aspiration for the governor of Plateau State, branding him as the best among the aspirants jostling for the coveted seat.

“But as a group, like many well-meaning people on the Plateau who are yearning for continuous development of this state, who also believe in continuity of laudable projects and programmes of this administration of Governor Lalong under APC, we are deeply convinced that Plateau needs the like of Biggs to take over the mantle of leadership of Plateau from Lalong in 2023.

” Biggs is a seasoned administrator, we believe that he has the experience, the exposure and the right connection to take Plateau to a higher pedestal banking on what Governor Lalong has done as a springboard”

The group which said only seasoned administrators should be elected as governor of Plateau State in 2023 added that electing
such a person who has distinguished himself in his field of endeavour will guarantee continuity in Plateau State.

According to the group, the positive contributions and impacts of the youths to nation-building cannot be overemphasised, saying that Biggs who is a serving Permanent Secretary represents the youths as a key to the growth, progress and sustainable peace on the Plateau.

The group further opined that a vibrant, visionary and energetic person should be elected as governor of Plateau State comes 2023.

By Janet Nyajon Audu

The Kunvyi of Wukari Manu Irimiya .D. Agbu on Friday 28th, Jan, 2022 installed Manu. Ishaku Ada Ali as the 25th Aku-uka of the Kwararafa Kingdom, following his selection by the four Kingmakers guided by the Supreme Oracle.

It was a well attended ceremony at “Puje” a reserved area where all traditional and spiritual activities of the Jukunoid takes place.

Oracle Reporters could recall that the Wukari Traditional Council had on Friday 14th, January, 2022 held Pankya the official transition of former Aku Dr. Shekarau Angyu Masa-Ibi Kuvyu 11 who joined his ancestors in October last year, hence the selection and Crowning of his successor in the person of Manu Ishaku Ada Ali within the period of two weeks exactly.

Oracle Reporter who was at the occasion reports that “Pankan” is the selection, Crowning and Oath taking of the new Aku-Uka.

The two days programme commenced on Friday with the arrival of Princes, Waziris and well wishers (only males) at 9.am from Bye-Vyi through Kuntsa to Puje where the new Aku is billed to spend tonight before entering Wukari town tomorrow Saturday.

Our Correspondent also reports that the new Aku-Uka took his Oath of allegiance at 1.30 pm at Kuntsa a land believed to be Land of the Immortals and that is the reason why women are denied entering Kuntsa and Nando ..

Men with traditional titles matched in a long procession from Bye-vyi to Kuntsa where the new Aku took his oath of allegiance followed by a long procession of 19 Kilometres, with the crowned Aku to Puje where Son’s, Daughter’s of the Kwararafa Kingdom, dignitaries and VIPs who already assembled welcomed the new Aku with song and sporadic gunshots.

The Aku arrived Puje on a white Horse with a procession of “Akye” led by Princes and some tittle holders known as the red necks at 4.30 pm.

Ishaku who addressed his subjects at the event, said “I appreciate you all my subjects for your resilience and show of love, I solicit your support and cooperation to enable me succeed on this Throne, let me also use this opportunity to call on my fellow contestants who contested this position with me to please join hands with him in moving this Kingdom to greater heights because all of us cannot accend to this Throne at the sametime”.

He thanked the Governor of the state Arch. Darius Dickson Ishaku for going by the laid down traditional rules to see that the event was successful.

The Governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff Rt. Hon. Istifanus Gbana at the event, expressed happiness over the success of the event .

Governor Ishaku charged the new Aku-Uka to bring peace and unity to the Jukun land.

According to Governor Ishaku, the selection process of the new Aku was purely traditional without the interference of the government.

The new Aku is the the Son of the 23rd Aku-Uka Ada Ali Agbumanu who reigned from (1974-1976).

The new Aku is from the Bama ruling House.

The new Jukun Paramount ruler Ishaku was born on 24th, March, 1946 and holds Higher National Diploma (HND) in Forestry 1986 from the Premier Federal College of Forestry Jos, Plateau state.

He joined the Civil service in 1965 and retired in the year 2000 as Chief Forestry Superintendent after 35 years of meritorious service.

According to the release signed by the Press Secretary to the Wukari Traditional Council Mr. Agbu Jolly, the Aku-uka Truimphant entry into Wukari town from Puje alongside his wife and Wukuku, one of the former Aku’s wife is slated for tomorrow Saturday 29th, Jan, 2022.

