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Tag: Lalong

  • PDP’s allegation of funds’ diversion, diversionary, malicious -Lalong

    Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has described the allegations of mismanagement of funds against his administration by the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Damishi Sango, as a malicious, ridiculous diatribe and mere diversionary tactic employed by the opposition in the state to score cheap political points.

    Sango had on Tuesday alleged, among others, that the Lalong-led APC government received over N115 billion as revenue from the Federation Account and bank loans? and diverted the funds to private use.

    Reacting, the governor, through a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mark Longyen, said the PDP chairman’s allegations were aimed at diverting the people’s attention from the findings of the recently inaugurated Judicial Commission of Inquiry he set up to investigate all the financial transactions of the immediate past PDP administration of former Gov. Jonah Jang.

    The statement read: “The attention of the Plateau State government has been drawn to media reports credited to the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Damishi Sango, who at a press conference on Tuesday, reportedly made wild and largely unsubstantiated allegations cum fabrications, ostensibly to cast negative aspersions on and maligning the person of our indefatigable governor, the Rt Honourable Simon Lalong, and the APC-led administration in the state, just to score cheap political points.

    “Ordinarily, the APC government would not have dignified Sango and his PDP cohorts with a response because even the least informed Plateau common man knows that the allegations are just wild allegations that, by and large, put logic on its head and curiously devoid of documentary evidence, and so should be ignored by all right-thinking individuals.

    He, however, stated that the reply is to set the records straight.

    He said “It is indeed not difficult for any discerning mind to decipher that the timing of the PDP press conference, which is coming barely a week after the Governor inaugurated a 6-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the immediate past PDP government of former governor Jonah Jang over alleged multi-billion naira profligacy, is a mischievously orchestrated opposition falsehood and diversionary tactics aimed at unwittingly gaining public sympathy, and settling political scores with the governor over the probe.

    “The good people of Plateau State should, therefore, not allow themselves to be deceived, used and dumped by these same leaders of a party, which is best known with the acronym of “People Deceiving People,” whose obnoxious agenda is a sinister move to divert attention from the multi-billion naira looting sleaze that the PDP and its leaders bequeathed to Governor Lalong, which the Judicial Commission of Inquiry he recently constituted is about to unearth and make public?.

    He said the allegation of Sango that the Lalong administration has received and squandered N115bn is “malicious and ridiculous” and a “clear demonstration” of how the PDP twists fact and figures to paint the Lalong administration black.

    Describing the action as a “pull him down syndrome” and attempt to “give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.”

    He said “The net payments accruing to Plateau State from the Federation Account on a monthly basis, after the multi-billion loans taken by the Jang administration are deducted, are available on the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and one would have expected Sango and his PDP co-travellers to visit the site and confirm the figures, which indicate an average monthly allocation of less than N2 billion, which can hardly settle Plateau’s wage bill of about N1.5 billion, before going to press, but they deliberately failed to do that.”

    He also said the allegation that the APC-led government “spent N4.5 billion on the purchase of luxury cars for selected government officials “at a time pensioners and civil servants were being denied their pay package” is false.

    He declared that “The records are there to prove that the Lalong administration inherited a paltry N96 million sum and had to take a bank loan of N4.5 billion in June 2015 for the purpose of settling a part of the eight months unpaid salaries of striking workers and nearly one year of pension arrears, and not to purchase exotic official vehicles as claimed.”

  • Lalong: Probe panel not for witch-hunt

    Lalong: Probe panel not for witch-hunt

    Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has said the state’s Commission of Inquiry was not set up to witchhunt anybody.

    He said the six-man commission was constituted to probe how the state’s funds were spent by the Jonah Jang administration.

    Lalong said the committee would ensure that its work is credible and transparent.

    He said: “Our citizens, acting on the strength of the mandate given to us, have repeatedly called out for a review of the activities of the past administration, on the strength of what we have placed in public domain, in our bid to get our people understand the level of challenges we are confronted with.

    “As a responsible government, we cannot afford to ignore this deafening call, which for all intent and purpose are justified.

    “What seemed a delayed action concerning the constitution of a Commission of Inquiry is certainly not a delay, but a deliberate line of action which takes cognisance of the fact that investigations by anti – graft agencies are process driven, and that the bureaucratic compilation of government documents and facts that will be pleaded before any Judicial Commission must follow the process of law, in line with whatever legal relationship that government would have entered into with any person, group, institution or agency of government.

