A former governorship candidate on the platform of the Labour Party in Plateau State, Prof. Patrick Dakum, has faulted the delay in the appointment of a brand new minister from the state by President Bola Tinubu.
Dakum, who addressed journalists on Friday in Abuja, expressed shock that greater than six months after the resignation of Senator Simon Lalong as Minister representing Plateau in the Federal Executive Council, no motion had been taken to exchange him.
Describing the scenario as a breach of the 1999 structure and a disservice to the individuals of Plateau, Dakum who’s the Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, known as on the President to nominate a minister from Plateau with out additional delay in the curiosity of democracy.
“Democracy entails carrying everyone along, following due process, observing the rule of law, and dispensing justice to all without delay. There is no genuine reason for Plateau to be without a minister for this long which denies its participation in decisions making for good governance in the country. There are capable and eligible hands in the state that can handle any ministry, so why delay the appointment,” Dakum mentioned.
On the lingering disaster in the state House of Assembly which has prevented seven members-elect from being sworn in by the Speaker, Dakum mentioned for democracy to thrive, courtroom orders should be obeyed whether or not palatable or unpalatable.
He mentioned, “There is absolutely no reason why the members-elect the Court of Appeal declared winners should not be in the House working. It doesn’t make sense. I don’t understand why and how because it is the same judiciary that said the governor is PDP, and the House is APC, so, what’s the rocket science in that? The court has already taken its decision and there is nothing anyone can do about it, but to obey the court’s decisions. It is democracy to obey court order whether in our favour or not.”
The former Commissioner of Health and Information insisted that it’s an abuse of democracy to not swear in the affected members-elect as a result of it’s nothing in need of denying their constituents the fitting to be represented in the House, thereby making the federal government incomplete.
He added that everybody needs to be carried alongside and no Constituency needs to be left behind in the curiosity of democracy, good governance, progress, and justice in the state.
The PUNCH experiences that President Bola Tinubu had earlier appointed Lalong as Minister of Labour and Employment.
However, in December 2023, Lalong tendered his resignation and proceeded to the National Assembly as Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial district after an attraction courtroom ruling affirmed him because the winner of the seat.
Since then, the President has not appointed anybody as minister to characterize Plateau in the federal govt council in line with the structure.
