The Tarok Political Watch – an umbrella body of young political bigwigs in Tarok nation has berated the Tarok Elders Forum for endorsing Senator Jeremiah Useni as the Tarok’s consensus aspirant for the Plateau state gubernatorial seat.
It recalled that Tarok Elders in a press conference had recently endorsed Senator Useni representing Plateau Central at the national assembly as the Tarok Nation’s consensus aspirant for the 2019 gubernatorial race in Plateau state.
JT. Useni a Tarok man was a former Minister of Abuja under late General Sani Abacha’s military regime and is eyeing the seat of Plateau state’s governor under the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 election.
The group in a statement jointly signed by its convener, Barr Singa Edward Zhattau and Secretary, Comr. Mantip Wuyep said that the Tarok Elders Forum’s statement was simply a manifestation of their own political engrossment that could not have been a representation of the collective wish and aspirations of the Tarok people.
The group added that while the Tarok elders might have honestly thought that their statement could support the assumption of a politically monolithic Tarok nation, but the elders should know that the feedbacks trickling in from within and out the Tarok nation do not support their view.
“Furthermore, how could such a decision of endorsing some candidate of a certain political party accommodate the interest of other numerous illustrious Tarok sons and daughters who have been found worthy and accordingly appointed into influential national and state positions by President Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong?” the statement queried.
The group also lamented that it was perplexing for the elders to endorse JT Useni considering that numerous aspirants of Tarok extraction have since picked up their nomination forms and many more Tarok gubernatorial aspirants would join the fray.
The group urged ethnic nationalities on the Plateau to ignore the press statement of the Tarok Elders Forum, because it is crucially important that political future of Tarok nation can only be fine tune on strategic cooperation and partnership with the rest of the peoples of the state.
“Even if the Tarok man was to become the Governor of Plateau State, we want the Tarok man to achieve that success as a result of intense and genuine negotiations, consultations and other forms of interaction with the rest of the people of Plateau state.” They said.
