Plateau community protests Lalong’s impunity

By SERIKI ADINOYI, Jos

Taroh community of Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State has shut down activities in the local government by blocking all the roads leading to the council to protest what they termed as the impunity of Governor Simon Lalong who refused to obey court order that restored the council chairman that he illegally removed.

The protesters explained that the council chairman, Mr. Joshua Laven, was duly elected for a three-year tenure but was removed after two years by Lalong who replaced him with Zulfa Rimven.

They said the Governor has refused to obey the court judgment that restored Laven and his deputy, Mr. Daniel Balbong to office.

They accuse the governor of fanning crisis in the council and dividing the people.

The Coordinator of Taroh Vanguard, Mr. Boniface Ndam, told newsmen that the governor should be held responsible for any bloodshed on Taroh land as a result of his attempt to impose Mr. Zulfa Rimven, on the people.

Ndam argued that the political interest and ambition of the governor is not worth the blood of anybody in Taroh land and Plateau State, adding that the events unfolding in Langtang North and the entire state were fearful and called for concerted effort to nip it in the bud before it would be too late.

The community was worried that Langtang North was the only council that has two factional chairmen.

Ndam further stressed that Laven was sworn in by Governor Lalong in 2019 as the duly elected council chairman under the platform of PDP as affirmed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

They called on Rimven to stop parading himself as the chairman of Langtang North LGA and warned that it would be illegal for him to sign any official documents or transact business on behalf of Langtang North LGA.

Also speaking on behalf of the Taroh elders, Mr. Robert Soldier, said that they were appealing to Governor Lalong to allow the chairman Hon. Joshua Laven, to complete his three years tenure in office.

According to him, they are not against the governor rather the Taroh elders simply want justice to be done to all.

(THISDAY)