The senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Istifanus Gyang has described attacks on his person by a faceless group for condemning the murder of a traditional ruler in his constituency as futile, saying he cannot be Stigmatized for cheap political reasons.
In a statement, signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Protocol, Hon. Musa Ashoms, the Senator said he can’t be stigmatized as he is well known as a peace promoter and peace builder, adding sentiment and prejudice can’t work against him.
The statement was reacting to accusation by Rev Dachomo Pam of Coalition of Plateau Peace Practitioners Forum (COPEPF), which condemed him for accusing criminals over the killing of the slained District Head of Foron District, late Da Bulus Chuwang Jang.
The statement reads: “Sponsors of the ‘Abuja’ released statement came up with the same old anti-Plateau narrative and strategy of stigmatizing and labeling anyone as tribalist and enemy of peace who voices out the pains and trauma of victims of sustained attacks, killings, displacement and denial of return to ancestral homes and access to farmlands in Plateau State.
“This is what the current attempt by the Senator’s traducers intended to portray to the nation, in so doing, diminish his rising profile which is a threat to their political game plan.
“Unfortunately, you can’t stigmatize Senator Gyang as he is well known as a peace promoter and peace builder. Sentiment and prejudice can’t work against Senator Gyang, rather, it belies the reality of who he is and what he stands for.
“To the sponsors of the warped write up, peace making does not mean to deny facts nor overlook the reality of prolonged attacks on communities in Senator Gyang’s Constituency of Plateau North. Neither does advocating peace means concealing the identity of attackers and killers. Nor does it mean applauding government and security agencies in the face of failure to arrest increasing and rising wave of terrorism, insurgency, banditry and killings across the nation.”
Gyang observed that lies and falsehood of the type propagated in the write up by Rev. Pam cannot thrive since the motive is to disparage, misrepresent or stigmatize the senator, adding that no one can be doubt about the victims of the persistent attacks in Plateau and the perpetrators
He said, “To take on the Senator for vilification and popularity seeking cannot serve any good purpose nor will alter the facts and cover the truth about the pervasive insecurity that has become the order of the day in Nigeria today.
“Is Rev Pam saying that ten traditional rulers were assassinated in Plateau North is not enough for an alarm to be raised? Not to talk of further threats against the safety of those still alive. To brand the alarm raised by Senator Gyang as tribalism is unfortunate and satanic.
“Anyone attempting to twist or mischievously misrepresent his remarks for political patronage or mileage is on a futile goose chase.”
