The Shendam APC Grassroots Movement has described the ambition of Mrs Pauline Tallen as ‘selfish’ and ‘capable’ of creating division in the party in Plateau Southern Senatorial District.
Pauline Tallen, a former deputy governor during Jonah Jang’s first tenure is vying to represent Plateau southern senatorial district comprising of Qua’an Pan, Mikang, Shendam, Langtang North, Wase and Langtang South local government areas at the red chamber.
Tallen, former Minister of Science and Technology was reported to have been booed by some youths when she launched her campaigned in Shendam – her local government area last week.
In a press conference, the Coordinator of the group, Mr Ezekiel Nyellong said the youths in Shendam local government have disassociated themselves from her unbridled ambition, because according to them “being a cousin of the serving Governor, Simon Lalong, her ambition negates the principle of zoning which has promoted justice and peace in the state.”
They explained that the Governor of the state, Lalong hails from Shendam local government area while the seat of the House of Representatives comprising of Mikang/Shedam/Qau’an Pan local government areas had been zoned to the same Shendam local government.
“Her declaration to contest for Senate therefore means one local government would now produce Governor, Senator and House of Representatives, leaving nothing for the other five LGAs of over twenty ethnic groups that make up the Senatorial Zone.” They said.
They appealed to her to stop bringing the respected name of Aisha Buhari, wife of the President Muhammadu Buhari into her “unpopular gamble”.
In her reaction, Pauline Tallen said that her ambition was coming out on the women platform and had nothing to do with zoning.
She said, “I know where they are coming from. How I, Pauline Tallen, being a member of Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party, will aspire to divide APC. I am coming out on the women platform. It has nothing to do with zoning or anything. This is a demand that has been directed by her Excellency, Aisha Buhari and supported by international communities which are asking Nigeria to key into, like all other Africa countries.”
The former Deputy Governor of the state also clarified that it doesn’t make sense for someone to say she is contesting to divide APC, “the party we suffered for. I don’t want to qoute anybody but it is very clear that it is an open secret that someone somewhere is sponsoring the group to accuse me of doing damage to my party. This is the party I am always campaigning for.”
She said, “Why are they afraid of direct primary in the first place? All I know I have the support of the people of my senatorial district and there is no going back. It is not about anybody deciding who is contesting here or there.”
Tallen further reiterated that she wasn’t desperate to hold Public office, because she knows that power comes from God.
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