Plateau APC Stakeholders Accuse SSG of Altering Power Sharing Arrangement

A group called Concerned Youths of Berom APC community in Jos North Local Government of Plateau State says it has uncovered plans by the Secretary to the Government of the State – Danladi Atu to attempting to alter an existing power sharing agreement.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Yakubu Pam, the youths said an agreement prior to a consensus Primary election of the Party ahead of last month’s Local Government polls endorsed current Council Chairman, Shehu Bala as flag bearer, Ezekiel Shina as his Deputy and their opponents – Rapp Pam and Theresa Azi as Council Secretary and a State appointee respectively.

Shared minutes of a stakeholders’ meeting held on June 29, 2021 show that all 15 attendees endorsed the arrangement, which the Berom APC youths say was communicated to the State Governor, Simon Lalong.

But Mr. Atu who hails from the Local Government according to the youths is fronting a plan to substitute the names endorsed for the listed positions.

“Information reaching us suggests that THE CHAIRMAN OF JOS NORTH, HON. SHEHU BALA is under strict pressure to alter this balanced arrangement between the indigenous tribes by the SGS PROF DANLADI ATU to favour another Berom Individual or any other Jos North indigenous tribe who was never in the heat of community development and who never committed time, energy and money into the contest,” the group says.

“This is because the Berom APC community in Jos North held a meeting on the 4th of November 2021 having received a communiqué from the Chairman, Jos North L.G.C, intimating us that the Berom community of Jos North is against the nomination of Hon. Rapp Pam as Secretary. We vehemently disassociate and distance ourselves from this claim as the formidable members of The Berom APC community in Jos North.

“To further buttress this, we unanimously agreed in the meeting that Hon. Rapp Pam remains the sole nominee for the position of the Secretary of Jos North LGC from the Berom community of Jos North having been the individual who bought nomination form and was part of the peaceful consensus that brought about the peaceful election that ensued in Jos North,” it added.

The move if allowed, the group warned “will not go down well in Jos North”.

“A communique has been passed to the supporters of the to-be Secretary who attempted the contest of the Chairmanship position, with the promise for a secretary position which softened the apprehension within the Berom community and the teeming supporters before the election.

“Going against this now will only aggravate the matter, as it will be seen as putting salt to an injury.

“For the sake of peaceful coexistence in Jos North local government area, we pray the Governor, D.G Plateau State Peace Building Agency and all stakeholders to wade in and stop the political rape from happening. The positions as agreed should be maintained as that of the Deputy Chairman has been kept,” the group said.