PRESS RELEASE

1st December, 2018

RE: CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE CAUSED BY USENI’S INDECISION OF CHOICE OF A DEPUTY ROCKING PDP IN PLATEAU

Our attention has been drawn to a social media publication captioned above, written by one Simon Kutyil Mark. We would naturally have ignored this publication as there are several of them on social and traditional media all the time. But we are constrained to give a rejoinder because of the patently deceptive assumptions made by the author, and the risk that some people might buy the false narrative without adequate interrogation. Further, we have received dozens of phone calls, SMS and other messages requesting for clarification and expressing worries in the seeming turn of events. For these reasons, we consider that a rejoinder is in order.

To say the least, the publication is anything but the truth. It is the product of the imagination of the author. Any discerning reader would know this. The article contained deceptions, no specifics, no names, no depth, no quotations. Just
wild guesses, hearsay and personal opinions. We understand that people have recruited themselves to offer political analysis. This is the season. But facts are sacred and we will continue to set them straight so that people are not misled.

In an earlier press release, we explained the process through which the PDP candidate, Sen. J.T. Useni, picked his running mate. As a democrat, Sen. JT Useni met with tens of interest groups to explain the rationale and reason for his choice of Dr. James David Dalok. In fact, he consulted widely even before the decision was made to work with Dr. Dalok. While this article came to us as a surprise by reason of the wild and unsubstantiated guesswork, we are not entirely surprised because we understand that the season of politics is characterized by political guesswork, half truths and outright lies.

Sen J.T. Useni is a democrat. This is a fact. His respect for the party has been demonstrated countless times, especially since the controversy surrounding the choice of a running mate started. Please do not believe the lie that our candidate would take an important decision without due consultation with critical stakeholders. We believe that this article intends to paint Sen. JT Useni in bad light, giving the impression that he is an indecisive and fickle leader. But we all know Sen. JT Useni. One uninformed article cannot undo what we have always known about him.

We note also that this article is coming at a time when the initial tide of resentment following the choice of the running mate has calmed down and we have all accepted the choice of Dr. James David Dalok. It would appear as if some vested interests are unhappy that progress has been made, unity has been achieved, and electoral success is within sight.

For any avoidance of doubt, Sen. J.T. Useni on Thursday 29th November, 2018, received Dr. Dalok, his wife, and children who visited as a family to condole with him over the death of the Bwarat traditional ruler. On Thursday 30th November, Dr. James Dalok and his wife joined Sen. J.T. Useni in Langtang after which they travelled to Shendam for the condolence visit of Late Miskom Puppet. Today, the 1st of December they travelled together for some functions at COCIN Headquarters in Jos and then to COCIN Danwal in Riyom LGA.

We need to state here that the author of the article is oblivious of the facts and conditions of the appointment of a running mate for elections. Any substitution of a political position is time bound and contingent upon the consent of the one being substituted.

Sen. J.T. Useni is of the opinion that the choice of Dr. James David Dalok as his running mate is a well considered one, and he cannot compromise his integrity by reversing himself on the prompting and manipulation of unnamed or nonexistent puppet masters. He assured about 40 traditional title holders and some stake holders from the 2 chiefdoms of Mangu LGA, who paid him a courtesy call today, that he is not changing the choice of Dr. James David Dalok.

Sen. J.T. Useni does not intend to run a government of inconsistencies and indecisiveness, and he will not start this important journey with the wrong foot.

We therefore call on all party members, our friends and the people of our dear state to disregard the guesswork analysis of the author of the article in reference, and indeed the articles written by other agents of division. This is not the time for divisiveness but for unity. This is not the time for bitterness but for reconciliation. The outgoing government of Plateau has exhibited indecisiveness and has therefore alienated its own people. Sen. JT Useni brings to the table decades of experience in strategic decision making as his decisions, even as a military general had to be quick, correct and clear.

The article alludes to “people of little electoral value.” This concept is alien to democratic norms. Sen. Gen. JT Useni and his Campaign team believe that there are no personae non grata in politics. Every vote counts and is very important. We believe that every politician has influence, and must therefore be respected. We therefore encourage writers of articles to avoid malicious, mischievous and divisive write ups.

In one of our press releases, we earlier noted that the PDP candidate received more than 15 names of aspiring running mates, the highest in our political history. Interestingly, all the aspirants are experienced politicians and administrators, each of them very qualified. However, only one person is needed at a time based on destiny’s beckoning.

In conclusion, we make two appeals. First, we ask the general public and the teeming supporters of our vision to disregard the guesswork analysis of the author and always regard the position of the Jerry Useni Campaign Organisation (JUCO) as the official position of Sen. JT Useni on any matter concerning the politics of the upcoming election till the State Campaign Council is constituted and inaugurated. Second we appeal to the journalists, bloggers and opinion leaders to research their subjects with diligence before sharing with the reading public. Our doors are open to provide the right information. Articles that are not factual in content and intent do not show professional culturing, and they only reveal author bias. Even in politics, there is morality.

Thank you very much.

Sgd:
Prof Dimis Mai-Lafia
Director-General,
Jerry Useni Campaign Organisation (JUCO)

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RE: CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE CAUSED BY USENI’S INDECISION OF CHOICE OF A DEPUTY ROCKING PDP IN PLATEAU