PDP Criticizes Lalong For Visiting Affected Communities Five Months After Attack

Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, has called out the State Governor, Simon Lalong, barely 48 hours after he visited some communities which had been vacated by its inhabitants following the attacks by suspected herdsmen few months ago.

The opposition party described his visit to the affected areas as a “shameful display of desperation” to continue in office beyond 2019.

Recall that over 200 persons were killed and over 38,000 people displaced from their home following the attack by some suspected herdsmen in some communities in the state in June.

The party in a statement through its Publicity Secretary in the state, John Akans, said, “The Peoples Democratic Party notes with sadness the shameful display of desperation by Governor Lalong to continue his bad and incompetent leadership beyond May 29, 2019.

Akans said, “It is most disgraceful and unfortunate that five months after the gruesome massacre of hundreds of people and the destruction of their homes, as well as forceful occupation of their villages and towns under the watch of the APC government, it is only now that our dear governor would be visiting one of the many scenes of this dastardly crime.

“Of course, he had to drive through deserted routes and abandoned but annexed villages because the surviving victims are largely in Internally Displaced Camps or with relations.

According to him, “It does appear he went to Gashish only to answer ‘Present’ as only unmarked and mass graves of the victims gave him a rebuking welcome. And it is in such errie environment that Governor Lalong would start his nauseating campaign for a return to office. Incredible Lalong!

“How could he have stood on the graves of these people and hoped that he could still have their support? He asked

“Have their killers been arrested? Or was he taking condolence messages to the dead and deserted homes? He further asked.

“But then, by his undemocratic and incompetent leadership style, Governor Lalong has simply moved from being a protector and shield of the people to becoming Mourner In-Chief of the Innocent people of Plateau.

“Lalong would not even condemn the acts of sustained and bloody terror against his people; he would not even stay at home and mourn with his people in their critical moments; He relished instead in gallivanting and playing the Executive Personal Assistant in the Presidential Villa in Abuja – and he expects anyone to take him seriously? He lamented.

“Where is his sense of constitutional responsibility and commitment to Plateau which he swore to uphold in May 2015? Is everything simply fair to Lalong because he wants to return to Government House in 2019?

“Is he really totally devoid of any form of compassion, and thus turning a preventable tragedy into a political opportunity?

The PDP chieftain said, as a party, it envisages a Plateau where peace reigns; where there is security of life and property, and where there is credible action on issues and not merely paying lip service to governance.

“A serious government that stands for the people would have already at this time of its tenure implemented reforms that address the security, poverty, hunger and other challenges facing the people“, he stressed.