BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

Women in Plateau state hardly take the opportunity of challenging men in the political sphere but Mrs. Eunice Sambo, the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate for the Plateau North Senatorial zone has taken the bull by the horns as she is challenging the incumbent governor, Jonah Jang who is aspiring for the same seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Despite the odds, the trained Social Worker said she is not intimidated by the governor’s ambition as both of them are exercising their constitutional rights and as a matter of fact, she described governor Jang as her “biggest campaigner” who “through the wrongs he has done many people” made the people clamour for change which they have seen in her.

Eunice Sambo

Speaking recently in Jos during a Media Forum organized by the Correspondents” Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, she stressed she is the better candidate for the seat as she had worked with grassroots people as a trained Social Worker within and outside the country for decades.

Mrs. Sambo who hails from Jos East, the only local government area in Plateau North Senatorial zone yet to produce a senator is also confident the people will give her the needed support as they are disenchanted with Governor Jang’s style of leadership.

She assured she will focus on peaceful and harmonious co-existence in the troubled zone, empowerment of communities through the empowerment of women and youths, ensure quality legislative representation at the National Assembly as well as intervene in areas of health, educational infrastructure and basis amenities in the constituency.

Intercultural constituency

Giving a breakdown of how she will go about achieving her goals, she explained her office will facilitate the establishment of inter-cultural constituency consultation form with representation from identified ethnic groups, establishment of cross-cultural Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre and establishment of an inter-communal collaborative peace projects.

She added she will partner the National Orientation Agency, Industrial Training Fund, SMEDAN, and People Living with Disabilities among other groups to enhance the creation of small and medium jobs for rural women and youths.

The APC senatorial candidate reiterated she has passion for service by her calling and will employ her experiences which she acquired nationally and internally to serve the people of Plateau North Senatorial Zone when elected into office in the forthcoming elections.

According to her, “Plateau State belongs to all of us; every qualified person has the right to stand for election. I am not intimidated by the governor’s ambition, he is exercising his right to stand for election and so am I.

“In every election, there must be a winner and a loser but I will win because Jang has done so much wrong to people and the people need change. Jang is my biggest campaigner, people are tired, and they want to see peace return. “My ambition is for the good of our society, it will give women the platform to be more active in the society, and we will talk about and address issues of women because women issues are community issues. The physically-challenged will not be left out because we will reach out to everyone.”

As it is, political pundits believe the APC candidate will give governor Jang a tight fight as the women previously unknown but through intense grassroots campaign has stolen the heart of many who believe in her manifestoes.