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Tag: Pwajok

  • Pwajok: Sunset at prime

    Pwajok: Sunset at prime

    Chuwang Dung pays tribute to Senator Pwajok, who was laid to rest in Plateau State recently.

    When Sen. Gyang Nyam Shom Pwajok, popularly called GNS, died on Wednesday 28th October, every major news outlet in Nigeria featured tributes praising his  leadership style in the struggle for peace and unity in Plateau State. He was all the things that were said about him. He was courageous and visionary, a steady hand and a thoughtful strategist, and a tireless and eloquent voice for unity.

    But for me, he was more. He was a mentor who taught me  lessons that really helped me in improving my work and skills.

    I have been blessed to have had many great bosses throughout my career as a Journalist but without question, one of the most inspiring leaders I’ve ever followed was my brother GNS.

    I worked for GNS as a personal aide on media and publicity for barely one a half years  and I enjoyed working for him. Serving such a humble, intelligent and dynamic young man was the greatest honors of my professional life.

    GNS died at the age of 49. He lived a full life of purpose and consequence. As a champion of youth development he showed bravery in the face of hate and became a fierce advocate for unity and togetherness. A humble leader that valued truth and accuracy in his dealings.

    GNS had a commanding presence, yet was humble, approachable and friendly. He treated everyone with whom he had contact as equals, and still, when you met him you knew you were in the presence of greatness. GNS Pwajok will be missed by all who knew him, including me, a young Journalist with passion for politics and history I cherished each and every opportunity to serve him  because I was learning a lot from him.

    He encouraged me to embrace and pursue what I believe in with open mindedness  even amidst challenges. GNS loved to talk—he was conversant about almost anything, from history to politics, from business to current event.

    I will cherish my memories of GNS, and I pray that we all find solace in the fact that his life touched so many people in a positive way. He was a gentleman, scholar, mentor, hero, and friend to so many people, including me. I will miss him deeply. Rest in peace, my dear brother.

    Chuwang Dung

    Was the Special Assistant on Media and publicity to Late GNS Pwajok.

  • Ex-PDP governorship candidate Pwajok buried amid tears, eulogies

    Ex-PDP governorship candidate Pwajok buried amid tears, eulogies

    Plateau State stood still yesterday as one of its priced sons, the late Senator Gyang Nyam Shum Pwajok, was committed to mother earth. Pwajok passed on in India about three weeks ago. The former senator meant a lot to the people who had had cause to associate with him, hence his burial was full of testimonies from people whose lives he impacted on in one way or the other.

    The remains of the late senator was moved from the mortuary of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) as early as 8am to the Church of Christ In Nation (COCIN) Du, Jos South LGA for the burial mass. His body drew a long convoy of vehicles rarely experienced in the state. It was like the funeral of a king.

    At the funeral service at COCIN yesterday, Senate President Bukola Saraki described him as an embodiment of humility, adding that during his period as Senator, he contributed immensely to the current peace in Plateau State.

    Saraki, who was represented by Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, said Plateau State and Nigeria had lost a brave and vibrant leader who lived and worked for the peace and unity of the nation.

    The senator representing Plateau North, Dr. Jonah David Jang, regarded as the political father of the late Pwajok, described him as a sharp intellect, a vibrant character and a resilient spirit.

    Jang, who was visibly shaken by Pwajok’s death, wondered: “How could this rare star be dimmed so prematurely? We weep in anguish and wander why fate is so cruel to us.

    “But God is never cruel to us. Yes, His ways are sometimes strange, unfathomable to us, but we must not despair. We must still thank Him even for what He has done.

    “In our eyes, Gyang’s life was sadly too short. But we cannot measure the worth of a man’s life by the days he sojourns here. Rather, we should assess it by how much he impacts society.

    “Gyang was indeed a great man, a great inspiration and profound blessing to his time. He will continue to excite fond memories in generations to come, especially the youth whom he loved so much.”

    Plateau State governor, Simon Bako Lalong, while eulogising the life and times of the late senator, said: “I regret the death of GNS Pwajok, I questioned why he died so early in age. But I cannot question God Almighty who created GNS Pwajok.

    “The man has a vision for Plateau State and I will not allow that vision to die with him. I will work with the family to get his development blue print for me to implement it for the benefit of Plateau citizens whom GNS Pwajok loved so much.

    “As a governor, I had sincere intention to tap into the vision of GNS Pwajok in developing the state. It is therefore a great loss to my administration that he has to die now. I have no one to consult for ideas any more.

