With less than a month to the PDP gubernatorial primaries, a governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Mr. Godfrey Miri, has re-echoed calls by stakeholders and aspirants vehemently resisting plans by the incumbent to dictate the tone in Plateau.
Miri said, “I’m a member of PDP and I know that one of the biggest problems that the party has had is former Governors wanting to impose successors.

“Why would a person want to appoint a successor? What are you hiding or trying to cover if you are an honest person? He asked.
The former Resident Electoral Commissioner who spoke to jounalists in Jos, added that, “You’ve served your eight years then you should go and allow the people of Plateau to elect the person they want.

With less than a month to the PDP gubernatorial primaries, a governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Mr. Godfrey Miri, has re-echoed calls by stakeholders and aspirants vehemently resisting plans by the incumbent to dictate the tone in Plateau.
Miri said, “I’m a member of PDP and I know that one of the biggest problems that the party has had is former Governors wanting to impose successors.

“Why would a person want to appoint a successor? What are you hiding or trying to cover if you are an honest person? He asked.
The former Resident Electoral Commissioner who spoke to jounalists in Jos, added that, “You’ve served your eight years then you should go and allow the people of Plateau to elect the person they want.

“Imposition is what has brought us to where we are today, people are not allowed to elect the people they want. This is a democracy, it is only on the Plateau I hear guided democracy. When General Abdulsalami handed over to civilians, he never said guided democracy, he said democracy.
Miri who is vying for the Governor,’seat and hails from the Southern Senatorial Zone of the State stressed that, “His Excellency the Governor, we thank him for the wonderful job he has done for eight years, it is history that would judge him. He should retired in peace and allow the people of Plateau to elect who they want to lead them forward.

Speaking on peaceful co-existence in the State, the aspirant said, “You have to reach out to all the 56 ethnic groups on the Plateau.
“Anyone aspiring to govern Plateau State and revive its socio-economic fortunes, must first focus on restoring sustainable peace in the State, in such a way that the citizenry and all residents co-exist and interact freely.

“I come from the private sector and I know that for any economy to thrive, every single individual living within the State must participate in the economy. The moment you are fair to everybody, there will be peace.

“The constitution is clear; everybody is allowed to stay wherever he wants to stay in this country. Now if an Igbo man leaves his place and comes here, we should be happy that he has found Plateau a good place to settle. What we should be asking people is, what is your contribution towards the economic development of Plateau? And not what your tribe or religion is.

Miri who said he has worked in many sectors and States of the nation, maintained that, “I’m known to be completely detribalised, I have no religious sentiments, and with these qualities there no reason why I cannot vie to govern my people.

He lamented that over the years the people of the State have experienced an unprecedented decline in their standard of living.
“Governance is not about awarding contracts, but about people. The success of any government is measured by how much its policies and programmes have impacted on the living standards of its people.

“My vision, is to have a Plateau State where all residents are living in peace and harmony and are economically transformed, and are living in a transformed environment”.

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2015: Imposition of Successors by PDP Governors is its Biggest Problem- Godfrey Miri