    “Make no mistake, our desire to right wrongs and improve on the state of governance is a function of our review of the past, assessment of the present, and a plan for the future.

    “We are sure that the combination of hindsight, insight and foresight will take us to our destination,” he said.

    Members include Justice Stephen Adah of the Court of Appeal as Chairman, as well as Prof Bibiana Bawa, Aliyu Sangei, Prof. Ekoja B. Ekoja, Simon Onu Agamah as members. Alhaji Sani Yahaya Mavo is to serve as Secretary to the Commission.

    The commission will “ascertain all financial transactions, done or entered into by the government of Plateau State through any of its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), parastatals, institutions or officials, acting in its name from the 29th day of May 2007 to 29th May 2015.”

    It will “establish all financial allocations, funds, grants or monetary interventions and revenues which accrued to or in the name of Plateau State directly or through any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), parastatals, institutions, officials or agents from the Federal Government of Nigeria or any International Institutions or Donor Agencies from 29th May 2007 to 29th May 2015.”

    The committee will also ascertain and establish all loans granted to or obtained by the state, the purpose for which such loans were obtained and  whether the loans were used for such purpose.

    It will also “ascertain whether any property (corporeal or incorporeal) belonging to the government of Plateau State or any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), parastatals and Institutions were sold or in any way concessioned to any person(s), institution(s), or were purchased or acquired for or in the state’s name or any of its MDAs, parastatals or Institutions between May 29, 2007 and last May 29.

    The committee will fathom the process or procedure followed to carry out such purchase or acquisition and to trace and obtain all documents relating to such transactions as well as establish their values and locations.

    It will also ascertain all contracts awarded by the government or any of MDAs within the period, the process or procedure followed in the award of such contracts, the value of each contract (including any variations and whether such variations were necessary and done in good faith), the level of execution or completion of each of them and the amount paid to the contractor as at 29th May 2015.

    It will check if any contract was awarded at an inflated cost and to determine what should have been the actual cost of the contract, amogn others.

  • Lalong: I’m probing Jang for accountability

    Lalong: I’m probing Jang for accountability

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has explained why he is probing the government of former Governor Jonah Jang.

    Lalong, who spoke yesterday while inaugurating the Judicial Commission of Enquiry at the Government House, said the probe was far from the mere prosecution of Senator Jang, as being insinuated.

    His words: “The probe has become remarkable because it  shows our commitment as a government, to ensure probity, accountability and transparency in governance.

    “It is out of duty and good conscience that we cannot ignore it, given the magnitude of information at our disposal, beginning from the submission of the transition committee, the ministerial verification committees, as well as the preliminary audit and accounts reconciliation committee information, which showed huge debts inherited from the last administration.

    “This past year, facts are daily denied, twisted and distorted and this is worrisome. It is the belief of my administration that only after facts are publicly obtained and tested will the truth be brought to bear on the people’s agitation.

    “Make no mistake, our desire to right wrongs and improve on governance is a function of our review of the past, assessment of the present, and a plan for the future. We are sure that the combination of hindsight, insight and foresight will take us to our destination.

    “The constitution of this commission is not for persecution but for us to set a foundation for the pursuit of that which will guarantee the prosperity of our people. It is also not a witch-hunt, but a hunt for that which has probably been hidden from our people.

    “The probe will also serve as a caution sign and clarion call to political office holders and civil servants, to know that we will, at the end of our term, be called to give account of our stewardship; and by the same parameter with which we assess others, we also are setting the parameter upon which we will be assessed.

    “It is on this note that I invoke Section 2 of the Commissions of Enquiry Law Cap 25 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria 196, which enables me to establish and constitute, to ascertain or establish facts, bringing truth to bear on matters of public concern and interest.

    “The commission has three months from the date of its inauguration to submit its report or within such period as is extended by me, depending on the circumstances.”

    Chairman of the six-man panel, Justice Stephen Adah, of the Court of Appeal, said “the commission shall be guided by the terms of reference and restrict itself to the limit spelt out in the terms.

    “We shall ensure we do justice to individuals and groups in the course of this assignment.”

    But Senator Jang, in a statement by his aide, Clinton Garuba said he was ready for probe, if that would please Lalong.

