JANG MAKES U-TURN, SWEARS IN ACN CANDIDATE, ZAKARI AS WASE LG BOSS

 
Jos- After over a year of dilly-dallying, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State yesterday obeyed judgment of the State Local Government Petitions Appeal Tribunal declaring the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mohammed Zakari as the duly elected Chairman for Wase Local Government Area.

Despite initial excuses that the swearing in was not done because of pending court cases over the matter, the governor chose to swear him even when a few of the cases are still pending.

The tribunal had on March 18, 2009 declared Zakari winner of the election but the former Chairman, Mohammed Abubakar Badu who was the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate appealed to the appellate  tribunal which threw out his case but the governor still refused to swear him in as ordered.

Jang on the occasion commended Zakari for his resilience in following his matter through the rule of law. He urged him to join the state government which is focusing attention on the development of the rural areas by pursuing policies that were people-oriented.

He also advised him to embrace all irrespective of political differences, urging him to put politics aside and carry everyone along.

Zakari who is assuming office over two years after the November 28, 2008 LG election for which both the lower and appellate tribunals declared him winner promised to justify the mandate of the people.

He thanked Jang for eventually allowing the wishes of the people to prevail, adding that he pursued the case patiently in the belief that victory would be his at last.

However, some of those who graced the occasion expressed disgust that the former chairman was allowed to remain in office for over a year after the tribunals declared Zakari the winner of the election.

They said he had almost completed the tenure arguing that it was unfair to the people of the local government even if Zakari would eventually serve his tenure.