From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong has charged the newly sworn-in Chairman of Qua’an Pan local government area, Hon. Abdulmalik Haruna to hold his new office in trust and delivered good governance to the people of Qua’an Pan LGA.

He charged the new Chairman to ensure that resources were utilised in line with the realities of COVID- 19, where government funds have become scarce and give priority to programmes and projects that have direct impact on the lives of the people.

Lalong stated this in a press statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Makut Simon Macham yesterday in Jos the Plateau State capital.

The statement reads, “Following the impeachment of the suspended Chairman of Qua’an Pan Local Government, Hon. Isaac Kwallu by the Legislative Arm of the LGA, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has sworn in the Deputy Chairman Hon. Abdulmalik Yusuf Haruna as substantive Executive Chairman.

“Recalled that the former Chairman was earlier suspended by the Plateau State House of Assembly. Given this development and in line with extant laws, it became necessary to swear in the former Deputy Chairman, Hon. Abdulmalik Yusuf Haruna so as to ensure that there is no vacuum in the administration of the Local Government.”

The Governor cautioned the new Chairman, to serve the people honestly and diligently as the people were yearning for development at the grassroots.

” You are to hold this office in trust and to deliver good governance to the people of your Local Government with the fear of God”, he advised.

The new Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Abdulmalik Usman said he considered his swearing in as an act of God, saying he was ready to work with all stakeholders particularly the Management Team and Members of the Legislative Arm as well as the traditional and security institutions.

“I will deploy my experience within the Local Government System to mobilise and reconcile all parties that may have been aggrieved because of the developments in the Local Government in recent times.

I will also do my best to uplift the standard of living of the people in order to make them feel the impact of Government”, he said.

The new Chairman who was born in 1969 is from Kurgwi in Quan’pan Local Government and has a Bachelors Degree in History from the Nasarawa State University Keffi. He was a Councillor representing Kurgwi West from 2004-2007.

During the brief swearing-in ceremony at the New Government House Little Rayfield-Jos, Governor Lalong said the event was coming in rather unusual circumstances because of the impeachment of the former Chairman by members of the Legislative Arm, who had accused him on various acts of misconduct.

Recalled that Justice N.L Musa of the State High Court has on Tuesday granted the ‘impeached Chairman’ Chairman an order of interim injunction restraining that the “Defendants/Respondents whether by themselves, their servants, agents and privies, from doing anything or continuing any act or making any pronouncement or taking any step whatsoever or otherwise acting in any manner that will interfere, or have effect of interfering with the plaintiff’s three-years term of office before its expiration in October,2021 pending the determination of the motion on notice.”