By Ezekiel Dontinna
A new leadership of the Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, PIDAN, the umbrella body of all the Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities Development Associations, has emerged with Ambassador Nanpon Danjuma Sheni, as the President.
This came in a press statement signed by the outgone association’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Stephen Sarki Musa, and made available to newsmen yesterday, shortly after the election held at the Plateau State NUJ Secretariat Jos, the State capital.
In the election, held under a friendly and family atmosphere through an unopposed, Ambassador Sheni was affirmed by 53 of the 55 members of the PIDAN National Council.
Also elected alongside Amb Sheni are Da Gyang Dudu Dalyop, 1st Vice President; while the position of the 2nd Vice President when to Alpha Dakota John.
Other members elected into the new Executive Council of PIDAN were, Danjuma Auta, Secretary General; Pofun Joshua Ndom, Treasurer; while Prof David L. Wonang was returned as the new Financial Secretary
In the only contest in the election, Dankama Sunday Emmanuel, polled 27 votes to become the new Public Relation Officer, PRO, as against 26 votes won by Mr. Akos Z. Mashingil.
In an acceptance speech, Amb Sheni extolled the contributions of the outgoing EXCO, led by Prof Aboi Madaki and commended them for raising PIDAN to enviable position.
“The enviable position PIDAN has attained today is principally as a result of the hard work, sacrifices and contributions of the outgoing Executive Council; who worked tirelessly,” Amb Sheni said.
The new President assured that they will, with the cooperation of the Council try it’s best to, within the context of its constitutional mandate take the Association to greater heights.
He thanked Council members for the confidence reposed on them, assuring that the mandate bestowed on the new Executive Council, will not be misplaced.
Earlier in his speech, the outgoing President, Prof Aboi Madaki thanked the PIDAN family for the support they gave during their tenure, adding that their cooperation manifested in the raising profile of the Association.
Prof. Madaki acknowledged the significance of the election, saying that “Today represents a special day in the life of our organization because we have observed the growth of PIDAN from a small association with very little influence to an interesting organization with potentials representing the core interest of Plateau Autochthones and liaising with relevant stakeholders at home and in diaspora.”
The outgoing President added that because of constant engagements with membership of PIDAN, “We have witnessed the emergence of highly respected sons and daughters of Plateau taking the responsibility of leading their Autochthones Development Associations, thus enriching the quality of representation and perception of the public about PIDAN.
Prof Madaki tasked the new leadership to reposition the Association, adding that “PIDAN should be in a position to set the political and socioeconomic framework for development of the state and allow the politicians fill in the content of what is required to achieve the goals captured by the framework.”
Meanwhile, the inauguration and swearing in of the new Executive Council has been fixed for October 19, 2024.To this end, a 5 member inauguration committee headed
Agaldo Gideon, was constituted to handle the event.
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