A non-governmental group operating under the ageis of Plateau Northern Zone Youths for better development (PNZGBD) has called on the Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, to re-contest the 2019 governorship election. The group noted that Governor Lalong has done well since assumption of office and deserves a second term.

Our correspondent reports that in a statement signed by the President and Secretary of the group, Comrade Bere Pam and Ajang Azi respectively, the group disclosed that Governor Simon Lalong should be supported by citizens of the state if he decides to run for a second term in 2019. According to the statement issued on Thursday in Jos, the group said: “We commend our governor for awarding contracts to rebuild some roads in the Northern part of the state. We have visited the roads awarded and discovered that serious work is ongoing.” It would be recalled that the State Government had in February this year awarded three contracts worth N5 billion for the construction of roads in Jos that benefiting communities say were neglected by previous governments.

The communities include Anguwan Rogo, Tudun Wada, Tina, Dutse uku and Chanyap all in Jos north local government area of the state. The government awarded a contract of N1.5 billion to Letokem Nig Ltd for the construction of Anguwan Rogo to Ali Kazaure while N1.8 billion was awarded to Jolex Nig. Ltd for the construction of Tudun Wada to Mado village and China’s Chinazhonghao was awarded N1.7 billion contract for the construction of roads around Dutse Uku, Chanyap, Tina and others. The statement further reads: “We the youths from the Northern part of Plateau have observed that our Governor is determined to make Plateau great and we are calling on him to contest the 2019 governorship elections as we are solidly behind him, as a group we are behind him because of the good work he is doing in Plateau. “Lalong had done well in carrying along all tribes in governance ,and as a group we shall always say things the way they are at all times. “Our rescue Governor Simon Lalong has done well in his first two years in office and should be given the opportunity to continue to provide more dividends of democracy to Plateau citizens.” The group also lauded Lalong for the restoration of peace in the state which has been in crises for over a decade, adding that peace was priceless and that by the grace God peace had returned to Plateau, pointing out that there could no development without peace.

They however appealed to the people of the state to give the governor their support, adding that it was only by so doing that the state would grow faster. “The huge debt and backlog of salary arrears that Lalong inherited did not deter him from executing his plans for the people of the state. Giving what he inherited on ground in terms of debts, accumulated backlog of salaries and hostile labour environment, Lalong decided to take the bull by the horns.

“He cleared the backlog of the salaries by diligently and prudently applying the bailout funds

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2019: Youth Group in Plateau North endorse Lalong for second term