THE BEROM HAVE ALWAYS VOTED EN BLOC: WE MOVE AN ADDRESS BY EDWARD G PWAJOK, SAN TO BECO ON 21/09/2022

I am honoured and deeply appreciate the privilege to address you. 

This is the culmination of my political consultations with groups and individuals. As a former official of BECO, I am proud to be associated with you and commend you for keeping the flag flying.

Some may wonder why I should bother to consult on decisions that are personal. While it certainly is true that each person has personal decisions to make concerning political choices, but the decisions we make have impact on others. This is especially so for myself who is privileged to be counted as one of the leaders in our land having held many leadership positions. 

My ‘silence’ has been the subject of speculation. I decided that since I belong to a community, I should share my thoughts and concerns with the same community and hear from them.

I have consulted widely, met with Elders, women, youths, students, people of all classes and vocations. The feedback I got was that we are at the crossroads and need to think outside the box to decide on the direction of voting next year in view of the implications on the society. The choices we would make, would have immediate and future consequences. We should know that we are currently faced with existential threats and only voting the right candidates and parties would change our grim trajectory.

I have been an active Politician for 40 years as I started from 1982 as a teenager. I have studied our political history, interacted with key players over a long time and participated actively which has given me the tools to understand our politics.

As we approach 2023, people are discussing whether we should continue bloc voting or split our votes. I intend to use the opportunity of this meeting to share my views and to humbly profer suggestions. 

Before I go into details let me come clear by informing you that I am a card carrying member of the Labour Party having resigned my membership of the PDP. Permit me to offer some reasons and justification for my action in view of the questions raised in some quarters. Some persons have accused me of frequently changing parties. Most of such persons belong to the PDP.

Firstly, the Constitution in Section 40 gives me the Right to belong to any Party of my choice and this Right includes that of changing Parties, so, I have not broken any Law.

 I wonder why no PDP member has questioned their Presidential candidate who has changed Parties probably more than any other Nigerian. In fact, Atiku Abubakar defeated Nyesom Wike who has never left the PDP for one day. Coming back to Plateau state, how many leaders do we have who have never crossed over from one party to the other? Why do some people want to treat me differently by glossing over others and reserving harsh condemnatory words for only Edward Pwajok?

Politics is the pursuit of interest and a Party should be made up of people of like minds who should have the same interests. When a member of a party no longer shares the same interests with other members of that, party, the best option is to leave to join others who share the same interests with him. I believe in zoning but many members of PDP do not. I believe that the Presidency in 2023 should go to the southern part of Nigeria but PDP elected a candidate who once protested against Goodluck Jonathan because of Zoning. I do not want to engage in antiparty activities by remaining in the party when I had made up my mind not to support the party’s presidential candidate. 

Aside the issue of zoning, it is crystal clear that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party towers over any other candidate in terms of competence, capacity, integrity aside the fact that zoning favours him. His pedigree speaks for him. His sparkling stewardship of Anambra state speak for him.

I want the best for my country and our children so I have pitched my tent with the Party which cares for the working people and other under privileged citizens. Already the youths and women have indicated their support for both Obi and the Labour Party. The recent 1 million man March in Jos which witnessed such a tumultuous crowd left no one in doubt that Plateau has moved to the Labour Party. I am grateful that I saw the light even before that rally. 

I humbly and respectfully urge the Berom people to move over to the Labour Party like other Plateau people. Let me give examples of people who changed their party to justify my plea. Black Americans were initially members of the Republican Party. This was because the famous President Abraham Lincoln abolished slave trade and made blacks free citizens in the USA. He was a Republican However, there was still segregation against blacks who suffered terribly until President Franklyn Roosevelt came to office and introduced the New Deal. Roosevelt was a Democrat. Blacks then moved over to the Democratic Party and Democratic Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson who were in office during the civil rights movement acceded to many demands of blacks. Little wonder, Barrack Obama won elections to become the first black President of the USA and we should remember that he is a Democrat.

So, if black Americans changed their Party, I urge the Berom to move to Labour Party in order to benefit from Mr Peter Obi and Labour Party‘s new deal.

The other group that vote monolithically are the Hausa and Fulani. In Plateau State, since Independence, they always do bloc voting after identifying their interests, either voting for the same party or candidate of their choice depending on the candidates contesting any particular office. This was recently demonstrated in the February, 2022 Jos North/ Bassa House of Representatives Bye election, when the Hausa and Fulani who in recent elections, voted for APC candidates for all elective positions, moved away to massively vote for the candidate of the PRP, a party that is virtually unknown in Plateau state.