    The statement reads: “This is especially so as the senator has grown weary of the inconsequential ranting, outbursts, threats, and sensational media trial of his tenure as governor, which the Lalong administration now leads to the fringes of annihilation.

    “For the umpteenth time, the former governor finds it most apt to reiterate his stand on the issue in perspective as it relates to his stewardship in Plateau, which undoubtedly benefited the people.

    “To all thoughts and intents, Senator Jang is ready to account for his time as governor, though his good works, legacy, and good intention would outlive him, as long as the process is without bias and predetermined outcomes.

    “We are studying the composition and terms of reference of the judicial commission so we can take an informed decision which shall be our position on the matter.”

  • Lalong: I was not duped N5b in Dubai

    Lalong: I was not duped N5b in Dubai

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has dismissed a report by an online media, Meganews, alleging that he was duped of N5 billion in Dubai.

    The governor described the report as laughable, malicious, mischievous and a figment of the writer’s imagination, which he said can only qualify as the worst kind of armchair journalism, lacking in credibility, objectivity, balance and fairness.

    Lalong, who reacted through his media aide, Mark Longyen, asked the public to ignore the story for lack of facts.

    “Such stories are mere handiwork of opposition political elements desperate to paint him black.

    “Ordinarily, such stories should be ignored because responding to it amounts to giving it credibility. This response however became necessary so as to expose the falsehood in it.

    Longyen warned that running an obscure online media outfit like Meganews was not an outright license for the said medium and opposition to conspire against the reputation of a serving governor. Such defamatory and libellous stories carry legal consequences, which the culprits may soon face, he added.

    “The governor challenges the authors to produce evidence, if any, from the records of their investigation and show proof as to when and where the N5 billion Dubai property transaction took place, which bank was used, as well as all the parties involved.

    “Failure to do so will compel government to contact relevant security agencies to investigate the source of the story,” Longyen said.

    He urged the public to beware and not fall victim of such malicious reports emanating from unregulated online media outfits.

  • Lalong revives moribund firms

    Lalong revives moribund firms

    Some dilapidated firms in Plateau State are coming to life again, thanks to the determination of the Simon Lalong administration. A number of those comatose corporations were left for dead for as long as 10 years and more.

    The government said when those firms start functioning they will generate revenue for the state now that federal cash has dropped due to falling oil prices.

    The famous Jos Main Market destroyed in a 2002 fire is top of the government’s agenda. The market, the largest of its kind in West Africa, will earn huge dividends for the state. Another firm is the Highland Bottling Company.

    Both projects are expected to be revived on Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement the revival of moribund companies is being handled by the Plateau Investment and Property Company Limited (PIPC).

    Chairman on the project implementation unit of PIPC, Mr. Ezekiel Gomos has handed over the Highland Bottling Company to Hummer Company Nigeria Limited.

    He said, “The Plateau State government has signed an agreement with Hummer Company Limited for the resuscitation of the moribund Highland Bottling Company located in Barkin Ladi Local Government of Plateau State.”

    The agreement was signed on behalf of the state government by Chairman Technical, Board of Plateau Investment and Property Development Company Limited (PIPC) Mr. Ezekiel Gomos and the Founder/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hummer Company Limited Mr. Joseph Umoru.

    Mr. Gomos said, “This agreement with this private company, Hummer Company Limited is a move to affect the key policy trust of Governor Simon Lalong administration in the area of industrialising the state. Governor Lalong did promise to revitalise all the ailing industries of the state for the purpose of creating jobs and boosting the revenue profile of the state, this makes this achievement a very historic one in Plateau state.

    “The State owned Highland Bottling Company is one of the state ailing companies that we are handing over to a private investor today, the company was shot down since 1995 and it has been difficult to bring them back to life. But this government has made history by coming to this agreement with Hummer Drinks Limited to take over the company and turn it around for the benefit of the state.

    “By this agreement, this private company will hold 67% share of the company and government will hold 33% shares. This to us in PIPC, is a major achievement because government has been holding 100% of the abandoned company and doing nothing with them” said Gomos.

    Managing Director of Hummer Drinks Limited, Mr. Joseph Umoru, in his remarks said, “The company appreciate the state government for giving the opportunity to indigenous companies to partner with government. And I want to assure the government and people of the state that Hummer Drinks Limited has the technical capacity to run this Highland Bottling company successfully.