    “I know GNS has a rich store of ideas for the growth of the state. Only God knows why the man died without fulfilling his mission for the people of the state. It is so painful.”

    The running mate to the late Senator Pwajok during the governorship election, Yilji Gomwalk, described his deceased boss as a man with a large and gentle heart who accepted all indiscriminately. He always thought of others before himself.”

    Plateau youths described him as their hero and role model. Politicians described him as their hope. Women called him their saviour. The indigent group called him their Messiah.

    Senator Pwajok was the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 11 governorship election in Plateau State. He fell sick before May 29 and was flown out of the country for medical attention. But the youngest Senator in the 7th Assembly between 2012 and 2015 was confirmed dead on the 28th of October 2015.

    The late Pwajok was suspected to have died of illness known in medical parlance as Hepatocellular Carcinoma, a combination of kidney and liver complications.

    The entire state mourns his death because he died at the early age of 48, having been born on the 15th of March 1966.

    The PDP standard bearer died while pursuing his governorship case before the election petition tribunal.

    The youths in the state vowed to continue with the legacies of the late senator as enshrined in his political slogan, Greater Together, during the governorship campaign, based on his belief that Plateau State will be greater when the citizens are united.

    Senator Pwajok died fighting for the unity of the people of Plateau state. As a leader of the “greater together” crusade, he was detribalised. He embraced all and never showed ethnic or religious sentiments in his character.

    GNS Pwajok was a lecturer at Plateau State Polythecnic, University of Jos before going into politics. He was a Director General of Research and Documentation and late Chief of Staff in the former Jonah Jang administration between 2007 and 2012.

    He later contested the Senate seat of Plateau North Senatorial zone and won in 2012. He won the governorship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after defeating 15 other governorship aspirant.

    In a tribute by his wife, Mrs Bridget Gyang Pwajok, she said: “By this death, myself and my husband has only separated physically, we are still together in spirit.

    “I will forever love the world we shared. I will always remember your smile. I shall miss your love and care, no doubt, but I’m consoled with the confidence that you’ve gone to be with our Lord God.

    “I will be with you there someday. Rest in peace, my dear.”

    The only daughter of the late senator, Miss Matilda Simi Pwajok, said: “I never imagined I would pay a tribute to daddy so early. It is just too difficult to accept he is dead. I still don’t believe it. I wish Iam dreaming”

    Senator Pwajok was later laid to rest at his Rayfield residence after the burial mass.

  • Senator Pwajok dies at 49

    Senator Pwajok dies at 49

    Plateau State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the April 11 election, Senator Gyang Pwajok, has died.

    He was 49.

    The late politician defeated 16 other aspirants to clinch the party’s primary.

    Pwajok represented Plateau North in the National Assembly between 2011 and 2015.

    He withdrew from the Senate to contest the governorship election.

    Popularly called Senator GNS Pwajok, the late senator’s media aide, Chuwang Dung, confirmed the death.

    Dung said his boss died on Wednesday night in an Indian hospital, following a protracted liver problem.

    He added: “The family will soon come out with an official statement on the death and the burial arrangement.”

    Former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who succeeded the late Pwajok in the Senate, mourned the late PDP chieftain.

    Jang confirmed Pwajok’s death in a statement yesterday.

    The former governor said his predecessor in the Senate died of a complication called Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

    Jang said: “I am greatly pained and deeply saddened to inform you of the passing of a true Plateau son, our brother, mentor to the younger generation and a truly distinguished senator, Gyang Nyam Shom Pwajok, who died on October 28, after a brief battle with complications from Hepatocellular carcinoma.

    “As a firm believer in the supremacy of God over every being and all His creations, I believe that He has set out for everyone, their time on the earth. It has pleased Him to take away Senator Pwajok at this time; all we can do is to thank Him and not question His authority.

    The late Pwajok served in the Jang administration between 2007 and 2012 as his Director of Research and Documentation.

    He was also the Chief of Staff before he joined the senatorial race and won in October 2012, following the death of Senator Gyang Dalyop.

    Former Senate President David Mark was downcast yesterday when he heard news of Pwajok’s death.

    In a statement yesterday by his Media Assistant Paul Mumeh, the former Senate President regretted the death of the Plateau State senator, who described as a gentleman with “uncommon commitment and patriotism to the ideals of nationhood”.

  • Pwajok: My agenda for Plateau

    Pwajok: My agenda for Plateau

    The Plateau State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Gyang Pwajok, unfolded his blueprint for the state at the debate organised for candidates in Jos, the state capital. YUSUF IDEGU reports.

