Governor Lalong’s imposition of Council Chairman: Protest rocks Plateau

Taroh Vanguard of Langtang North LGC of Plateau State have shut down all the major roads leading to the Council Secretariat.

They also vowed to resist with their blood the ongoing illegality and impunity being perpetrated by Plateau State government to install Barr. Zulfa Rimven as Chairman of the council against the judgment of a Jos High Court which says Hon. Joshua Laven should remain in office till October 2022.

The group in their hundreds irrespective of their political party differences blocked Langtang/ Shendam road, Langtang/Jos road carrying APC, PDP ADP and YPP flags demanding that Governor Lalong should as a matter of urgency allow the rule of law to prevail and direct the State Commissioner of Police to allow Hon. Joshua Laven and his deputy Hon. Daniel Balbong to resume work in the office without delay.

They further blame the governor for being the architect and brain behind the leadership crises rocking the Council in an attempt to install his stooges against the order of a State High Court which ruled that Laven should be reinstated immediately as they were duly elected Chairman and Deputy of Langtang North LGC to complete their constitutional three years tenure in office come October, 2022.

Boniface Ndam, the convener and Coordinator of Taroh Vanguard told newsmen that the governor should be held responsible for any blood shed on Taroh land as a result of his attempt to impose Barr. Zulfa Rimven on the people.

He argued that the political interest and ambition of the governor is not worth the blood of anybody in Taroh land and Plateau State adding that the events unfolding in Langtang North and the entire state is fearful which call for serious concern and concerted effort must be made to nipped it in the bud before it is too late.

Taroh Vanguard also expressed worries that Langtang North is the only council that has two chairmen. He further stressed that Hon. Joshua Laven was sworn in by governor Lalong in 2019 as the duly elected Council Chairman under the platform of PDP as affirmed by a court of competent jurisdiction .

They call on Barr. Zulfa Rimven to stop parading himself as the chairman of Langtang North LGC, warning that any attempt to sign any official documents or transacting business on behalf of Langtang North LGC is illegal and unconstitutional.

Also speaking on behalf of the Taroh elders, elder Robert Soldier said they are appealing to governor Lalong to allow the Chairman, Hon. Joshua Laven to complete his three years tenure in office.

According to him, they are not against the governor rather the Taroh elders are peace loving people who are in the forefront of ensuring the unity, progress, and development of Taroh land and Plateau State in general.