Jonah David Jang


Air Commodore Jonah David Jang is a Nigerian politician who was the Governor of Plateau State from 2007 to 2015. He had previously served as Military Governor of Benue State and Gongola State
He ran successfully for reelection on 26 April 2011. In 2015, Jang ran and won Plateau North senate seat as his term as Governor of Plateau State drew to a close. In 2018 Jang declared his senate seat vacant and said it was time for the people of Plateau North to decide who would represent at the red chamber. Jang was at the time making a nocturnal political consultation to run for the presidential ticket of the main opposition party, PDP for the 2019 presidential election.
Jang was in 2018 arraigned in a Jos High Court by EFCC over allegations of fraud to the tune of 6.3 billion naira of Plateau State fund when he was the Governor of the state. On May 16, 2018 he was remanded in Jos prison after his application for bail was declined by the court.
on August 28, 2018 Jang formally declared his interest to run for president at the Plateau State PDP secretariat.

Background

Jonah David Jang was born on 13 March 1944 in Du, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. In 1965 he enlisted as an Air Force Officer Cadet at the Military Training School in Kaduna. He was given flying training at Uetersen in West Germany and further training at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1969 and promoted to Lieutenant in 1970. He attended a course on Supply Operations Training in Denver, Colorado, United States and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1972, Major in 1975 and Wing Commander in 1978, serving in most of the Nigerian air formations during this period.
During the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida he served as Military Governor of Benue State from August 1985 to August 1986, then as Military Governor of Gongola State from August 1986 to December 1987.
He voluntarily retired from the Nigeria Air Force in 1990.
Jonah Jang took a Bachelor of Divinity Degree at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria.
In 2007, he successfully contested the governorship election in Plateau State on the platform of the People's Democratic Party.
He ran successfully for reelection on 26 April 2011.