Since I am here to discuss Berom interest, I would not analyse the Hausa and Fulani vote but suffice it to say that the Hausa and Fulani on the one hand and the Berom on the other hand are the ethnic groups that consistently do bloc voting over the years, and this is regardless of the outcome of the elections, that is, whether their preferred party or candidate wins or loses.

A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF BEROM VOTING PATTERN

A historical analysis of Berom votes from 1976 to date will reveal remarkable bloc voting where the Berom usually massively vote for a particular party with majority of their votes, depending on their interest in any particular election. 

The reasons for this trend from my perspective are as Follows:

• Solidarity with other ethnic groups based on perceived oppression and injustice perpetrated against the Berom and some ethnic groups the Berom align with.

• Party loyalty.

• Need to show fraternal support to other ethnic groups.

• Support for the best candidate who identifies with their interest.

• Reaction to wrong policies and decisions by Government which do not favour the Berom.

• Allegiance to their Political leader. 

• All these factors can be applied cumulatively or a combination of some of them.

I shall attempt to analyse the various elections and offer reasons for the direction of the votes.

1976 ELECTION

Following the Dasuki committee report on the reform of local Govt administration, local Government elections were held throughout the country where Councillors were elected. My Dad Da P.D. Pwajok, representing Kuru, Da D.D. Balang representing Zawan, Da Choji Zang representing Gyel etc were among those elected. Because it was a parliamentary system which was not based on political parties, the Councillors further elected one among them as chairman of the local government. In the then Jos local government council, the Berom Councillors gave their majority votes to Hon. Choji Zang who emerged as the first chairman of Jos local government after defeating Alhaji Sale Hassan.

A similar scenario played out in Barkin ladi local government council at the same time with the election of Da Yusufu Pwol(1976-1979).

1979 ELECTIONS

On the return of the country to civilian rule in 1979, Dalo DB Zang was the undisputed Berom leader and also became the chairman of the NPP. In spite of two Berom, John Wash Pam and John Chuwang contesting the NPP Governorship primaries which was also contested by Garba Matta, Solomon Lar and George Hoomkwap, SD Lar emerged victorious and the Berom massively voted for Lar of the NPP to become the Governor .

John Wash Pam was elected senator and went on to become the Deputy senate President.

Filibus Suleiman Dalyop was elected to represent Jos south in the House of Representatives while P C Deme an Aten was elected to represent Barkin ladi.

5 Berom were elected to the house of assembly with Patrick Dokotri becoming the majority leader while the other 4 members were:

PM Nuhu Bot( Foron)

Peter Bature Dangyang ( Riyom)

Lt Col Linus P. Nyam ( Jos South)

Choji Zang (Jos South West)

1983 ELECTIONS

By 1983 the same pattern of voting occurred with the same outcome of victory by all the Berom candidates of the NPP 

Changes were made as follows:

Linus Damanjing was elected to the House of Representatives for Jos south while Sarah Dokotri was elected to the House of Representatives for Barkin ladi.

5 members of the house of assembly with Da Patrick Dokotri as the speaker. 

Hon. Choji Zang, Jos south west

Hon. Toma Davou Jang, Jos south

Hon. Peter Bature Dangyang, Riyom 

Hon. Felix Sambo Pam, Riyom.

Meanwhile before the 1983 elections, Dr Alex Fom who in 1979 was the Publicity Secretary of the NPN was prevailed upon by the Berom to join them in the NPP which the Berom belonged to. He moved over to the NPP and was made the national secretary of the NPP.

POST 1983

The Berom had spearheaded the formation of Jodico (Jos division cultural organization) comprising all the indigenous ethnic groups in the northern zone to Forster unity. The Berom subordinated their interests and promoted those of other smaller ethnic groups. This led to the emergence of Haruna Gini Umaru as Chairman of Jos Local Government and D T Sango as Chairman of Barkin Ladi between 1988-1989.

1991-1992 ELECTIONS

When General Babangida formed two parties for the country in preparation for the return of the country to civil rule, the Berom showed keen interest in the two parties, SDP and NRC.

