By Marie-Therese Nanlong.

Jos—The Plateau State All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Mr. Simon Lalong has decried the debt profile of the state which he said was over N100 billion, saying there was need to rescue the state from total collapse.

Addressing his party’s supporters Wednesday during the flag off of its campaign at Nefur Arena, Pankshin, Lalong said he was on a mission to rescue the state and asked the people to give him the needed support.

He said he would ensure the timely payment of salaries of civil servants as well as create the enabling environment for the creation of job opportunities for the teeming youths in the state.

The party, however, received some defectors including former commissioners and aides who served in the first tenure of Governor Jonah Jang.

Speaking on their behalf, Mr. Nuhu Gargara said their group was made up men and women of integrity who had worked at various times and in various capacities in Jang’s administration for the progress of Plateau and Nigeria as a whole.

He, also, said the group intended to use its platform to campaign against the belief that APC was a party for Muslims which “some mischievous people are using to confuse the people of Plateau State.”