The Government of Plateau State is constrained to respond to the wild, baseless, inciting and malicious allegations contained in a press statement issued by the factional Publicity Secretary of the PDP Plateau State, John T. Akans purporting a “looting, and conversion of public assets under the directives of the governor”.
While we do not intend to dignify the concocted fiction of lies and propaganda aimed at intimidating civil servants/appointees and castigating the government with a view to pitching it against the citizens, it is important to put the records straight so as to save right thinking citizens and members of the public from being brainwashed by the fictional contraption.
First, we are not surprised by the harsh tone of the press statement which smarks of the desperation, arrogance, propaganda and uncouth disposition that the PDP is known for, which reached fever-pitch levels during the recent elections.
It is unfortunate that a party that has not yet taken over power is already issuing threats and singling out specific government officials for intimidation, harassment and persecution. What will they do if they eventually scale the difficult mountain before them at the Tribunal and the Supreme Court and take over?
Let it be on record that the Rescue Administration of Governor Simon Bako Lalong has nothing to hide or fear, and can never be involved in any looting, conversion of public assets or any criminal conduct in contract awards as alleged.
If anything, the APC Rescue Administration has in the last eight years, conducted the business of governance with the utmost prudence, accountability, transparency and diligence. During his tenure, Governor Lalong set up the Efficiency Unit (EU); Implemented the Treasury Single Account (TSA); Liquidity Management Committee (LMC); and the Project Monitoring and Result Delivery Office (PMRDO) among others to ensure that the business of governance is done according to established rules.
The PDP may wish to note that the Lalong Rescue Administration applied and was admitted into the Open Government Partnership (OGP) where it got the global Award for Transparency and Accountability in 2021 in Seoul South Korea. Under the same Administration, Plateau State was adjudged the second least corrupt State in Nigeria in the 2nd Corruption Survey Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
So, it is preposterous for the PDP to make wild and unsubstantiated claims of corruption against the Government and specific officers without any evidence. We challenge them to swiftly make public their bogus claims or stop misleading the public.
While they bask in the euphoria of their temporary victory, we also urge them to take it easy and wait for the outcome of the Election Petition Tribunal before they engage in their game of vendetta, blackmail and intimidation if they eventually sail through. If and when they take over the reigns of Government, they are free to dig into the affairs of the APC Government which has nothing to hide.
The PDP cannot claim to forget in a hurry that our party the APC which was the first in the history of Plateau State to take over power from an incumbent, did not display such arrogance, pride and flagrant abuse of power till date even when it had more than a million reasons and evidence to do so.
For now, we advise them not to wait for when they come into office, but to immediately report all the alleged “criminality” to the relevant law enforcement agencies because only the Governor and his Deputy have immunity. All other civil servants and appointees are not protected from investigation and prosecution even now.
If they cannot do so, they should please keep calm and allow the Rescue Administration to conclude its tenure on 29th of May 2023 and hand over to whomever the Courts decide is the rightful winner of the Governorship elections.
They should equally stop intimidating civil servants and appointees from carrying out their lawful duties because of their temporary victory which is already being challenged at the Tribunal.
We also take the opportunity to strongly advise civil servants and appointees to continue to carry out their normal duties without fear or intimidation as they have done over the years.
Civil servants and appointees are cautioned to note that anyone who fails to carry out lawful directives of Government wether out of fear, collusion or treachery will be treated as a saboteur and subjected to extant disciplinary procedures of the service with immediate effect. Indolence, disloyalty, and all unwholesome conducts such as leaking of Government documents will be severely punished.
Contractors, banks and other entities doing business with Government are also encouraged to ignore the threats of the PDP whom we understand has issued letters and verbal warnings for them to cease doing business with Government.
Our Government will not be held liable for any consequences of obeying such unlawful orders which have no validity in law and are tantamount to breach of the ethics governing contractual engagements.
Finally, we call on all the partners, clients and patrons of Government in both public and private sectors to ignore any act of harassment from the PDP or its agents as there is only one Government in Plateau State at the moment led by Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong.
By the laws of Nigeria and the Constitution, there cannot be 2 captains in the seat of the Governor of Plateau State until May 29th 2023 when Simon Bako Lalong hands over to his successor which will be decided by the Tribunal and the Courts of the land.
