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Tag: Lalong

  • Lalong urges traditional rulers to mediate fairly

    Governor  of  Plateau State, Dr. Simon Bako Lalong has urged traditional rulers in the state to allow mediation and other forms of Alternative Disputes Resolution among their subjects to promote and maintain peace in the state.

    Lalong stated this at the installation and presentation of first class staff of office to the Ata Aten of Ganawuri Chiefdom, Yakubu Chaimang, last week, at the Ekan Primary School playground, Ganawuri in Plateau State.

    He said: “You are to play the role of a strategic and effective mediator in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), particularly on land and boundary issues, in concert with your Council of Elders. You are, therefore, expected to be proactive in monitoring events and should be able to pre-empt violent attacks, communal crisis, criminal tendencies, among other vices.

    The Governor remarked that the Ganawuri nation may look or sound small, but its people are historically and culturally mighty, praising the high sense of accommodation and tolerance for all shades of humanity and collective sense of unity and purpose of the first class monarch.

    He also recalled that during the pre-election period of 2015, the people of Ganawuri Chiefdom welcomed and hosted him with great hospitality and ovation, noting that the support was further consolidated in the resounding turn out of the Ganawuri people, who voted massively for the All Progressive Congress (APC) during the elections.

    He said: “The Rescue Administration’s core mandate is to give the good people of Plateau a sense of communality through the guarantee of security, peace and good governance, which are key in our Five Policy Thrust. It was on this note that in my Special Broadcast of August 14, 2018, I reiterated government’s commitment in addressing the issue of creation of chiefdoms, districts, village areas and review of salaries and welfare packages for traditional rulers in the state. Accordingly, government considered and approved the upgrading and restoration of new chiefdoms in the state that saw the Atar Aten of Ganawuri’s stool upgraded to a First  Class status.

    “Let me reiterate that my interest in the creation of chiefdoms and the recognition of traditional institutions is to give communities in the state a pride of place, based on the uniqueness of their ethnic identities, which is the foundation they built their orientation for community life. This is significant because what they give to the larger society is a reflection of the value of what they have been nurtured with.”

    The governor expressed conviction in the integrity and commitment of the Atar Aten to lead his other fellow council members of chiefs in unity for a stable and peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.

    “You are first and foremost custodian of culture, history and moral or religious values. These are essential ingredients of building unity and harmony, given our varied dialects and tribes on the Plateau.

  • Lalong, stakeholders to drive Plateau economy

    Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has identified culture and tourism as key drivers to transform the socio-economic fortunes of Plateau State and Nigeria. He spoke at the first Plateau Tourism Conference held in Jos, the Plateau state capital, with the theme: Unlocking the vast potentials of tourism as a financing option for sustainable social-economic development.

    Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, commended the governor for looking in the direction of culture and tourism while using the moment to inform the world that Plateau is safe and ready for business with its vast potentials in culture and tourism destinations.

    The NCAC chief debunked stories making the rounds that the state was in crisis stating that he would not have travelled to Plateau along with his staff for the conference if the state was not safe.

    Runsewe expressed determination to hit the ground running by working with the governor to market Plateau to the rest of the world.

    He was positive that with the new interest and efforts from stakeholders, Plateau can assume the status of a culture and tourism hub in Nigeria.

  • A true nationalist, says Lalong

    Gov Simon Lalong of Plateau on Monday described Chief Tony Anenih, former works minister, who died in Abuja at the weekend, as “a true nationalist who served Nigeria with the whole of his heart”.

    “Anenih was a committed nationalist, who worked tireless toward national unity. He was a consummate political strategist and will be sorely missed,” Lalong said in a statement on Monday in Jos.

    Lalong said that Anenih’s death had robbed the country of a patriot and created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill.

    The governor commiserated with his Edo counterpart, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the people of the state, and the family of Anenih over the retired Police Commissioner’s exit, urging them to be consoled by the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Anenih, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), died in Abuja on Sunday. He was aged 85.

  • Opportunities abound in APC, says Lalong

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has said opportunities abound in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The governor urged aspirants who lost the primaries to remain with the party.

    Lalong spoke at the weekend in Jos, the state capital, at an interactive session with the party’s candidates and aspirants in the recently concluded primaries.

    The governor said there was no victor and no vanquished in the primaries.

    He congratulated winners of the primaries and praised those who lost for contributing to the growth of the party.

    Lalong said: “Whether you win or lose, there are great opportunities in APC if we win the general elections.

    “Let us work together for the success of the party by teaming up with candidates to ensure that our party wins.

    “It is important for us to work for the party because if party wins, we have won but if the party loses, we have lost.”

    The governor advised the winners of the primaries to carry along those who could not make it.

    He urged them to visit those who lost to work together for the success of the party.

    According to him, the APC will win all the elections.

    “I said this because we are going to work very hard when campaigns start on November 18,” Lalong said.

    A Plateau APC chieftain, Chief Letep Dabang, hailed the party’s contestants for exhibiting a high level of discipline.

  • Goemai endorses Lalong for second term

    It is often said that a king is not always recognised in his home. But, in the case of Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong, the reverse is the obvious. Recent developments show that Lalong is recognised in his Shendam Local Government Area and outside. This was demonstrated when stakeholders  came out with one voice to endorse their own. Lalong’s kinsmen comprising youths and elders said they are solidly behind their son and they would support him for another term in office.

    The endorsement by Geomai elders came as the two contending political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) had come up with their governorship candidates through the primaries. Lalong has emerged as the APC governorship candidate while former FCT minister, Senator Jeremiah Useni, has emerged as PDP flag bearer.

