Am grateful to God to have conducted the most peaceful election in the history of Plateau State-Hon. Ntung

Am grateful to God to have conducted the most peaceful election in the history of Plateau State-Hon. Ntung

The Newly sworn in Chairman of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) who is coming back for the second time Hon. Fabian Ari Ntung, Stated that he is very grateful to God almighty for giving him the grace to have conducted the most peaceful and credible election ever witness in the history of Plateau State. 

Hon. Ntung made the disclosure to some selected media executives in an exclusive interview he granted in his country home in Jos after his successful swearing in by Gov. Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State recently. 

Speaking over his feeling for coming back to serve Plateau State for the second time as Chairman Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission ( PLASIEC) He stated that he look at this as act of God Almighty in the first instance. And secondly I am very happy that the Governor does not only have confidence in me to reappoint me alone, but the whole team of my six commissioners. This goes to shows that to whom much is given, much is expected.So it is for us now to re-tighten our belt, and give more service to the people of Plateau State.Especially in the dispensation of democratic dividends at the grassroot level where our major function lays.

Also speaking over the conduct of the recently conducted Local Government election under his watch as Chairman, he said is not only him but that of every well meaningful Plateau person should feel very happy.

He said, Indeed I he is very proud of Plateau people to have carried themselves in a peaceful manner, that the commission conducted this election peacefully, without a fly been hurt.You couldn't have imagined that, the election took place in all the 17 Local Governments Councils. 

In addition to that it was a back to back kind of election for the first time in the history of Plateau State, whereby no day was lost.The last people were sworn in on the 10th of October, 2018 and the next set of people were also sworn in almost the same date and no gap was given, and it means democratic processes were going on. It means if we continue to go by the rules, we will continue to achieve alot for grassroot development. 

They said politics is local, and the Local Government level, is a level we shouldn't joke with, we should continue to maintain democracy at that level, maintain participation at that level.And you should also know, when we talk about youth participation, the largest number of youthful participants are at the Local Government level, 99% of councillors are youths, vartually almost 80% of the Local Government Chairmen in Plateau State now are youths, so Local Government on the Plateau under the leadership of Governor S.B. Lalong has become a recruitment ground for youths into politics. So we are very happy about that, we are very proud of Plateau people, I am very happy of the peaceful disposition and  I continue to urged them that as we continue to go forward, let's keep to the rules of law, let's continue to be peaceful.

Furthermore Mr. Ntung also spoke on  the recent bill that was passed by the National Assembly for the conduct of party primaries through the option A4. 

He said, as you said it is controversial.So it remains in the ralms of the controversy.It is left for the Nigerian people to decide, me as an umpire, I am waiting, my own is to follow the law. Whichever law they bring to me, I will implement it, provided they are able to settle within the political class what they want. 

The Plateau electoral umpire Chairman, also call on the the people of Plateau State particularly the people of Langtang North especially in the issue of the court vardict, to stop overheat the polity, for every simple thing that is on ground, let's look at it in line with the processes of the law. 

What has the law said? If Mr A is not satisfied, and he has gone to court, and Mr B also feels he's in Court, let's allow the legal processes to take it course. Let's not take the law into our hands, we are not living in a banana republic, but we are community of civilised people with adequate laws. 

In Nigeria we have adequate laws that cover everything, people should be very patient, indeed our politicians should stop heating up the polity, they should stop inciting innocent people, they should go and take the court processes where these things will be finished amicably.

Mr. Ntung also used the opportunity to express his happiness on his commissioners, he said he is very proud of them, a tree does not make a forest,it is the combination of our collective responsibility, collective integrity, collective commitment and collective will that have taken us thus far, to earned that confidence of coming back.

We should expect that people will expect more from us, and as a result, we should tighten up our belts to do more better than what we have done.