Mixed Reactions Trail Jang’s Position on Youths Contesting for Senate

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Palpable reactions have been thrown up in the political circles in Plateau state, especially in the two major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over a statement credited to former Governor of the state and senator representing Plateau North senatorial zone, Jonah Jang, to the effect that the Senate is not meant for young people.

Jang was said to have made the comments during a radio interview with JayFM in Jos yesterday.

While some have viewed the comment as an attempt to shut them out from realising their political aspirations, other hailed the Senator’s position, saying the youths have truly betrayed the trust reposed on them.

Protégés of Jang who owe their political fortunes to the former governor like Messrs. Istifanus Gyang and Edward Pwajok who are both in the House of Representatives for Jos South/Riyom and Jos North/Bassa federal constituencies respectively are believed to be interested in contesting for the Senate seat. Gyang is with the PDP, while Pwajok, who won his election under PDP, later defected to the ruling APC turning around to stab Jang on the back.

They are said to be perceiving the comment as directed at them as they are warming up to contest for the Senate seat in the next general elections in the hope that Jang who is over 70 might not re-contest.

A former member of the 6th and 7th National Assembly, Mr. Bitrus Kaze, would not believe that Jang actually said so as the constitution of the Federal Republic had outlined qualifications for any elective office. He added that the statement could be the senator’s personal opinion, which he was entitled to.

He said, “Since I did not listen to the radio programme during which Sen Jonah Jang is reported to have stated that “the Senate is not for the youth”, I have deliberately chosen not to believe that he actually said so. This is because the statement sharply contradicts a position he has publicly adumbrated over the years and at different forums.”

Legislative aide to Pwajok, Mr. Ayuba Pam, is of the view that it was Jang’s opinion, which he was free to express. He said that if Jang seriously holds that view, he would not have allowed a younger person to aspire to succeed him.

Pam said, “Late GNS Pwajok was in the senate through that mindset and was later to succeed him as governor but for the defeat by APC. If he says senate is not for the youths, then ask him to define which bracket of youths he’s talking of? Our extant laws allow youths participation in governance.

Jang’s Media Aide, Mr. Clinton Garba, said Jang must have been talking out of experience as a former governor and serving senator.

He said, “My take is that the Senator point of view is taken out of context he simply stated that most parliament upper chambers are meant for people with vast experiences which comes with age. Hence why most of them are older, he went ahead to state that there are youth who have gotten experience and he mentioned Gyang Pwajok, so I think his emphasis is the experience that most times comes with age of course with exceptions like he rightly stated. I will continue to respect him for his frankness and not just been politically correct.”