From Teryima Ajijah, Jos
The House of Representatives candidate for Mikang, Shendam, Qua’anpan Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Chief John Dafaan, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said if voted into power, he will prioritize food security and general well-being of the electorates, particularly the less privileged.
“If I become the representative of my people as, legislator and Member House of Representatives for Mikang, Shendam, Qua’anpan Federal Constituency, I will lobby for better farm inputs, because the entire constituency is an agro area for agriculture production. I know if the less privileged are given the desired attention, there will be massive development. This is because my mission is service to humanity, by extension service to God,” he stated.
Dafaan, a former chief of staff to Governor Simon Lalong, during his first tenure, made the pledge in an interview with journalists at his residence in Jos, on Monday.
The APC candidate for the House of Representatives said he has better chance to represent his constituents at the National Assembly due to his past experience in governance, and knowing the needs of the people as a politician.
“I have served the entire 17 local government areas of Plateau state as Director of Protocol at Government House for six years, I was Chief of Staff to Governor Simon Bako Lalong for four years, before then, I had contested as gubernatorial running mate candidate to Arc Pam Dung Gyang, on the platform of ACN, therefore, I know the needs of our people better than anyone contesting against me (Dafaan), my opponent was a local government chairman of just one of the three LGA’s, which make up the constituency, we made him LGA chairman,” he stated.
He said the APC administration has governed Plateau State well, therefore, it should be given another opportunity to govern everywhere in the state for continuity of development.
“Everyone can attest to the fact that it’s during the APC administration that we have relative peace, before now anyone traveling from Jos to any part of the southern zone kept praying that he or she should not meet rioters on the way, especially between Barkin Ladi and Mangu, but today the scenario has changed for good.
“The APC administration in the state also witnessed massive development in the educational sector, the Federal University of Education located at Dengi, the Federal Polytechnic at Shendam and many others tertiary institutions were brought to Plateau state during the APC admission, and that is what we are hoping to consolidate when we are elected because education is key to every development,”he maintained.
Speaking on the alleged slow campaigns by most APC contenders in the state; Dafaan noted that “we are not using public funds to carry out campaigns to people, as the former administration did, our posters may not be visible, we prefer that our posters be pasted on the minds of the electorates, that is what matters most to us.”
Commenting on the choice of Jos as the venue for the official campaign flag-off of the APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu; Dafaan, who is a member of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) said it is a good decision.
He said: “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was made candidate of the PDP here in Jos, and he became President of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari was GOC here in Jos at Rukuba Barracks, I can say he had his political baptism here on the Plateau; therefore, people of good will believe that anything blessed from Plateau state, succeeds. Who knows if the same will accompany Tinubu, so launching the APC campaign here (Jos), could go similar way.”