As political parties vigorously engage in last minute permutations towards meeting up with the INEC timetable for the 2023 general elections and also to produce suitable candidates, various leaders and representatives of different PDP youth groups across Plateau State have lent their voices towards shaping these unfolding developments. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting which was convened by these volunteer groups on Saturday 14th May 2022 in Jos, the Plateau State Capital, to deliberate and take a position on the nature of the person who they hope to see selected as the PDP Governorship flag-bearer to oust what they described as the “grossly underperformed government of the APC in Plateau State”

In their submissions, as captured by the Leader of the coalition of groups, Hon. Edmond P. Zungdet, the coalition was unanimous in adopting Professor Shedrack Gaya Best as the one most capable of wiping out the tears of the awful period of misrule and underdevelopment that the Plateau man and woman was forced to endure since the inception of this APC government in the State.

As these leaders enumerated in their different individual submissions, the person and candidature of Professor Best were both suitable and fitting for Plateau state at this time being that the last time the state was assessed to have properly functioned, Prof. Best served the top position as Secretary to the State Government. This position (the leaders posited) allowed him to practically be fully networked within the fabrics of the seventeen Local Government Areas of the State.

Furthermore, they opined that whereas many persons in developing worlds approach leadership from the perspective of self-serving, wealth generating opportunities, the pioneering Plateau/Nigerian Professor of Peace and Conflict Resolution has proven with his appointments and other adventures in governance, that indeed, public office and responsibilities can successfully be executed devoid of extravagance and personal wealth accumulation as being the focus.

They said that it is noteworthy that even though the Lalong administration had sought out countless avenues to use in tarnishing the good image of Professor S.G. Best, none have been found even after seven years of futile searches. And without any case to answer for with neither the ICPC nor the EFCC, Best remains the best candidate that the PDP should offer up to the State.

In accepting the vote of confidence and trust vested on his principal, Hon. Boniface Kumchi, a PDP stakeholder thanked these youth groups and their leaders for finding out time to give honour where honour was due by recognizing the great leadership qualities and potentials of the man Shedrack Best. He reiterated that both he and his principal are people who believe in quiet achievements rather than drumming excessive noise about this aspiration. He said such was informed by the teachings of the Holy Bible where Jesus Christ advised His followers to be humble and lowly of heart, finishing with the assurance that when Plateau citizens and indeed the PDP finally get to understand Professor Best rightly, the polity of the state will surely witness a massive turnaround for good. Such, he stated, has been the centre of their campaign to the good PDP delegates, whom unlike those of the APC are not out to simply amass wealth for themselves. And that message has so far been very well received (and are still being received) wherever the “Stronger and Better Plateau” campaign has gone for consultations.

The groups therefore resolved to use the forthcoming days to drum up even more support from especially PDP delegates and other party members in ensuring that Professor Shedrack Gaya Best emerges the undisputable candidate of the PDP at the 2023 general elections.

Prayers, advise and goodwill messages were said and received from many who attended the massive event, of whom include PDP delegates, stakeholders and party faithful within many wards of the seventeen Local Government Areas of the State.

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Plateau 2023: Youth Groups Endorse Prof. Shadrack Best for Governor, Drums Support for His Aspiration