50 INSIDEPOLITICS
Amidst speculations that Hon. Edward Gyang Pwajok will wrestle his former boss, Sen. Jonah David Jang, for the Plateau North Senatorial seat in 2019, our correspondent looks at the political interplay, why the two fell apart and the chances of a political
About two weeks ago, a former governor of Plateau State, Jonah David Jang, made headlines with a somewhat controversial comment that suggested that there was no vacancy for a young person to contest the senate seat for Plateau North. Jang had during a live radio programme in Jos ruled out the possibility of stepping down for a much younger person when he said, ‘The Senate is not for young people, only the House of Representatives is good enough.’
Though the backlash came swiftly from mostly youths in the state, many who have followed Jang’s career in the military and politics know that the now senator representing Plateau North is never one to back down from speaking his mind. Jang’s conviction for taking hard, controversial and in most cases, unpopular position on issues is what has earned him the respect of many but has also pitched him against those who perceive him to be simply arrogant. At the time of his controversial comment, the former governor did not mention names but political observers saw the remark as an attempt to deliberately taunt his former political protégée, Hon. Edward Gyang Pwajok who is in the House of Representatives and is said to be eyeing Jang’s senate seat.
Both Jang and Pwajok are from the predominant Berom tribe in Jos South and Pwajok owes his political fortunes to the former governor, having served under him as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for eight years. The legal luminary was at some point perceived to be the most influential commissioner under the Jang administration and many say Jang had even mentored him as a likely successor before things went sour, when he suddenly opted for the late Sen. Gyang Pwajok (GNS) as successor. But despite his preference of GNS, the senator still did not leave Pwajok out to dry. With his blessings, Pwajok and other political sons of Jang were encouraged to seek the various seats for House of Representatives which eventually saw Pwajok emerge as the member for Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency.
But that singular act of enticing Pwajok with the governorship seat only to pull the carpet from beneath his feet had dented the relationship between father and son. Pundits say it was why sensing this unhealed wound, Governor Simon Bako Lalong had capitalised on the opportunity and wooed Pwajok into the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a time the PDP was factionalised. Right now, the path to 2019 seems clear for Pwajok with many things already working in his favour. Not many within the APC are showing interest for the senate seat and supporters of the lawyer who became a SAN in 2016 say his performance index in the last three years is glaring enough to make him fit.
As a first time member in the House, Pwajok has shown his mettle and earned the respect of his colleagues and constituents when he became one of the top three lawmakers with the highest number of sponsored bills in the 8th House. Despite being a first timer, he was made chairman, House committee on Human Rights and many of his contemporaries and youths today see him as a record breaking role model.
Nevertheless, whether or not he can break one more record by upstaging the man many have come to see as the most influential person in Berom politics is another thing entirely. Even with his posters flooding Jos and Pwajok is a brilliant lawyer and excellent legislature, he will be very productive in the senate but he also has to be careful because one misstep could cost him his political career. The old man cannot be taken for granted, Jang is crafty, smart and daring. He does not easily forget betrayal Bukuri, our correspondent could not get a comment from Pwajok’s Legislative Aid, Philip Mandung, who did not answer calls put to him.
However a source close to the legislator’s camp told Daily Trust that though the member has been getting promptings from his constituents to join the senate race, he is yet to make an official statement on whether he will run. The source explained that with Pwajok’s track record as an excellent lawyer and legislator, he has a lot to offer in the senate.
Incidentally, there are those who see any attempt by Edward Pwajok to contest the senate seat as a betrayal of his political godfather’s goodwill. They see Pwajok as too ambitious and walking a tightrope. Some of these people say the legislator’s reason for dumping the PDP in 2017 was a move solely to get him catapulted to the senate on the basis that Jang’s political weight had weakened since he left Plateau’s seat of power.
Supposing Pwajok is able to clinch the APC senate ticket, he will have to sweep Bassa, Jos North, Jos East and still break even among the Berom majority in Jos South, Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs to defeat Jang, a difficult but not impossible task.
Perhaps this may be easily done with dramatic developments placing Jang as a likely presidential candidate for the PDP in 2019. Feelers have it that Jang, who is over 70, might not re-contest the senate seat if he gets picked by the Middle Belt elders as a presidential flag bearer. Daily Trust gathered that ongoing consultations by the elders on how the region can produce a candidate for the presidential bid may likely settle for Jang, Sen. David Mark or Barnabas Gemade.
Jang’s Media Consultant, Clinton Garuba, told Daily Trust that the consultation among elders of the Middle Belt on how the region can produce the president would determine Jang’s next line of action. However, Clinton stressed; “If he is chosen, he is willing to take up the challenge but until then, he will seek the election for the senate seat.”
He said though Pwajok had betrayed the PDP which provided him a platform to contest the 2015 election, Jang has no cause to join issues with him and the senator will be happy to see his political son succeed in life.
But, like some of Jang’s supporters, Clinton said; “Let the people decide in 2019, the senator will be willing to congratulate him if he wins, but that is very unlikely.”
The Berom have a strong hold of at least three of the six local government areas in the northern senatorial zone and despite his popularity among many constituents, it will be a costly mistake for Pwajok to think going against Jang will be a walk in the park. A political observer in Jos said, “Pwajok is a brilliant lawyer and excellent legislature, he will be very productive in the senate but he also has to be careful because one misstep could cost him his political career. The old man cannot be taken for granted, Jang is crafty, smart and daring. He does not easily forget betrayal.”