The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) Plateau State Chapter has endorsed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Barr. Caleb Mutfwang as the preferred candidate for the march 11 gubernatorial elections in Plateau State.
The Governor PMAN Plateau State chapter AMB. Humphrey Iroegbu (color) and the entire executives of the union pledged their unalloyed support while addressing the media in a press conference at the PMAN secretariate, Tafawa Belewa, Jos Plateau State on the 7th of March.
Comrade Humphrey stated that having met with all the Governorship candidates of the various political parties, the decision of the union to endorse the PDP candidate was reached and is based on the fact that amongst all the candidates Hon. Caleb Mutfwang is the only candidate that is passionate about the industry in the State.
“Amongst all the candidates Hon. Barr. Caleb Mutfwang is the only candidate that is passionate of the entertainment industry on the Plateau. He has always been in consultation with the union, which shows his commitment to the development of the entertainment industry on the Plateau.
“In light of the above the Union wishes to inform all its members that after thorough consultation with all entertainment stakeholders on the Plateau, PMAN National body and its legal advisers it has officially endorsed the PDP Gubernatorial candidate in the person of Hon. Barr. Caleb Mutfwang.
“This is in view of his commitment and intending support for the Entertainment industry on the Plateau and also his promise to carry the entertainers along in order to build and improve the tourism sector of the State which will lead to improved revenue to the State.
“The leadership of the union PMAN Plateau State Chapter knows the number, strength, impact and significance it can make to the anticipated results on the 11th/03/2023 and so, it’s encouraging all her members to vote massively for the endorsed candidate Hon. Barr. Caleb Mutfwang for a better entertainment industry in the State and a better Plateau. We RECOMMEND the union to go for Hon. Barr. Caleb Mutfwang.”
According to Humphrey the present APC lead government in the state focused on individual artists mostly outside Plaeau than the union.
“The present administration have not helped in promoting artist within the state or built a relationship with the union. We have aproached them on many occasion but have not recieved much responce.
“The primary purpose of the union is to unite the entertainment industry in Plateau State and Bar. Mutfwang has promised that the adviser of entertainment will be someone from the industry that knowns the in and out of the proffession which will help change the narraive for artist in the state and finish up abandored projects such as the Luka Bentu Indoor Theater.
Executives present at the press briefing include PMAN Governor Plateau State Chapter Amb. Humphrey Iroegbu (color), PMAN program coordinator Peter Lorapull, PMAN State secretary Deshe Christopher Hannaniaah among others.
A public affairs analyst, Marcel Ngogbehei, has accused opposition politicians of turning Nigeria's political parties into personal vehicles for their presidential ambitions, alleging that they routinely take over existing party structures, sideline founding members and abandon the platforms when their electoral calculations fail.
He made the allegations in a statement on Saturday, while reacting to a recent Abuja High Court judgment sacking the African Democratic Congress, ADC, leadership under former Senate President, David Mark.
DAILY POST reports that the ADC has already appealed the judgment.
Reacting, Ngogbehei said Nigeria must move away from a political culture in which established parties are taken over by powerful politicians, leaving their original members struggling for control of the organisations they helped establish.
He cited the political journeys of former Vice-President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as examples of what he described as the instability and opportunism characterising opposition politics.
"He maintained that the ADC crisis was particularly instructive, given that the party was adopted by opposition heavyweights seeking to challenge the APC, only to become engulfed in leadership disputes and litigation over the legitimacy of its leadership structure."
He argued that, unlike opposition party leaders, President Bola Tinubu's political experience demonstrated a commitment to building enduring political structures.
He recalled Tinubu's role in the development of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, Action Congress, AC, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and, the formation of the APC.
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Saturday accused the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar of listening to ill-advice from voodoo economists to restore the fuel subsidy.
Speaking during President Bola Tinubu's presidential campaign in the Ikwerre area of Rivers State, Shettima said the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has gone into political irrelevance.
The vice president also disclosed that some political charlatans from the opposition are trying to demonise the president.
According to Shettima: "Winston Churchill, the onetime British Prime Minister, once said truth is so precious that it has to be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies; hence, it's not only amazing but to define as heartbreaking that political charlatans on the other side of the divide are making efforts to demonise President Tinubu instead of celebrating him.
"Atiku Abubakar, with a certificate in hygiene from a Kano School, is intellectually malnourished and was ill-advised by some voodoo economist to restore fuel subsidy, and my friend, Peter Obi, has gone into political irrelevance."
Shettima also described the president as a decent man, stressing that Nigeria's economy has witnessed a significant improvement since he assumed office.
"I dare say without any fear that Tinubu is a decent man. When he attained the mantle of leadership some three and a half years ago, our economy was on the verge of collapse; we were on our way to Kinshasa. Instead of kicking the ball down the road, instead of demonising his predecessor, the president had the moral courage and conviction to take the bull by the horns," he added.