Hannatu Chollom and Dalo D B Zang‘s son, Davou, contested for the NRC Governorship ticket which was won by Bagudu Hirse while Da Michael Bot Mang and Chuwang Rwang Pam contested under the SDP which was won by Fidelis Tapgun.

The Berom voted en bloc for Tapgun who became the Governor.

In 1992, the Berom gave their votes to an Anaguta, Aminu Zang who won the Jos north seat to the House of Representatives.

Davou S.B Gyel won Jos South/ Jos East while James Vwi won Barkin Ladi / Riyom.

Jacob Isandu got most of the Berom votes to become the Senator  

Hon. Isa Chungwom Song was elected member Barkin Ladi and became the speaker of the House of Assembly in 1992

Prince Chuwang Rwang Pam was elected to represent Jos South while Hon. Mwankwon Dachung represented Barkin Ladi 

1999 ELECTIONS

In 1999, Chief Joshua Dariye was elected the Governor under the PDP. It should be noted that Da Jonah appealed to the Berom to vote for the PDP. However, the Berom bloc voted Yohanna Dalyop who lost the governorship election to Joshua Dariye while all the three House of Assembly seats were won by the Berom namely: Gabriel B Fom, Jos South, Rufus Bature, Barkin Ladi and Josephine Piyo, Riyom. 

Davou Zang was elected Senator under the PDP.

Daniel Sunday Dung was elected member representing Jos South / Jos East while Isa Chungwom Song was elected member representing Barkin Ladi Riyom.

2003 ELECTIONS

In 2003, the Berom voted en bloc as follows:

They voted for Obasanjo of the PDP in the presidential election against Buhari of the ANPP. Da Jonah Jang of ANPP lost to Chief Dariye of PDP in the Governorship election.

Timothy Adudu from Rukuba who contested under ANPP, got the Berom vote to emerge Senator defeating the incumbent Senator Davou Zang in spite of having the advantage of his Father, the leader of the Berom.

Gabriel B Fom of ANPP won the House of Representatives seat to represent Jos South/ Jos East while Dr Gyang Dantong won under ANPP to represent Barkin Ladi / Riyom. 

In the House of Assembly, all the three seats were won by the ANPP with Pam Dongs, Rufus Bature and Emmanuel Jugul representing Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom respectively.

2007 ELECTIONS 

In the Presidential elections, the Berom bloc voted PDP which had Umaru Yar’adua as President. Buhari contested under the ANPP.

The bloc voting of the Berom became manifest even in a contest involving Berom candidates in 2007. 

In the election where Da Jonah David Jang contested on the platform of the PDP and Architect Pam Dung Gyang contested under the AC, the Berom bloc voted the PDP and Da P D Gyang was defeated even in his ward and polling unit. 

In the House of Assembly elections, the Berom got 3 seats on the PDP platform with Hon. Gyang Fulani for Barkin Ladi who also became the Chief Whip in the House of Assembly.

Dalyop Mancha was elected member House of Assembly representing Jos South and Daniel Dem Mwangyel, representing Riyom.

In the PDP primaries for House of Representatives for Jos South / Jos East, there were about 6 aspirants with the Berom having 4 and Afizere 2. Bitrus Kaze got the majority of Berom votes to emerge the winner. In fact, he was closely followed by Dr Yakubu Forbur the other Afizere aspirant in a constituency where the Berom are the majority. This shows the Berom had agreed to give Kaze of Afizere extraction their votes. Hon. Kaze went on to win the election and of the 8 seats of the House of Representatives in Plateau State gave the widest vote margin or difference.

Ngwo Martha Bodunrin won the House of Representatives seat for Barkin Ladi/Riyom.

Dr Gyang Dantong won the Senate seat with a wide vote difference due to the bloc voting of the Berom.

2011 ELECTIONS 

In the Presidential Elections, the Berom overwhelmingly voted for Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP against Buhari of the CPC.  

For the Governorship Elections, Governor Jang did so well that his deputy, Mrs Pauline Tallen who left the PDP to contest the Governorship under the Labour Party, lost her Shendam local government area, her ward and her polling unit to Governor Jang.

This time around the state bloc voted along with the Berom. 

Senator Dantong was easily re-elected to the Senate.

Hon. Kaze also was re-elected and Hon. Mwadkon was elected defeating Governor Jang’s preferred aspirant Ngwo Martha Bodunrin in the primaries. 

