From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The controversy over the possible replacement of Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has further polarised the All Progressives Congress APC in Plateau as the central zone chapter of the party has accused the Publicity Secretary, Sylvanus Namang, of misinforming the public on the issue.
APC in the central zone had, at a press briefing endorsed a former member of the party’s presidential campaign council, Bitrus Kasuwa Barji, to replace Lalong, who is touted to have preferred the senatorial seat to his membership of the federal executive council.
But Namang, in a counter statement, was quoted to have said that Barji was not a member of the party and so couldn’t have been in any position to be so considered.
However speaking to newsmen in Pankshin, stakeholders in the central zone said that they’re shocked and amused at Namang’s disclaimer because Barji, apart from being a bonafide member of the party, contested for the party’s primaries twice to represent Kanam, Kanke and Pankshin Federal constituency.
Spokesmen of the stakeholders, Diray Sanen Cyril, Nde Sati Yilwat, and Ladir Fitoka, said that the publicity scribe made a hasty statement without verifying, since he himself said that he was not able to confirm from Barji the veracity of the said endorsement.
They said that Barji had been a member of the party since its formative years in the state and had remained a loyal and committed member of the party.
In a statement jointly signed by the trio, the stakeholders said, “Suffice it to mention here that, if the statement credited to the State party leadership is true to the effect that she does not know Hon. Bitrus Barji Kasuwa who bought forms and contested the Party primaries twice for the position of house of representatives to represent Kanam, Kanke and Pankshin Federal constituency, then such hasty conclusions leave much to be desired.
“We expect a non-partisan leadership to have made attempts to find out his membership status from his ward, if they can not pick his unit party register which is in their possession at the moment to confirm for themselves.
“We are aware that the media space these days is awash with speculations of diverse interests about the replacement of his Excellency Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Bako Lalong as Minister but we advise that the supremacy of the party at the State level should not be exercised to satisfy few interests by throwing caution to the winds and making uncomplimentary remarks about other party members.”
The stakeholders said they strongly believed that the replacement of Labour Minister should be an opportunity for Plateau Central zone to present someone like Hon. Bitrus Barji Kasuwa who is a youth with unparalleled vision, capacity, competence and above all a party loyalist of repute for the position.
A woman leader in zone, , Bridget Henry Dasha, who also spoke on the issue, that contrary to the claims by Namang that Barji was not a member of the party, he (Barji) had been in the forefront of empowering APC women in the zone.
She described Barji as a charismatic leader whose credentials fits the position of ministr of the federal republic.