Attai Audu Jos

Some leaders and members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Plateau State and states in the North Central zone of the country has ask Ahmed Bola Tinubu APC national leader and president aspirant for the 2023 election to appologised to Nigerians over his comments years back that he does believe in one Nigeria.

The leaders/ members who has formed a forum to pursue emergence of the President from North Central region said even though his comment many years back, but is now s bleing recalled by Nigerians since he declared his intention to run for the President of Nigeria comes 2023 election.

Speaking to newsmen in Jos the Plateau capital yesterday on behalf of the Forum, Saleh Mandung Zazzaga said that if Tinubu does not appologised to Nigerians, it will put his candidature and APC in a bad light.

“In Thisday publication of April 13th, 1997, Tinubu granted an interview in which he was quoted as saying, ‘ I don’t believe in One Nigeria’ . And since that interview has resurfaced since his presidential ambition declaration, people began to raise eyebrow and asking damaging questions . So many people have been calling and monking us, saying that if he does not believe in One Nigeria, how comes he has not believe in one Nigeria to the extend that he want to contest for the Presidency of a Nation he did not believe in.

” This has not only be agitating the people’s mind, but the members of the APC as well and it is not good for the well being of the party as the Nation counts down to the 2023 general election as a national leader of the party, he just have to speak to Nigerians on that issue, and that will make him

” Therefore, the most honourable thing for Tinubu to do is come out and appologised to Nigerians on the comments which he made before this Democratic dispensation which began in 1999, and he should as well explained the rationale of the interview to Nigerians and point out if he was misquoted or not. Whatever his explanation would be, at least it will calm down people’s nerves and save the party from being projected in a bad light.

“And that will not only project him as a true leader of the party or as presidential aspirant but it will proved that he his a man of honour and dignity and someone who will take responsibility for his words, deeds and actions,” He said

Zazzaga urged Nigerians to believe in the APC as a party of Progressive that have the capacity to move the Nation forward, irrespective of the current challenges which Nation will soon overcome .

Meanwhile, he stressed that there quest as a forum is to see that the 2023 Presidencynl comes to the north central because since this Democratic dispensation the region has not actual produce the President or the vice President, but has tremendously contributed to o the Democratic growth of the Nation.

Attai Audu ,Jos

A Social Entrepreneur, philanthropist and promoter of good governance, the Convener Hope Initiative, a non profit organisation, Bashir Abdullahi ll has declared his intention to contest the Nasarawa Federal Constituency seat in Kano state .

A statement made available to Oracle Reporters in Jos which he personally signed reads that , Abdullahi ll who is also the Founder and CEO Konad group highlighted the soft spot he has for vulnerable and underserved groups such as the youths, women, children and the elderly, through several philanthropic and Empowerment schemes aimed at improving their human condition.

He reiterated his determination to work towards the reduction of poverty to its barest minimum when elected .

Bashir assured that he would strive to ensure sustainable empowerment by creating an environment that allows the people to continuously generate a source of income and livelihood.

Bashir Abdullahi ll further said his decision to run for this elected office is to deliver unmatched representation to his constituents, and speak the mind of his people.

He promised to take advantage of other legislative instruments and privileges to indirectly impact the lives of the people of his constituency and the nation by extension.

The Youth activist promised to run an open door policy, welcoming feedbacks from his constituents as democracy is about the people.

“I would work to ensure that poverty is reduced to its barest minimum in my Constituency if elected” he added .

Mallam Abdullahi II on the subject of unity and cohesion stated that “together we can build block by block, hamlet by hamlet, village by village, town by town, but only together”, he emphasised the benefits that lies with a paradigm shift in the way we conduct our affairs stressing that unity of purpose remains the key.

Mallam Bashir Abdullahi ll further made a commitment before representatives of the 11 wards of Nasarawa Federal Constituency that his ambition is about service and bringing development to the people.

He added “I am committed to bettering the lives of the Youth ,women the elderly stressing the need for the inclusion of the youth and women in decision making towards a greater and cohesive constituency.

Speaking to our correspondence on the World Education day, Bashir Abdullahi II who had earlier paid a condolence visit to the family of late Hanifa Abubakar, the five year old girl who was brutally murdered by her teacher in Kano stressed the need for putting in place better measures towards improving the security of peoples lives and property especially, school children.