PLATEAU 2015: PROFESSORS, FORMER SPEAKERS JOIN GUBER RACE By James Yashiyi With the recent release of election time table by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), many interested individuals have begun to express plans to vie for various offices across the federation. In Plateau State for instance, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Sonny Tyoden and Professor Emmanuel Garba are said to have joined the race to Government House Rayfield with former Speakers of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Right Honourable John Clark Dabwan and Istifanus Mwansat declaring interest in the number one seat of the state in like manner. Reports reaching The Beacon has it that Prof. Tyoden who is the immediate past V.C of the University of Jos hopes to achieve his gubernatorial ambition on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, the PDP, a party he has long been a card carrying member. As former V.C, Tyoden is seen by many as having the administrative exposure with a sharpened ability to attract federal government’s presence to a state that has long lost relevance as far as federal government patronage is concerned. The above reality is verifiable when one takes stock of the negligible number of indigenes of the state who occupying membership, let alone chairmanship seats of federal government ministries and or parastatals. Having been head of a federal university with contacts across the federation and abroad, pundits think the man could do the job satisfactorily, except for his shallow exposure to local politics of the state. Prof. Garba who boasts of national exposure may have additional factors working for him. In addition to his huge influence in atleast 4 federal universities where he has worked across the country, the academic don have had a fair share of local politics in the state. Professor Garba who hails from Doemak District of Quan Pan Local Government Area has been proactive in political decision in the area. The Professor of Mathematics boasts of a robust credentials, having served as chairman and member of many committees of senate and has been external assessor for over 20 candidates for promotion to the ranks of Reader or Professor in more than 12 Nigerian universities. He is known to be a thorough administrator. Rt. Hon. John Clark Dabwan is a name that has hardly gone quiet on the state’s political terrain, owing to his recent exit as Speaker of the State’s assembly. Dabwan who represents Mangu South constituency in the state assembly became its speaker at the very beginning of the 7th Assembly and presided over affairs of the House at one of the turbulent periods of the state. Dabwan held sway at the time the entire local government system in the state was shut down by industrial actions and left the seat unceremoniously; in circumstance that has remained enshrouded in mystery of a sort. He never had the privilege of witnessing a local government election in the state throughout his over three(3) years in office as speaker, a situation most Civil Rights Organizations and watchers of political developments in the state term as failure on his part as speaker of the people’s representative. While most people think he has the right temperament and broad reach locally i.e within the state, he is deficient in national outlook. Rt. Hon. Is tifanus Mwansat is one of the leading lights in the central senatorial zone of the state. He is known to belong to the new breed politicians whose growth rate at the state level is appreciable. Mwansat who like his successor Dabwan is currently in the state’s hallowed chamber represents Pankshin South constituency. He is an eloquent young man whose days as speaker brought panache and elegance to the office. Our reporter gathered that though he is yet to officially declare interest in the race, there are ongoing consultations with the various power blocs in the state to sale his candidature. It is insinuated that his selling point could be his youthfulness; which will be a departure from the seeming gerontocracy being witnessed in the state at the moment. Again, coming from the central zone, which is one of the two zones jostling to produce the next governor after the current administration of governor Jang who hails from northern zone, Mwansat do have a chance. However, his gubernatorial ambition is perceived by many as an afterthought; a stumbled idea. Owing to deafening silence he maintained after his impeachment from speakership. Therefore observers posit if he must make considerable impact at the polls, he will need to grease his political machinery abundantly to gain the right steam across the other two senatorial zones.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 12:51:16 +0000
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