THERE seems to be a looming fracas that may result in the breakdown of law and order in Jos-North Local Government Area of Plateau State, if drastic actions are not taken immediately to arrest the time bomb that may explode.
Tempers are rising as members of Yam Sellers Association in the area elect their new executive.
Findings revealed that the outgoing executive of the association has been in power for twenty-eight years (28yrs) and has refused to hand over to any newly elected EXCO that might not be from their camp, all
this while, until pressure was mounted on them recently.
According to one of the contestants who is vying for the chairmanship position of Kasuwan Doya in next election, Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim Nayelwa, in an interview with THE NIGERIA STANDARD, he revealed that the outgoing EXCOs had earlier constituted illegal delegates that were not members of the association to participate in the election without the prior knowledge of their members and that they saw that it portends bad light that may cause the breakdown of law and order.
He said, It was for this reason that he and others from the other faction approached the court and obtained an injunction restricting them from conducting the election which was scheduled for Friday last week, the 25th of August, 2023 and it was suspended.
“But, information reaching us revealed that they planned to hold the election in four days time even with the court injunction.
“We want to use this opportunity to call on Governor Caleb Mutfwang, to as a matter of urgency intervene in this fracas or risk another outbreak of crisis or breakdown of law and order in Jos-North LGA. We know Governor Mutfwang is a lover of peace and would not allow anything that will return the state to those ugly days.
“We want to put it straight that in the event of any breakdown of law and order which we forbid, the outgoing EXCOs should be held responsible. We have copied the leadership of Marketers Associations, the security and all the authorities concerned as an addendum ahead of the purported elections”, he appealed.
THE NIGERIA STANDARD understands the two factions are from different states in the North and the faction in question has been dominating the leadership position for 28 years and would not want to give the leadership to the other faction, hence what generated the fracas.
According to the aggrieved faction contestants, “When we approached them, intimating that it was our turn to produce the Chairman and other Executives, they ran to the community leader of Garba Na-Shehu Ward reporting that we want to cause a crisis and I was called to explain.
“When we came on a round table to find a solution to the problem, they connived with the leadership of Traders Association which is our umbrella body.
“All the delegates they brought were their members and children without a single from our side. I want to state here categorically that if any breakdown of law happens in Jos-North LGA, they should be held responsible because we are law abiding citizens and would not want anything bad to happen.
“We are appealing to the governor to intervene swiftly to stop them from conducting this illegal election and direct the state Ministry of Commerce and Industry to constitute a caretaker committee pending the resolution of the problem”, Nayelwa appealed.
He, however, expressed worry that for the past 28 years, they have been committed to paying all dues to the Shendam LG where they buy yam, to Jos-North LG, where they offload and even to the union, but when it comes to leadership, they do not want them to be part of it. “We are citizens of Plateau State and we have the right to enjoy all privileges like them and we cannot be reduced to nothing”.
Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Alfred Alabo, said they were aware of the development, but promised to investigate the matter immediately to forestall any breakdown of law and order in the state.
All efforts to reach the Chairman of Marketers Association proved abortive as it appeared he was.out or town as his phone lines were not reachable.
