Plateau APC Chieftains Jostle For Ministerial Seat

More than five chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State are jostling to replace the minister of labour and employment, Barr Simon Lalong in the federal cabinet. 

This, according to findings by our correspondent, followed the Court of Appeal judgement which declared Lalong winner of the March 18 Plateau South Senatorial election. He was recently presented the certificate of return by INEC.

It was gathered that Lalong may soon resign as minister to enable him represent Plateau South in the senate.

A LEADERSHIP Weekend investigation revealed that APC top shots eyeing the replacement include Hon Rufus Bature; APC state chairman, Prof Danladi Atu; former SSG, Prof C.J. Dakas; former attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, Prof Saleh Galadima Kanam; former council chairman, Nde Ezekiel Gomos, also a former SSG and former DG of ITF, Mr Joseph Ari.

Bature is the former minority leader and won elections twice to the House of Assembly, both under opposition parties. 

Prof Atu is a grassroots politician who has contributed to the development of the state. He was chairman of Jos North LGA and director, Institute for Peace and Social Rehabilitation, University of Abuja.

Prof Dakas is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the Dean, Faculty of Law at the University of Jos. He was also attorney-general of Plateau State. He is said to be adequately equipped with repertoire of knowledge, skills and experience to be  minister.

Nde Ezekiel Gomos, a technocrat, founder and executive director of Jos Business School is an experienced development and policy consultant with a history of  management consulting.

The former general manager, Investment Supervision in NNDC Group also teaches in one of the faculties in the nation ‘think tank’ the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies NIPPS, Kuru has a strong professional skill in Business Development, SME Advisory, Strategic Planning, Research, Business Strategy, and General Management Consulting.

Prof. Saleh Galadima Kanam, a professor of law, also contested and won election into the office of the chairman of Kanam local government from 2008 to 2011. The Kanam Progressive Youth (KPY) while addressing a news conference in Jos said Prof Saleh

is expected to bring his vast experience to bear on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

 Joseph Ari with the ITF equipped thousands of Nigerians with technical and vocational skills for employment and entrepreneurship.