TEXT OF A PRESS BRIEFING BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) PLATEAU STATE HON. GWOTT YAKUBU CHOCHO

ON FRIDAY MARCH 6TH 2020, AT THE STATE PARTY SECRETARIAT, NO 20/22 YAKUBU GOWON WAY JOS.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press.

It is with great pleasure and deep sense of gratitude to God, that I welcome you all to my first press briefing as the State Chairman of our great party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It also gladdens my heart to let you know about our continuing efforts to sustain the peace and unity in our party and State at large.

We are proud as a team of EXCO led by my humble self to state very clearly that today our great party is one united family working for a greater victory ahead as we plan for more success, we have every reason to appreciate our leaders, Distinguish Senator I.D. Gyang, Da Sen. Jonah David Jang, Sen. J.T. Useni, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, all members of the State and National Assembly and all the BOT members and indeed Stakeholders, they are all determined and conscious of the need to raise this party from its squalid level of mutual distrust. Prolonged crisis to what we now have today a one big united family.

Our members of both State and National Assembly and indeed the National leadership particularly the National Chairman, prince Uche Secondus the National Deputy Chairman Senator Nazif Gamawa, our National Vice Chairman North Central Hon. Dakas Shan and the entire members of the National Working Committee (NWC) have all earned our undying gratitude, the party will never forget all your contributions and sacrifices to see that we are one as a big family.

With these great achievements so far, and many more to come you will all agree with us that PDP today remains the only political party with leaders of like- minds, who are all prompted by a sense of patriotism and nation building, working together under the umbrella of the party for reconciliation, economic and reconstruction, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Today is the day to start a new beginning for better days ahead for the party and indeed lovers of democracy which we believe at the end, will result to greater victory.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, our attention today has been drawn to a controversial Bill for a law to make Provision for the Administration of Land in Plateau State and for other matters connected to 2019, sponsored by one Hon. Dasun Philip Peter, member representing Pankshin North in the Plateau Sate House of Assembly.

This bill has passed its second reading on Tuesday 3rd March, 2020 and is expected to pass its 3rd reading on 25th March, 2020. PART II (1) of the bill states that ‘Pursuant to the provision of the Land use Act, the Governor shall in respect of Land in the State whether or not the Land is located in an urban Area have power to: (a) grant statutory rights of occupancy to any person for all purposes.

The bill firstly contradicts the Land use Act of 1978 which is enshrined in the provisions stated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The Land Use Act, enacted in 1978, was meant to standardize land administration systems across the country.

It vested all urban land within a State in the state governor and all non-urban land in the Local Governments in which they are found. (There are currently 36 States in Nigeria and 774 Local Government Areas). The State governor and Local Government authorities are empowered by the Act to grant ‘statutory rights of occupancy” to areas within their jurisdiction.

This bill if passed without expunging that part that contradict the Land Use Act and allows the Governor total control over the entire Land of the Sate, Plateau people will be deprive of their land which is part of their heritage and their ancestral inheritance.

Therefore, we see this as an attempt of the executive governor to cede some portions of individuals and community land belonging to Plateau people for his RUGA agenda.

It is unfortunate that up to this moment our dear governor has continued to exhibit a deep sense of ill will towards the people of Plateau in favour of his pay masters.

It is on this note that I am here to express my strongest assurance to all Plateau people and party members across the State that the party will ensure that free and fair level ground is given to all members to participate in the coming ward, LGA and State Congresses to pave way for good governance in Plateau State come 2023.

We also want to caution that all elections will be conducted within the principle enshrined in our guidelines and the party’s Constitution as information reaching us indicates that there are plans by some APC members to cause disaffection during the congresses, some have even gone to purchase nomination forms to contest certain positions in the party to serve as moles of APC.

We therefore wish to use this medium to encourage and inform genuine party members that those whose names are in the register are the only ones entitled and eligible to vote and be voted for during this exercise.

All officials should please take note.

Thank you and God bless

Hon. Gwott Yakubu Chocho
State Chairman

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Plateau PDP Chairman, Hon. Yakubu Chocho Commend Stakeholders for Resolving Party Crisis, Says Party now United & on the Right Track