    He said, “We have the relevant experience to produce bottled water, beverage drinks, carbonated drinks, etc, from the company and we have resolved to inject at least N100 million to commence the first phase of turnaround of the ailing company.

    Secretary to Barkin Ladi Local Government council, Mr. Joshua Dakop, where the company is located expressed gratitude with Plateau state government for reviving the moribund company, saying youths of the locality stand to gain more from the project, he also promised the local government will ensure adequate security of staff and facilities of the company.

    Before the handover of Highland Bottling Company to the private investor, the state government has commenced the process of partnering with relevant private companies to rebuild the burnt down Jos Ultra-Modern Market located at Teminus Jos.

    Though PIPC, the state government began by looking for business advisors for the project, when the bid was declared open, twelve private investors bided, four of them were picked and out of the four, one of them was expected be the project advisor that will guide government on the reconstruction of the market.

    Already, youths of the state who have been seeking for employment have dusted their certificates to apply for jobs in the companies lined up for revival.

  • Oshiomhole, Ajimobi, Mimiko, Lalong, others preach peace

    Oshiomhole, Ajimobi, Mimiko, Lalong, others preach peace

    GOVERNORS yesterday joined other eminent Nigerians to felicitate with the citizens on Easter celebration.

    They urged Christian faithful to imbibe the virtues of peace, prayers, love, sacrifice and forgiveness, which they said are the lessons of Easter.

    Edo State: In a statement issued by Peter Okhiria, his Chief Press Secretary, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said: “As we join Christians all over the world to celebrate this Easter, I urge the faithful in Edo State and Nigeria to imbibe the core values of Christianity and the lessons of the season, which are sacrifice, love, sharing and forgiveness of sins.

    “We should remember that the progenitor of the Christian faith is also known as the ‘Prince of Peace’ and we should, therefore, embrace peace with all men and maintain the peace which we have enjoyed in the state in the past years.

    “As we celebrate, we should not forget to extend a hand of fellowship to the less-privileged among us, as Christ taught us to ‘love our neighbours as our ourselves.’”

    Oyo State: Governor Abiola Ajimobi called on Nigerians to emulate the spirit of forgiveness and sacrifice.

    Ajimobi spoke while addressing reporters yesterday on his Easter message at the governor’s office, Agodi, Ibadan.

    According to him, “Easter means forgiveness, it means Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins for us too to learn to forgive and sacrifice.

    “You must sacrifice your time, enjoyment for this country to move forward. For Oyo State to be made better, it is not the job of the government alone. It is the collective responsibility of all of us to make sure this our state is better and progress.”

    Ondo State: Governor Olusegun Mimiko called for sustained prayers, sacrifice, cooperation and understanding from the governed to enable government serve them better in the face of current economic reality.

    Mimiko, in his message, said the occasion should not be seen as a period of winning and dinning alone, adding that it is a period for sober reflection.

    He challenged the people to be more prayerful  than before and implored them  to assist the government by making more sacrifice.

    Plateau State: Governor Simon Bako Lalong enjoined Christian faithful to use the period to reflect on Christ’s sacrificial work of redemption on the Cross of Calvary.

    The governor, who said as Christians reflect on the passion of Christ on Good Friday and the victory of a righteous life over death at Easter, they should remember that these symbolised “the gracious and merciful atonement of the sins of mankind”.

    The governor, who spoke through his Director of Press Samuel Nanle in Jos yesterday, said: “True Christian practice must correspond in showing love and sacrifice to make a difference in the lives of fellow human beings as exemplified by Jesus Christ.”

    Abia State: Governor Okezie Ikpeazu called on the Christian community to use the period of the celebration of Easter to pray for the country’s unity.

    Ikpeazu said the period should be used to reflect on the life and times of Christ, which the people should try to emulate for peace and unity to reign supreme in the country.

    Kogi State: Governor Yahaya Bello urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, which, he said, is the hallmark of the Easter celebration, saying the season calls for sober reflection, sacrifice, tolerance and unity.

    The governor, through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, called on the people of the state to work for unity and  emulate the selfless spirit of Jesus Christ.

  • FG pledges support for Lalong on peace building 

    FG pledges support for Lalong on peace building 

    The Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed, has applauded the peace initiatives of Governor Simon Lalong noting they have returned harmonious coexistence to Plateau State after prolonged communal crises.

    The minister said the federal government will be interested in assisting the governor to sustain the prevailing peace rather than sending relief materials and visiting victims at hospitals after every attack.