    As Plateau State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Senator Gyang Pwajok mounted the podium, there was silence at the auditorium of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Jos, the state capital. The Correspondents’ Chapel had organised a media forum for the four governorship candidates. The others are: Mr. Simon Lalong, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bagudu Hirse of the Labour Party (LP), and Chief Ibrahim Musa Sabiu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    The senator identified the various challenges facing the state. On peace and security that had bedevilled the state in recent past, Pwajok said his administration would strengthen the relationship between Plateau and neighbouring states. He added that the administration would also checkmate the infiltration of hoodlums and foreign elements that are used to foment trouble.

    Pwajok said that his government would prioritise security of lives and property and that he would to provide logistics and information support to the police and other security agencies. The PDP flag bearer said he would continue to advocate for the creation of state police because he believes that community policing will be the best option to maintain law and order within the state.

    He said the Jang Administration inherited a debt profile of over N80 billion from the previous administration in 2007 and he refuted claims by the opposition APC that the current debt status of the state was over N200 billion. He added that the State Debt Management Board will make all information pertaining to the debt stock public in due course.

    “It is obvious that factors such as religion and ethnicity, the nature of relationship between the federal and the state government, as well as relationship with neighbouring states have become critical points that must be put into consideration before doing what we need to do as a state.

    “I have always observed that because Plateau looks like a miniature Nigeria — with a composition of communities from the North to the South, from the West to the East — everything we do in Plateau has a long term effect on the rest of Nigeria. That is why if anything happens in Plateau State, it affects other parts of the country.

    “Before now, when we witnessed crisis on the Plateau and we raised an observation about the porous nature of our borders and the involvement of aliens in the internal security challenges of this country, many people thought it was a mere propaganda. But, today, Nigeria has woken up to the reality of infiltration of our borders and at some moments, we had to close some of the borders to enable us address some of our challenges internally.”

    Pwajok said if he becomes the governor, his government will encourage specialisation in agriculture and processing of agricultural produce in an overall determination to make agriculture a viable alternative to the now dwindling federal allocation from oil as the mainstay of the state economy.

    He added that the decreasing earnings from the export of crude oil has made it imperative than ever before for government at all levels to begin to diversify the source of their revenue. He said Plateau State is well placed to make agriculture a rewarding enterprise for its citizens, as well as the government.

    “The main policy thrust for the realization of the potentials of the state in agriculture is to put in place a collaborative effort involving individual farmers in various communities and the government. This would ensure that there is food security, which will make agriculture profitable and a source of foreign exchange. Thereby, it would help to generate employment and provide raw materials for our industries.”

    The candidate said it is imperative to encourage specialization, to make the best of it. He noted that he would specialisation to encourage productivity and value addition. For instance, he said Bokkos farmers in Plateau Central would be encouraged to produce potatoes, which the region is renowned and that it would be processed and given added value, to yield higher earnings for farmers and greater tax revenue for the state.

    Pwajok promised that his government will consolidate on the Redemption Agenda of the incumbent Governor Jonah Jang. He added that he would give priority to health, education and also budget about N1billion annually for small scale enterprise to provide jobs for the teaming youths and women in the state.

    He added that his government would provide an atmosphere conducive for the media, so that people will be well informed about decision-making to enable the state become a hub of developmental innovation.

    He received a standing ovation after his presentation. Even, Sabiu, another governorship candidate, nodded his head in approval of the brilliant points of his opponent.

    Pwajok was an university lecturer before entering into the political arena as a director at the Plateau State Government House. Later, he became Chief of Staff within the Government House bureaucracy. But, he entered into the mucky waters of Plateau politics proper when he was elected in a bye-election to represent Plateau North in the Senate, owing to the power vacuum created by the death of his predecessor, Dr Gyang Dantong.

    Pwajok got to the Senate at a time the national budget was being considered. He contributed to the debate on the issue, having been involved in the preparation of the budget at the state level. It gave him a platform to make an immediate impression of the stuff he was made of in such an important area of national discourse.

    Also, being a former university lecturer, the Senate floor was reminiscence of a lecture hall; a large audience of people listening to a proponent.

    Thus, in his short time in the Senate, he was able to achieve a lot for his constituents. In the less than one year that he served, he gave the people a good idea of what effective representation means, by maintaining regular contact with the constituents and taking into consideration their views and opinions on key issues, such as the constitutional review process.

