By; BUHARI B BELLO, Jos
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Plateau State Chapter, Honoirable Rufus Bature has told party supporters not to be distracted by the “myths and falsehood” by propagated by the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Hon. Rufus Bature stated this when members of G- Next Patriots for Nentawe paid him a courtesy visit at the Kalwa House party secretariat.
He said when the ban on campaigns for the 2023 general elections is lifted, the APC is going to dismantle all the issues that have been touted.
” We are going to off load them as we are going to embark on issue based campaigns devoid of rancour and abuses, which is hallmark of the noisy opposition.
“The opposition has been capitalising on religion and ethnicity which will not take them anywhere as the people shall know the truth,” he said..
He said religion which has been described as opium of the masses is unfortunately well rooted in Plateau State, which is a deception that will only retard the progress of the state.
The APC Chairman stated that Governor Simon Bako Lalong’s acceptance to serve as the Director General of the APC Presidential campaign is a great sacrifice for Christians as his presence at that very high and influential level will protect the interest of Christians.
He said the hue and cry about the Muslim-Muslim ticket is an unnecessary distraction.
He praised the All Progressives Congress, especially Governor Simon Lalong for standing firm for justice, fairness and equity by making sure the Presidency was zoned to the South.
“When it was zoned to the South, it was not stated that it should be macro zoned to a Christian or Muslim” the APC Chairman maintained.
He said that as disciplined and loyal party members, we cannot go against the decision of our party.
He said that politics is about choice and we have chosen to be members of APC, which has been duly elected at both the state and national levels twice.
He said we should discuss issues instead of the perversive and destructive sentiments by the opposition party.
He said Governor Lalong has launched the state into national reckoning and commended the APC for its magnanimity in appointing him as the Director General of its presidential campaign, which no party in the country has done for the state.
He said the APC cares about Plateau State through the commendable efforts of Governor Simon Bako Lalong.
He revealed that the Legacy Project at Barkin Ladi is going to serve as the Federal Hospital, while the Legacy Project at Government Secondary Riyom is going to serve as the Law School for the North Central Zone of the country, while the new Federal College of Education to be located in Dengi, is going to operate at the Legacy Project in Dengi.
He also praised the APC government for the approval of the Federal College of Education Pankshin as the Federal University of Education, the College of Accountancy in Kwall, Bassa LGA as a Federal University of Accountancy and the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic, Nyak in Shendam LGA.
With all this federal presence and many more to come, Hon. Rufus Bature admonished party supporters to be more emboldened in what they do as the party’s march to victory is assured.
Hon. Rufus Bature urged the G – Next Patriots to campaign for the party’s victory at all levels.
” Let us remain resilient, steadfast and open the space for more members to come into our fold. We shall fight to the end and victory is certain”.
On the issue of JAIZ Bank joint partnership for the reconstruction of the burnt Jos Main Market, Hon. Rufus Bature said the issue did not start today as being insinuated by the opposition party.
According to him, it actually started in 2016 when he was Secretary to the Government of the State.
He lamented that, “we in our myopic behaviour just sit here hammering each other while other states are reaping the benefit of such economic windows of opportunities.”
Hon Rufus Bature said the greatest beneficiaries of Jaiz Bank loans are the Igbos who have utilised the interest- free loans to great economic advantages.
He advised their people to come out of their cocoon and build a future for their children and generation yet unborn.
The party chairman said nothing will change him from being a Christian or member of his ethnic group.
For the opposition which is saying the market reconstruction should be left to the incoming government, he said government is a continuum, revealing that more projects are going to be initiated.
He advised the opposition not to behave as though they were going to win the electio, assuring that the APC shall win and continue with its people- oriented projects.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the team, Barrister Friday Moses said they had come to the party to identify and synergise with it towards next year’s general elections.
He said the elections are crucial to the party, hence the need to properly plan and strategise to ensure victory..
He said the group had put in place mechanism to mobilise voters from the unit to state level.
He admonished the party not to leave any stone unturned to appease all aggrieved members from councillorship to governorship aspirants.
The leader of the group further said that they are not paying attention to the social media alone, but canvassing support at the grassroots where the electorate reside.
He said they are relating with other support groups to form synergy and speak with one voice.
According to the G- Next Patriots, they will work closely with the party at the units to state levels to achieve a common goal.
