For several decades, Solomon Lar was the Godfather of plateau politics. Lar determined who became governor or senator, he would even determine who would be appointed ambassador, or who would be made minister (even though he was not the governor of the time).
His influence was so overbearing and could be seen in 1999 when he single handedly endorsed the candidature of Joshua Dariye, paving way for the young and politically astute Dariye to emerge as Governor. He also played a major role in the emergence of Nasir Ibrahim Mantu as Senator representing Plateau Central and subsequently his emergence as Deputy Senate President.

Lar had several proteges whom he would appoint into strategic positions to do his bidding. For instance, he was instrumental in compensating Damishi Sango with a ministerial appointment, having failed to succeed in his quest to become Governor. He was also instrumental in appointing several other Plateau people into the federal level.

For several decades, Solomon Lar was the Godfather of plateau politics. Lar determined who became governor or senator, he would even determine who would be appointed ambassador, or who would be made minister (even though he was not the governor of the time).

His influence was so overbearing and could be seen in 1999 when he single handedly endorsed the candidature of Joshua Dariye, paving way for the young and politically astute Dariye to emerge as Governor. He also played a major role in the emergence of Nasir Ibrahim Mantu as Senator representing Plateau Central and subsequently his emergence as Deputy Senate President.

Lar had several proteges whom he would appoint into strategic positions to do his bidding. For instance, he was instrumental in compensating Damishi Sango with a ministerial appointment, having failed to succeed in his quest to become Governor. He was also instrumental in appointing several other Plateau people into the federal level.

After Lar’s influence on the National stage started to wane and fade, Joshua Dariye emerged as a strong contender for the title of “Undisputed Champion of Plateau Politics”. His reign in that position though, was short lived as Ibrahim Mantu schemed and edged out Dariye in an illegal impeachment -thus, diminishing his influence and  taking on the title.

At the time of his conquest, Mantu even boasted that he had the final say on all Plateau matters- and he really did. He appointed several Plateau people into boards and parastatals, he brought several federal projects to Plateau and people we immensely pleased -until he became too arrogant and the Plateau electorate therefore voted him out.

Today, there is no doubt who the title belongs to. Jonah Jang is in the process of building a new political dynasty which may reign for decades. The dynasty appears to be on the course of overturning all previous political structures and blocks, including the infamous Langtang Mafia and others -perhaps sending them into oblivion. Not for a long time have we seen a situation where one person has rendered so many politically active people inactive and killed the political careers of many (several hitherto active politicians have become dormant, including – Mantu, Pauline Tallen, Shagaya, Useni etc). He also appears to have succeeded in killing off the potent threat of the Hausa/Fulani in Jos, along with the overbearing influence of Godfathers in Plateau. If this new political dynasty finds seating place, many old political blocks shall cease to exist -undoubtedly.

Jang has carefully been laying down the ground work to secure his position as the overall boss of Plateau politics with the appropriate checks and balances all in Place, and I shall explain.

Look at the just concluded House of Representatives Primaries in Plateau state. All the candidates whom Jang has backed -have won the primaries. And all the candidates he has not backed have so far failed to win.

The winners are not simply politicians who have been in the party for a long time, they are relatively new people (in fact in some cases, new civil servants who were not even card carrying members of PDP until a few months back) but who are in the inner caucus/kitchen cabinet of the Governor. They are people whom he personally selected and asked to go and contest such positions because of what he construes as their loyal to him -and therefore they give him unconditional cooperation now and in the future. Consider the list of these winners from today’s PDP primaries below:

1. Winner – Barrister Istifanus. D. Gyang – Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency – ID Gyang was Jang’s Special Assistant on Security Matters and was one of the closes confidants of the Governor, he was initially considered for the post of Governor, but then at the last minute asked to run for the seat of House of Reps when GNS Pwajok was endorsed as the candidate of choice. He has a very special relationship with the governor and many consider them the scion of the Governor because of his loyalty and spirituality.

2. Winner – Barrister Edward Pwajok – Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency – Edward Pwajok was the Governor’s Attorney General. He is an astute lawyer who got the case lodged by the Hausa/fulani community against the person of the governor with regards to Genocide during the shoot-at-sight order, squashed by the international court of Justice in the Haque, Netherlands. That singular act endeared him to the Governor and his subsequent loyalty in other areas became an important factor to Jang. He is also a very trusted aide of the Governor and has been one of the inner caucus members, he was also on the initial shortlist to replace Jang as Governor, until GNS Pwajok was chosen. For most Plateau people, this is fairly odd, because the previous occupant of the position, i.e., Hon Bitrus Kaze has been a beacon of hope to Plateau during the numerous crisis which plague plateau -speaking to the face of authority and performing distinctively. Why then is such a high performer replaced with a rather mundane and untested candidate? This remains a massive question, which many have been asking

3. Winner – Mr Chris Hassan – Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency – Chris Hassan, was Jang’s erstwhile commissioner of works until a few months back when he was asked to resign to contest this seat. Prior to joining the Jang administration, this fellow was relatively unknown but has been the backbone to most of the capital infrastructure projects in the state. He has been at the forefront of awarding and facilitating most of the contracts for road construction and his going to the House is seen by many individuals as an “insurance policy”.

