Chief John Akson has vehemently denied online media reports credited to him yesterday that the embattled Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Plateau State chapter, Hon. Damishi Sango remains authentic PDP Chairman. The reports further quoted elder Akson to have said that Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun once left the PDP for All Progressive Congress (APC)

However, speaking to African Drum on the issues on Saturday, chief Akson noted that he was quoted out of context. ” The media misquoted me. Probably they didn’t understand me. What I actually said is that there are crises in the PDP and there are two factions; the Chris Hassan’s faction and the Damishi Sango’s faction and each faction is claiming the authenticity of the leadership of the PDP in the state. That’s exactly what I told the journalists but they probably misunderstood me. As a father and founding member of the PDP, every member of the party is mine and when crisis erupts which is normal in every family, I would always wade in to ensure there is an amicable resolution so we can come out stronger of it and not to take side because I am a responsible father”, said Chief Akson.

He said that while as Acting Chairman of the Party Elders’ Committee in the state, he set up a committee to look into the crisis rocking the party and that the committee did a wonderful job and level of success was also achieved through out the period up to the time he handed over to Sir Fidelis Tapgun.

The former chief Whip of the Plateau State House of Assembly in the second Republic further stated that he was shocked to have also quoted in the same publication to have said that Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun once left the PDP for the APC. According to him, ” this is completely false. I did not say anything close to that.

As far as I know, Fidelis Tapgun never left the PDP so I couldn’t have even contemplated making that statement. I mentioned Tapgun’ s name in that interview to explain the fact that after my tenure as the Acting Chairman of the Elders’ Committee of the PDP, I handed over to him. I never said Tapgun left the PDP. He is a leader in the PDP, he is a committed member of the PDP and presently handling the leadership of the Elders Committee of the party in the state. I have confidence in him and his leadership style because he has been doing a marvelous job to see to an end the crisis that has engulfed the party and ensure a harmonious relationship amongst members of the party.

“Now that the issue has been referred to the David Mark’s committee, I believe that in no distant future, all issues would be resolved and we would come out stronger than before because, we have learnt our lessons. I have confidence in David Mark because he is equal to the task and I believe he is capable of bringing an amicable resolution to all issues.”

He called on members of the PDP in the state to remain calm and await the outcome of the committee. ” I want the faithful members of the PDP in the state to remain calm as we await the outcome of the David Mark’s committee. And like I said earlier, I have confidence in David Mark and I believe he would resolve this issue and I also believe that PDP would surely reign in Plateau state.”

Chief Akson observed that there should be strong synergy between the press and politicians toward building a better society and advised journalists to be sincere to themselves and to politicians in their reportage stressing that it was important to always seek for purpose of clarity grey areas after interview is granted. ” My advice to journalists is that they should be very careful when reporting and to also make sure that what they report is factual.

Journalists should desist from misquotations because if they continue to misquote those that grant them interviews, you would find out that at the end of the day, they may not get someone else to interview out of fear that they may be misquoted or might be quoted out of context.

So, journalists should be sincere both to themselves and to those they interview by ensuring that they seek clarification on grey areas after interview before going to press to ensure a cordial relationship between we, the politicians and the press. This is important because we are supposed to have a synergy towards building a better society,” he said.

Credit: By Dickson Gupiya

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Plateau PDP Impasse: I did not say Sango Remains Authentic PDP Chairman – PDP Chieftain, Chief Akson Refutes Media Report