In the aftermath of the initiation of investigative preceedings against the past administration of Jonah Jang, ViewPointNigeria got in touch with key principals of the administration and exclusively obtained a response.

Below is the full text of the response as provided by Clinton Garuba, Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Jonah Jang.

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The attention of the Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial Zone of Plateau State in the National Assembly Senator Jonah Jang, has been drawn to a statement credited to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, wherein he accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of refusal to prosecute the Senator despite his petition to the commission.

While addressing newsmen at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, apparently returning to the country from one of his numerously infamous globetrotting trips to China, Lalong also claimed that the Senator has bought all journalists in the State.

In the face of these outrageous allegations, Senator Jonah Jang is not in any way disturbed neither is he moved, because his record as Governor of Plateau State stands him out as the best governor the State had since the advent of democracy. The Senator and indeed the good people of Plateau State have given Governor Simon Lalong unwavering support since his ascension to power, and they continue to do so, but each time he faces the reality of his accidental governorship, he turns to the former to blame, only this time the EFCC and Plateau’s journalists made his list. Notably, critical agencies of government like the EFCC are not ran by infantile whims or impulsive wishes, that is why the sterling record of performance as exemplified on the Plateau by Senator Jonah Jang could not keep him beyond some few hours at the EFCC when he was invited sometime ago, and it would remain so even if Lalong himself were to head the commission. It has to be made abundantly clear however, that the Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial Zone has nothing to hide, therefore he couldn’t have bought anyone at all.

Those who have identified the burnt Jos Main Market as a conduit to siphon scarce resources needed to salvage citizens from untold hardship have a lot of buying to do so the right questions may be kept from the people. Otherwise, someone has to explain how consultancy fee for the proposed rebuilding of Jos Main Market alone costs about N250million, even though the people were sold a sensational yet misleading story.

At a time Lalong’s cluelessness, unpreparedness, and rudderless style of governance is ever becoming more obvious as a testament to the glowing achievements of the man he now chose to mortify, it is not surprising that his recent outburst was in fact at an airport, having just returned from a record ninth fruitless, baseless, meaningless, and wasteful foreign trip since becoming Governor. His escapist attempt at delusion carefully scripted and acted to shift attention from his vacation funded by public funds to China, cannot be masked by one of his laughable conjectures. How else can he justify using taxpayers money to satisfy his holidaying needs, if he doesn’t invent a convenient scapegoat?

For someone who has done nothing to improve the fortunes of Plateau people, Governor Simon Lalong continues to revel in infamy as perhaps the worst Governor in the history of Plateau State, totally eclipsed by the practical works of his predecessor. If at all history would be kind to him eventually, he must be willing and courageous to quit the blame game and use the remaining two and half years of his tenure to bring real development to the people. Governor Bako Lanlong should know that by virtue of his office he has become a statesman and should be advise to act as one as his current posture and action only makes mockery of the exalted office he accidentally currently occupy.

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Jang to Lalong: EFCC Probe is fine, but the diversionary tactics to disguise your non-performance is clear