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By Raymond Gukas, Jos
The Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, (PIDAN), has distanced itself from a government release alleging that Plateau state stakeholderd have “endorse Rebuilding of Main Market”.
Describing the release as “not just surprising, but embarrassing and ridiculing to the integrity of our highly respected” statesmen who formed part of the stakeholders, the Secretary-General, Nanle N. Gujor said in a statement.
The issue of the Jos burned main market has been on the burner for the past weeks; after the state government had announced it has entered an agreement with the Jaiz Bank; an Islamic institution to rebuild it.
The controversy generated was the terms and conditions; which was opposed to by a section of the indegenes who felt it was a plan to mortgage the state to the grip of Islam.
However, said PIDAN by implication, every citizen of Plateau is a member of thebody as every Community is represented by their Presidents and Secretaries on the Council.
Saying “PIDAN’s posture has and is always for the propagation of the unity and future of our dear State and to safeguard it from been mortgaged or destroyed by anyone or groups of people, irrespective of the position (s) they occupy.
“These we do with the view to sustain and maintain the
solid foundation our founding fathers structured and bequeathed on us at the cost of their lives and therefore, we see the statement credited to the Governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs captioned, “Stakeholders endorse Rebuilding of Jos Main Market” as misleading.
According to PIDAN, the position of eminent elder statesmen and groups who gave their counsels during the parley, did not reflect the position taken at the meeting.
Thr statement further reiterated that “we believe that government would have put the perspective of meeting in it’s true position of keeping it on hold, and awaits the outcome of the further consultations with the grass roots at the local government level, rather than the conclusive headlines.
“PIDAN hereby reiterates it’s position that the project be kept on hold until all the grey issues raised at the meeting are properly scrutinized and solutions found. We encourage the leadership of the various Development Associations to mobilize their membership to attain and present their sincere positions at the various parleys”, it added.