    He stated this in Government House Little Rayfield Jos during his official visit to parastatals under his ministry.

    According to him: “The state used to record attacks almost on daily bases. But to the admiration of the entire country, Governor Lalong came with his peace initiative that have not only stopped the killings but also create conducive atmosphere for business to thrive in the state.

    “Governor Lalong has done well in this regard because I went round the state to realise that peace has, indeed, returned to the state.

    “And I will assure the state government that the federal government will be happy to assist the state government to sustain the ongoing peace so as to make it permanent.”

    Lalong said his administration will work hard to ensure the prevailing peace is sustained for the successes of the planned digital switch over project expected to take off next year.

  • Lalong, Abubakar for NBA NEC meeting

    Lalong, Abubakar for NBA NEC meeting

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong and his Bauchi counterpart, Mohammed Abubakar  will on Thursday, at Crest Hotel, Jos declare open the quarterly National Executive Committee  ( NEC) meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA).

    Chairman, NBA Jos branch, Dafer Ledak said the NEC meeting would begin with a visit to the Gbon Gwom Jos, followed by a cocktail  in the evening to be hosted by Chief Judge of Plateau State

    The NEC will open on Thursday at 9am.

    On security arrangements, Ledak said: “We visited the Commissioner of Police and he assured us of maximum security to protect everybody in the State during and after the meeting. The Anti-bomb squad, the Nigerian Police Force, the Civil Defence Corps, Operation Rainbow,  the Joint Task Force ( JTF)  and others will be there to maintain maximum security.”

    Co-chair of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Tob  Kekemeke said the Jos Branch and state governemnt are earger to host lawyers.

  • Lalong: Plateau yet to get full bailout loan from CBN

    Lalong: Plateau yet to get full bailout loan from CBN

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has said the state is yet to get full bailout loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    He added that only N5 billion of the N20 billion meant for the state was released.

    Lalong, who spoke at an All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) media roundtable in Abuja, said he was doing everything to ensure that the balance of the bailout fund was released to his state to enable him continue his programmes.

    He said he was discussing with the CBN to release the balance of the bailout loan, adding that the state had cleared backlog of salaries owed civil servants.

    “We only owe two months salary.”

    The governor said without the full bailout fund, he paid the salary arrears of local government workers.

    He said: “I was at the CBN pursuing bailout loan for Plateau. The state was supposed to get N10 billion for salaries and N10 billion for infrastructure. But we got only N5 billion and with that, we cleared backlog of salaries.

    “From last May to date we are not owing, except the ones we inherited. If I get my balance of N5 billion within a week, the outstanding debts will be cleared.”

    Commenting on the Treasury Single Account, Lalong said: “Other states may be finding it difficult, not Plateau. We are implementing TSA. Immediately I saw the introduction of TSA by Mr. President, I called my accountant-general and commissioner for Finance and told them they must implement.

    “I am not an accountant and at that time, I didn’t know the implication. But from what I saw about the advantages of TSA, I said let it be implemented in the state. I set up a committee and today it is being implemented. I don’t know why some governors are finding it difficult to implement TSA.”

  • Stakeholders hail Lalong’s peace initiative

    Stakeholders hail Lalong’s peace initiative

    Plateau State indigenes have hailed the peace initiatives mooted by Governor  Simon Lalong to end the protracted conflict rocking the state since 2001.

    The indigenes under the aegies of ‘Patriots for Peace and Change’ noted that the state has celebrated its 40 years of existence in an atmosphere of peace and security.

    The group’s leader, Pastor Huseini Gotan, told reporters in Jos, the state capital, that the governor has contributed largely to the peace accord.

    He said: “Ours is 40 years of good old memories and rough experience having gone through the good, the bad and the ugly occasioned by ethno-religious crisis and tribal sentiments.

    “The life of our dear state has been a very bumpy experience, but we have reasons to celebrate today because we have conquered peace that has eluded us over the last decades.

    He added:  “We deeply appreciate the role played by All Progressive Congress (APC) administration of Gov Simon Lalong whose peace initiative has been the solution the state has been lacking in all its search for peace over the years.

    “We have also witnessed bad leaders and good leaders in the last forty years, we  therefore feel that the best way to commence the celebration of 40 years of our dear state, we should commend the efforts of our governor, who is now our hero of peace.