    He had opened a constituency office in Jos, where he held regular meetings with the people. The sessions provided him the opportunity to understand their positions on national issues to represent them adequately. On the peace and security, the Senator had instituted a framework which constantly brings warring factions together i.e., Fulanis, Beroms and other tribes into one forum where grievances were aired, ironed-out and reconciliation effected.

    Through this forum, leaders of these warring factions have come together, and pacts have been sealed to eschew violence and embrace dialogue and forgiveness. This has in no small measure restored lasting peace to the restive Plateau North zone since his emergence as the senator.

    In terms of constituency project, Skills Acquisition Centres were set up in a variety of areas in the zone that have benefited constituents with lifelong skills to equip them with and enhance income generation capability. He had, during this short time in the Senate, brought the Senate President, Senator David Mark to Jos to chair the presentation of a donation of various items worth over N150 million to empower the people of his constituency.

     

     

     

     

     

  • How Pwajok won Plateau senatorial by-election

    How Pwajok won Plateau senatorial by-election

    Gyang Shom Nyam Pwajok is former Chief of Staff to Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State. A political scientist, he was elected to replace the late Senator Gyang Dantong in last Saturday’s by- election. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reviews the basic factors that ensured his victory over five other candidates.

     

    The race to fill the seats made vacant by the sudden death of late Senator Gyang Dalyop Dantong , who represented Plateau North in the National Assembly, began almost immediately after his death.

    The nation’s electoral law stipulates that such vacant seat be filled up within the first ninety days.

    The seat became vacant on July 8, when the legislator met his sudden death at the mass grave site where hundreds of mourners had gathered for a mass burial of about 50 victims of a mid-night attack by unknown gunmen in Maseh village, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    Before you mention the word ‘senate’, seven political parties had lined up their respective candidates for the contest. Three candidates came up to contest that of the state House of Assembly. Many aspirants came out and indicated interest to run for the seat, but few were chosen by their respective political parties. The selective processes were done in accordance to each party’s guidelines.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sped up the whole process when it announced October 6, as date for the by-elections based on agreement with stakeholders.

    The flag bearer for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was Jonathan Yusufu Pam; All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) had Dr. Danladi Atu while Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) had Tonny Aganga Yunana as its flag bearer. The Democratic People’s Party (DPP) cleared Col. John David Dung (rtd) o fl is flag; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) cleared Chris Giwa, while the Labor Party (LP) cleared Hon. Lumumba Dah Adeh and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) settled for Gyang Nyam Shom Pwajok.

    More than any other party, the ruling PDP took the race for the bye-election as its biggest challenge ever. For obvious reason, the ruling party was on the verge of losing its relevance in the state and the bye election was an opportunity to re-launch itself into relevance or be reduced into a minority party in the state.

    In the 2011 general election, the ruling party lost one of the senate seats to an opposition party, the Labour Party. It was the former governor of the state Senator Joshua Dariye who made it to the Senate at the expense of his former party, the PDP.

    This left the ruling party with two senators; Senator Victor Lar from Plateau South and late Senator Gyang Dantong from Plateau North. So, PDP received the death of one of its senator from the zone as another challenge threatening its vantage position on the Plateau.

    It was also another moment for Governor Jonah Jang to prove his political relevance in the state as he was about to lose his own zone to another party. Jang hails from Jos South, one of the six local governments that make up Plateau North.

    These were the basic factors that determined the activities and political build up before the election. Being the leader of the party in the state, Governor Jang moved out in full force to defend the interest of the party in the state. He was quite at the initial stage as to the choice of who should fly the party’s flag. But as soon as the party came up with its candidate after the primaries, Jang and the party leadership set up a high powered campaign team led by no less a person than the state deputy governor Ambassador Ignatius Longjan as the campaign director general.

    The campaign train took the party and its candidate from one corner of the zone to another.

    Prior to this time, the party almost broke up during its primary election held at Treasure Inn Jos. It was a battle between a 2nd republic deputy senate president Senator John Wash Pam and Pwajok. Both aspirants for the PDP primaries were some of the best hands for the position and the decision was tough for the party. The heat of what was happening in Jos was felt at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja and Aso Rock. The petitions going from Jos to national chairman of the party Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in Wadata House, Abuja were enough to force the national executive to seek the face of God Almighty.

    The party leadership at the state and national level only heave a sigh of relief when the primary was over, which Pwajok won.

    The end of the primaries set the tone for the election proper as other political parties had already lined up their flag bearers using the consensus formula in their respective primaries.