For the House of Assembly, Dalyop Mancha was re-elected for Jos south, Daniel Dem re-elected for Barkin Ladi and Peter Gyendeng elected for Barkin Ladi.

The bloc voting also manifested in the Local Government elections of 2008. Timothy Buba won with the support of other ethnic groups the Jos North Local Government Chairmanship, the first by a Berom after the splitting of Jos Local Government in 1991.

Peter Vwang Dung won in Jos south, Dr Fom Dakwak in Barkin ladi and Simon Mwadkon in Riyom.  All of them won on the platform of the PDP.

2012 SENATE AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY BYE ELECTIONS

With the death of Senator Dantong and Hon. Gyang Fulani on the 8th July,2012, INEC organized Bye elections to fill their vacant seats in October,2012.

Six Parties contested the Bye Elections 

PDP DPP APGA ANPP ACN LABOUR PARTY

G.N.S Pwajok, Col. Dungs, Chris Giwa, Danladi Atu, J.Y Pam & Lumumba Adeh

195,349 38,847 36,245 30,132 27,619 25,527

Three Parties contested the Barkin Ladi Bye Election

PDP DPP ACN

Kaneng Gyang Fulani Bulus Bot Ezekiel Gyang

33,549 6,718 4,267

2015 ELECTIONS 

For the Governorship Elections, GNS Pwajok flew the flag of the PDP while Simon Lalong had the APC flag. The Berom bloc voted the PDP. However, the APC won the Governorship election.

The PDP won all the elections in Berom land with Da Jonah Jang winning the senate seat and Edward Pwajok, my humble self winning the House of Representatives seat for Jos South/ Jos East.

I D Gyang won the House of Representatives seat for Barkin Ladi/ Riyom.

For the House of Assembly, Peter Gyendeng was elected to represent Barkin Ladi, Nyam Dareng won to represent Jos south while Daniel Dem was re-elected to represent Riyom. In a curious turn of events, the PDP which won 13 seats in the house of assembly agreed to elect Peter Azi of the APC as speaker when the APC had 11 seats.

Hon Daniel Dem was therefore made the minority leader.

2019 ELECTIONS 

The Berom bloc - voted all the PDP candidates for all positions from the President to the House of Assembly.

Indeed, in the Governorship election, Governor Lalong even as an incumbent Governor could not win a single unit in all the wards where the Berom were in the majority.

I D Gyang won the senate seat defeating Rufus Bature another Berom who was on the ticket of the APC with a wide gap. In fact, Rufus Bature lost his Local Government, ward and polling unit to the PDP. PDP’s I.D Gyang got 269,555 while APC’s Rufus Bature got 171,233. The total votes cast were 463,904.

Dachung Musa Bagos was elected the Member representatives representing Jos South/ Jos East. Simon Mwadkon won for Barkin Ladi / Riyom. 

For the House of Assembly Esther Simi Dusu won in Jos North West, Dalyop Fom Gwottson won in Jos South, Timothy Dantong won in Riyom while Peter Gyendeng was re-elected in Barkin Ladi and was further elected the minority leader.

It is in the light of the history of the pattern of Berom voting, that the all important question of how the Berom would vote in 2023 given the changed dynamics with a strong third Party, the Labour Party which enjoys wide acceptability particularly among the youths and women needs to be answered.

Given the past voting trend of our people across all our local government areas over a long period of time, we should accept the reality that the Berom always do bloc voting. Some vested interests will attempt to split the Berom vote but given the electoral behaviour of the Berom which I have brought out, it may be naive to assume that the Berom will split their votes on account of the machinations of some politicians. It is the Party with the best candidates who can identify the interests of the Berom in 2023 that will get the Berom votes. I appeal to BECO and other Berom leaders to play a critical role in ensuring healthy debates and peaceful campaigns by all Parties and Politicians. We are all brothers and sisters struggling for the votes of our people. We are not enemies struggling to kill ourselves. I have refrained from blowing the trumpet of my preferred candidates because INEC has not officially declared the commencement of campaigns. I have not analysed all elections, including those held before 1979 or some of those during the Abacha interregnum. This may be done subsequently if the need arises for a more detailed exposition.

 May the good lord bless and protect us as we prepare to commence the campaigns in earnest very soon.

Thank you for listening.

HON EDWARD PWAJOK, SAN, KSG LB