The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has described traditional rulers as the closest to the grassroots while seeking their support and blessings ahead of the 2023 polls.
Caleb, who was accompanied by his running mate, Josephine Piyo, and other PDP chieftains amidst a crowd of supporters, spoke when he visited the paramount ruler of Mwagavul, HRM John Hirse, in Mangu Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
The PDP candidate, a former Mangu LG Chairman, said, “We had a seamless and mutually respectful relationship with the elders and by the grace of God, if given another opportunity, we will continue to demonstrate respect for the traditional institution, we will continue to demonstrate respect to our elders and most especially, we will commit ourselves more than ever before to the service of the people.”
Mutfwang added, “We are engaging critical stakeholders across the state to ensure that we get prepared ahead of the electioneering campaign, we are reconciling party members and making sure that we sensitise people so that when the campaigns start in earnest, we will go in as a united people.”
Hirse, who spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers who were present to receive Mutfwang, thanked the PDP candidate for the visit, describing it as a sign of a good thing to come in 2023.
Expressing gratitude to the Plateau people, particularly the PDP for trusting their son with the PDP ticket to lead the party for the 2023 governorship election, the monarch admonished the party to run an issue-based campaign, devoid of a campaign of calumny, bitterness, rancour and uncultured behaviour to attract more followers, who will vote the party to power.
“You have our blessings,” the monarch added.
The PDP candidate and his entourage later moved to the Pilot Primary School in the locality where he addressed a mammoth crowd at a reception to welcome him back home after he emerged as the party’s flag-bearer.
Mutfwang noted that the state had been the home of the PDP and that the people were united to return the party to power to enable it to provide credible leadership for the development of the state.
“I honestly feel very elated, there is nothing good as being accepted by your people and I see that my candidature has brought joy and excitement to the people of Mangu Local Government Area and Plateau people at large.
“I am glad to have been accompanied home by a mammoth crowd of people across the state to make my first journey home since I picked the PDP ticket, it is so gratifying.”
He assured the people that every ethnic group would be given a sense of belonging if he won the 2023 governorship election while encouraging them to get their Permanent Voter Cards ready.
The deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Josephine Piyo applauded women for coming out in their numbers to receive the PDP governorship candidate who she said had great consideration for women in the rebuilding of the state.
She said Mutfwang would be gender friendly in providing leadership in Plateau if given the mandate, having ceded the deputy governorship position to women.
The PDP Zonal Vice Chairman, North Central, Hon. Theophilus Dakas described the turn-out as a victory in waiting and urged the people to vote for the PDP.
He called on the PDP members to work assiduously for the success of the party ahead of the 2023 elections.
The state party chairman, Hon. Chris Hassan said the emergence of Mutfwang as the flag bearer of the party had strengthened its acceptability towards winning all elections in 2023.
He said the party had embarked on reconciliation with all those who contested the party’s primary and lost with a view to going into the election as a united front.