4. Winner – Engineer Bulus Solomon Maren – Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency. Solomon Maren was Jang’s commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, he oversaw many projects including the recent plans to build housing estates around the Kuru/Mararaban Jama’a axis. A project assigned to ABC housing Limited, worth over N30 billion Naira. Note: This project is yet to be actualised, but the terms of the work and associated contracts were said to have been finalised. 

5. Winner – Honourable Timothy Golu – Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam Federal Constituency – Timothy Golu has been the Plateau State House of Assembly Chief Whip – he has been a staunch supporter of the Jang administration and has been instrumental to the impeachment/replacement of most speakers of the House who were at loggerheads with the governor. He was particularly instrumental in the replacement of John Clark Dabwan, Istifanus Mwansat and others. His loyalty to the government is undeniable, however, whether or not he can adequately represent Kangke/Kanam people remains a matter to be seen.

6. Winner – Honourable Beni Lar – Langtang North/Langtang South Federal Constituency – Hon Beni Lar is the daughter of the Late Solomon Lar and was in the House of Reps in the last dispensation. She is the only person who is returning to the house from Plateau. Her unique position as a returnee amongst many others who have been replaced, confirms speculations that she has been gifted the seat as mark of respect to her dad who died last year.

7. Winner – Honourable Johnbull Shekarau – Shendam, Mikang and Qua’anpan Federal constancy – Johnbull Shekarau has been the deputy speaker of the House of Assembly. He has been instrumental to helping the state Government have a strangle hold on the state House of Assembly. His elevation to the post of House of Reps is seen by many as a compensation of his unallied loyalty to the Jang administration.

With the above, it is clear that Jang is taking his kitchen cabinet with him to the Senate. He is surrounding himself with his loyalist who would play his card come rain or sunshine. Whoever ends up becoming Governor, the interest of the Goveror would be sufficiently protected and the act of Governance may not be as easy for an opposing governor. That said, If GNS Pwajok wins the Governorship seat on Monday, then the last jigsaw for the political dynasty/equation would be complete -essentially meaning that Jang would undisputably become the ultimate runner of the entire Plateau scene.

Who will win the Governorhip nomination?

Both GNS Pwajok and Ignatius Longjan are ultra credible candidates -and Plateau is so lucky to have both vieing for the position. GNS Pwajok’s intellectual capacity and dynamism sets him apart from the rest of the candidates. He’d undoubtedly be a valuable asset to have at the helm of affairs, however, the political equation would be skewed if he is elected, given the 8 years spent by Jang and the fact that now – both House of Reps seats have been filled by other Berom Candidates (i.e., I. D. Gyang and Edward Pwajok) -this means no Anaguta, Irigwe, Rukuba, Ganawuri or other tribes have representation, because the Senate seat will definitely be won by someone from the same ethnic group. If you consider the ministership, then you’d also see that Sarah Ochekpe holds sway etc.

Ignatius Longjan would undoubtedly bring balance to the already skewed political mathematics of Plateau. His personable manner and diplomatic sense brings something very unique to the Plateau scene -given the amount of conflict currently plaguing the state. His very fatherly disposition and calmness also brings assurance and confidence to everyone he interacts with. Can he win the primary elections? Does he have the where-without to convince and pull delegates to his corner on Monday? Well, all we can say is that the odds at the moment appear firmly against him. He certainly has the goodwill of people in the Southern and Central zones, but judging from the results of the just concluded primaries -the wind/momentum appears to be firmly behind GNS Pwajok. Most of the delegates would be asking themselves whether, given the results from today they should continue with their protest of voting Longjan or simply pitching their tent with the Government.

Already, several feelers have accused the government of offering monetary largesse to the delegates in a bid to woo them into voting their candidate of choice. People in Jos have also alluded to the fact that threats have been used to coerce some delegates into abandoning their candidates of choice in order to back the government.

If a popularity contest was to be staged between Longjan and GNS Pwajok, there is little doubt that people would be skewed toward Longjan on the basis that they consider the PDP zoning arrangement as valid, and seeing him as a candidate whom injustice has been metted-out against by the Jang administration. But, given the machinery within PDP and the firm structures which have been established with the selected delegates, do we consider his chances as really high? Well only Monday shall tell.

See related article at: http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/opinion-mob/item/1419-who-shall-win-the-plateau-governorship-nomination-tomorrow

Stay with ViewPointNigeria as we continue to bring commentary, analysis and views on happenings during the primaries.

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Is Jang the new Undisputed Champion of Plateau Politics?