Appoint Lalong’s replacement from Plateau Central – Ex- Reps member urges Tinubu

Former House of Reps member, Hon. Alphonsus Komsol who represented Shendam, Quaan-Pan, Mikang Constituency on the platform of the APC has urged President Bola Tinubu to appoint a new minister from the Plateau Central Senatorial Zone, for equity.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain made the call in an open Letter to the President, on Monday, following the resignation of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, last Wednesday.

According to him, his suggestion is informed by the urgent need for the President to address diverse issues that border on inclusiveness, geopolitics, ethnic balance, equity and fairness in Plateau.

Komsol, who was the Secretary, of the Presidential Campaign Council’s Contact and Mobilisation Committee, North-Central Zone; Plateau Coordinator, of the Independent Campaign Council for Asiwaju, and Member, of APC’s Election Planning and Strategic Committee, said such a decision would determine APC’s success in Plateau.

He said: “Your Excellency, I would like to suggest in all honesty and with all sincerity of purpose and intention, that you should do everything possible to ensure that you appoint Lalong’s replacement from the Plateau Central Senatorial Zone.

“The reason for my selfless suggestion is not far-fetched: It is noteworthy that Lalong is from Plateau South Senatorial Zone, which has produced 6 ministers since 1999, namely Pauline Tallen (twice), Fidelis Tapgun and his sister, Josephine Tapgun, Solomon Dalung and, lately, Lalong.

“However, Plateau Central Senatorial Zone has produced just 1 minister (Bagudu Hirse) since 1999. Paradoxically, this is a zone that usually returns some of the highest votes for the APC in virtually all elections since the formation of our party about 10 years ago!”

The former lawmaker noted that the marginalized central zone has some of the major financiers and biggest founding fathers of the APC, who are also the President’s die-hard political supporters and best hands, with whom the ministerial cap perfectly fits.

He also noted that, like Plateau South, Plateau North has produced 5 ministers since 1999: Damishi Sango, Mark Aku, Musa Izam, Dasuki Nakande and Sarah Ochekpe, who were picked from different ethnic groups within the senatorial zone.

“Your Excellency, I write to you with a deep sense of both passion and compassion, driven by pure patriotism, with good intent for our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), your government, Plateau State and Nigeria at large.

“This is especially against the backdrop of your glaring strong will in governance, which has so far in record time, engendered notable reforms across all sectors, including infrastructure and human resource development.

“To this end, Mr President, I emphatically and unequivocally implore you to please kindly do the needful, do your utmost and do justice to the raging controversy over the next ministerial slot for Plateau State by giving it to Plateau Central Senatorial Zone.”

The former lawmaker added that giving the next Plateau ministerial slot to the marginalized central zone would go a long way to strengthen the party and avoid any likely political implosion that could arise if it is done otherwise.

He lauded President Tinubu for having an ingenuous way of identifying his die-hard political loyalists and rewarding them, as well as having an uncanny ability to mobilise the best minds and strengthen alliances across the country for the common good.

“You will agree with me that being the President of a country like Nigeria takes a lot of courage and gut, which you must display by listening to the voice of the people.

“How you deal with diverse issues that border on geopolitics, ethnic balance, equity, and fairness, by carrying everyone along, will determine how far you, our party and your government can succeed, going forward,” the APC chieftain added.