PLATEAU PDP’S BRAZEN DISRESPECT FOR GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON (REJOINDER)
By Shabul Mazadu
I read the press release issued by the Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, dated 12th March, 2022, signed by John Akans, its Publicity Secretary, where it attacked Plateau State Government over the British-America Flyover. I felt broken over a statement on the erudite and reputable elder statesman, General Yakubu Gowon in the press statement. The statement reads, “We advise Governor Lalong and the APC to stop using our highly valued elder statesman (Gen. Gowon) to cover up their non performance.”
From the statement, the PDP is clearly saying that Lalong and the APC have been using General Gowon to cover up for their non performance, and therefore they should stop.
Again, telling them to stop using Gowon for their coverup means he is Lalong’s and APC’s pawn, that is, he is being used without his knowledge or with his knowledge but being overpowered or he knew it, but compromised.
General Gowon never stood for or supported anything wrong, and for the PDP to say that he is being used to cover up for non performance, is a grave allegation on his person.
A question can also be asked on this wise, how has Lalong and the APC been using Gowon?
Or, is the PDP referring to the invitation given to Gen. Gowon to come and flag off the bridge construction as being used? If yes, are they saying Gowon does not know good and useful projects to come and flag off, and projects to ignore?
Gowon came for PLASU convocation and simce then appreciates the rapid infrastructural development and academic expansion in the institution. He has the records of Lalong and that was why he commended him for completing the projects the PDP left behind.
The PDP is only playing the ostrich, but Gowon knows Plateau more than all its party members, and he is forthright unlike they who are filled with lies, mischief, sabotage, hypocrisy and craving for charting away public funds as they did to the funds brought to them by Governor Nyesome Wike.
Gowon is apolitical lest they accuse him of being a member of the APC, therefore, in all ramifications the PDP has no justification of using the clause they used warning Lalong and the APC to stop using him to coverup for their underperformance.
Since 2015 to now, General Yakubu Gowon, came to Plateau on two special occasions. He was at the first Convocation of Plateau State University, Bokkos, PLASU, where Governor Nasir Ahmad El-rufai of Kaduna State, the Bauchi State Governor, Muhammed A. Abubakar, Senator Joshua Dariye, Dame Pauline Tallen and other dignitaries were there. And secondly, he was at the groundbreaking of the British-America Junction flyover.
The resuscitation of PLASU which was assassinated by the PDP administration, was laudable because at present, the institution has greatly expanded. The groundbreaking of the British-America Flyover, is laudable too, because motorists who ply the road would tell the horric traffic holdup they face. Are these two projects worthy of saying Gowon is used to coverup underperformance? Are they underachievements?
The PDP should know that there is no Head of Military Junta or President of the Federal Republic that broke the record of General Yakubu Gowon in terms of projects execution. Gowon chose an excellent head to lead Benue-Plateau State as its first administrator, that was Joseph Gomwalk. Therefore he shares in all the projects executed by Gomwalk.
He executed lots of projects as Head of State and gave full backing to someone who executed same in our state, thus; depicting he is totally in love with achievements.
As an ex Head of State and an Army General, he cannot succumb to the whims and caprices of bloody civilians to be manipulated and use as coverup for their undetachievements.
When then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was in power and assassinating democracy, Gowon came out openly and cautioned him. In fact he said there was a demon controlling Aso Rock. How then can this great man be reduced by the PDP saying he is being used by Lalong and the APC to coverup their undetachievements? May be the PDP is still having the pain that Gowon begged Obasanjo to lift up the emergency rule he imposed on the state in 2004 as a birthday gift. Or could it be that they were angry that he came and supported the resuscitation of the Plateau State University Bokkos?
It is worthy of note that since the inception of the Fourth Republic, the PDP led by Jonah David Jang, the man controlling the party currently, never invited General Gowon to any of its activities. Dariye revered him and consulted him so many times. Lalong reveres him and consults him always, can the PDP tell us when and how they revered him when they were in power?
They said, they value him highly, but that is mere lips service and hypocrisy. If not, let them tell us how they value and valued him.
Can you sincerely claim to value a man in the capacity of General Gowon and then said he is being used as cover for underachievements?
Gowon has given Nigeria the best, likewise Plateau. And he supports what is good for Plateau that was why he opted for the restoration of democracy during the emergency rule as a birthday gift.
By the way, until Lalong leaves office without completing the projects he embarked upon before he can be judged by anyone of failure. What the PDP is doing, is what Chief Obafemi Awolowo qualified as acts of envious people and detractors. He said, “Our enemies and detractors are already at work. They are seeking to dwarf our stature in order to delude the public that they are taller than we are. They are seeking to divert us from our noble and constructive courses into the barren land of petty strife and fruitless controversy.”
He qualifies politicians with such attitude as envious braying asses.
Opposition is vital in politics, but it should be done with decorum and within the confine of its jurisdiction.
The PDP should therefore recant its statement on Gowon and apologize publicly to him.
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