    Late Senator Dantong hails from Riyom local government; Jonathan Yusufu Pam hails from Jos South local government area; Col. David Dung is from Riyom local government while Jonathan Yusufu Pam is from Jos South. Chris Giwa is also from Jos South; Honourable Lumumba Da Adeh is a native of Bassa local government. Similarly, the PDP candidate, Gyang Pwajok is a native of Jos North local government area.

    The seven political parties contested the bye-election almost acted like multi-national marketing companies competing with one another for the sales of their products. The campaign slogan of the ruling party in the state, PDP, for instance, was based on quality representation, ability to deliver and capacity to beat any other party candidate, hence the emergence of GNS Pwajok. The Labor Party also insisted that it required an experienced candidate like Hon Lumumba Dah Adeh, who was in the House of Representatives in 1999. DPP held the belief that their candidate for the bye election must come from Riyom, home of late Senator Dantong and they arrived at picking Chief John Dung (rtd).

    The ACN preferred a candidate like Jonathan Yusufu Pam, a professional lawyer to be the best candidate considering that such people know the technicalities of law making. The same reason CPC went for a lawyer, Tonny Aganga Yunana as their candidate. Chris Giwa, the candidate for APGA emerged because the party saw in him a man of the people and a grassroots mobiliser. ANPP went for Dr. Danladi Atu because they believed that he is the most popular politician in the zone.

    However, the most interesting aspect of the election was the idea of fielding a consensus candidate against the ruling party because it was clear to all in the state that PDP was far ahead in opinion polls.

    Hence, all the opposition parties on the Plateau, under the umbrella of Conference for All Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) came up with a consensus candidate in the person of Chris Giwa, candidate of APGA. Chairman of all opposition parties in the state Alhaji Muhammed Kanam presented the consensus candidate in a press conference in Jos.

    According to the chairman, CNPP had five candidates for this election and we have resolved that it is wise to collapse them into one consensus candidate. The CNPP under very difficult conditions had to come up with a formula to present just one candidate to face the PDP because our goal is to win not to attempt to win.

    Kanam said: “A committee was set by the whole house to speak to our five candidates, a task which was not easy to handle. But since we have to come up with just but one candidate, the committee recommended Ambassador Chris Giwa of APGA to be the candidate to be supported by all members of CNPP”.

    When all was set for the main election, the state police command declared two days curfew to ensure the election was peaceful. It was indeed peaceful as there was total compliance with the no movement order.

    After collating all the results of the election from the six local governments of the zone, the PDP candidate, Pwajok, emerged winner. Announcing the final result at the zonal collation center in Jos, the Returning Officer, Prof. Fatima Sawa of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University of Technology (ATBU), Bauchi said, “from the result collated from the six local governments within the zone, GNS Pwajok of the PDP has won the majority vote and is duly elected as senator representing Plateau North senatorial zone”

    According to the announced results based on scores by each party candidate, GNS Pwajok led the pack with a total of 195,349 votes, Jonathan Yusufu Pam of ACN, 27,609; Dr. Danladi Atu of ANPP, 30,132; Chris Giwa of APGA, 36,245; Col David Dung of DPP, 38,847 and Hon. Lumumba Dah Ade of the LP, 25,527. The Plateau North senatorial district Senator-elect, Gyang Nyam Shom Pwajok has said there is neither winner nor loser in the last Saturday election.

    Pwajok in a statement in Jos said, “This has passed as the most peaceful election in the state, it was free and fair, it show all of us in the zone won because it was a collective effort including that of candidate of other parties.

    “If there is any victory at all, it is victory for all, and I don’t think there is any loser in this election because all of us work for its success including candidates of other parties”.

    Pwajok who paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, late Senator Gyang Dantong said, “I therefore wish to call the entire people of the zone including all aspirants and candidates to make sure I complete the good work started by late senator Dantong”

    Pwajok said: “The immediate challenge before me as the senator-elect is the issue of how to redeem the battered image of the zone. Plateau North has in recent times became famous for violence of all sort, we need to redeem this image, this is not what only me as the senator can achieve.

    The former Chief of Staff to Jang said: “I need all stakeholders on board, especially, all those that came out to contest this election, all the parties candidate know well that the crises is affecting all of us and I need them to come together and find a way out irrespective of ethnic and political affiliation.

    With the emergence of Pwajok in the Saturday election, the people of the zone have now found a replacement for late Senator Gyang Dantong.