Plateau government has in a statement has responded to 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, Simon Bako Lalong.
The government described the press release as “propaganda aimed at intimidating civil servants/appointees and castigating the Government with a view to pitching it against the citizens”.
The statement signed by Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Dan Manjang said the Lalong led rescue administration has nothing to hide and has conducted the business of governance with prudence, accountability, transparency, and diligence.
It read in part: “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.”
“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 8 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)”.
“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 whether 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”, Manjang said.
According to him: “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”, said the statement.