    Geomai elders declared support for their own last week. Elder statesmen of the Goemai ethnic group came out to endorsed him for a second term in office. Rising from a meeting in Jos, the elders said their support was not based on the fact that he is their own, but because of the modest achievements he has recorded and the policies and programs he initiated in the first term that needed to be completed for the benefit of people.

    The Vice Chairman of the Goemai Elders Forum, retired Air Vice Marshal Abbas Umar, while listing some of the achievements recorded by Lalong, said the good work the governor is doing on peace and security alone is a project that needs to be sustained and consolidated for the progress and development of the state. He said: “The whole world knew what Plateau used to be in terms of insecurity compared to the relative peace that currently prevail in the state. Even though the enemies of the state who often profits from violence in the state are not happy that the restoration of relative peace by Gov Lalong have taken them out of business and are trying to frustrate his efforts, it is evident that Lalong has successfully restored peace from the first year of his administration in 2015.”

    The elders also pointed at the regular payment of workers salaries as a way of injecting funds into the socio-economic activities in the state. AVM Abas said: “Plateau is a civil service state, the regular payment of salaries therefore means the injection of billions of naira into the business cycle of the state. At least, the less than N2 billion is paid out as salaries and pension every month, you can imagine the impact that will make on small scale businesses in the state, families will be able to pay school fees, pay house rent, pay medical bills, go to the market to purchase family needs etc. You can imagine if the Governor is not paying salaries, you can imagine what will happen to the economy of the state by now”

    Apart from peace and security, the principle of continuity in governance already established by Lalong is something that needs to be sustained beyond one term. The governor has picked up abandoned projects in the state and completed most of them. Abas said: “Gov. Lalong has completed the road projects he inherited from the immediate past administration due to the economic and commercial benefits of the road to citizens. He has also restored fully the abandoned Fertiliser Blending Plant located in Bokkos, the long abandoned Highland Bottling Company, he has recovered the Barc Farm sold out by previous administration, works on the reconstruction of Jos Main market and the Jos International Breweries Limited is ongoing, all these within a period of two years.”

    The implication of the completion of these moribund companies is the provision of direct and indirect employment to job seekers. “I can assure you that hundreds of youths have gained employment in these companies and commercial activities of communities hosting these companies have picked up,” he added.

    The endorsement of Lalong by various stakeholders was necessitated by efforts by a group, which never meant well for the progress of the state to assume power for selfish purposes, Abbas advised indigenes be sensitive to such politicians and reject them to secure the future of next generation. “Any leader that is interested in peace and security of the state and is demonstrating practical commitment to restore peace should be the person that deserves the support of all and sundry in the state. The devil you know is often better than the one you did not know,” he said.

    The Geomai elders enjoined voters to participate in the scheduled local government elections and support the ruling APC for consolidation of peace and development of the grassroots.

    The meeting also saluted Plateau people for supporting the rescue administration in the past three years and solicited for their backing for the transformation of Plateau to fulfill vision of the founding fathers of the state.

  • Lalong lauds conduct of local government poll

    •PDP alleges fraudulent processes

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has hailed the peaceful conduct of the local government election.

    Lalong, who spoke yesterday after casting his vote at the Ajikamai polling unit in Shendam Local Government Area (LGA), said: “So far, I have not received any negative report from any part of the state, and I hope it will continue like this. I urge the people to continue to be peaceful and not do anything that will puncture the existing peace.”

    The governor hoped that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the election.

    The election was held in 13 of the 17 councils due to security challenges. Election did not hold in Jos South, Jos North, Riyom and Barkin Ladi councils.

    But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the election, saying it was marred by irregularities.

    The party accused the PLASIEC chairman,

    Fabian Ntung, of electoral impunity, ranging from distribution of electoral materials on the election eve.

    A statement by the Publicity Secretary, John Akans, said: “We have it on good authority that results of the local government election have already been written by officials of PLASIEC under the supervision of APC.

    “Hours after the elections started, electoral officers were yet to get result sheets. Rather, duplicated written results were dispatched to the polling units. This is a heinous plot hatched by the APC in collaboration with PLASIEC. It has further exposed the desperation of the Lalong-led government to grab and retain power at all cost. APC is really an anti-people congress!

    “The people should know that what is happening today in 13 councils is not an election, but an extension of APC’s existing imposed local government officials on the people.

    “We saw this coming, and that is why PDP challenged PLASIEC’s impunity in court when it started implementing its rigging plans by appointing Electoral Officers outside the commission, a move contrary to Section 2 of PLASIEC Law which defines the appointment of an electoral officer as a staff of the commission.

    “PLASIEC disregarded this challenge with such an illegal appointment, thus violating its own law. The man who sits to preside over and approve this alarming and very unpatriotic act by PLASIEC is no one but Mr Fabian Ntung. He has completely discredited and disqualified himself from standing as an unbiased umpire. Mr Ntung cannot be trusted to conduct a credible, free and fair election at the moment.

    “This subversion of the people’s will has further exposed the height of his impunity and disregard for the peace, unity and good governance of Plateau. It is a direct shot at the heart of the people.

    “We, therefore, call on the people to reject this impunity being perpetrated by the PLASIEC chair and APC. The people are too decent to be so cajoled and humiliated.”

  • Independence: Lalong pardons five inmates

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has granted state pardon to five inmates serving various jail terms in some prisons across the state.

    The governor also reduced the prison terms of two inmates.

    A statement yesterday in Jos, the state capital, by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Yakubu Dati, said the pardon was in line with the powers conferred on the governor under Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

    He said: “Lalong took the decision after consultation with the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

    “Those granted pardon by Governor Lalong include Samson Jonah, Dung Mwankon and Vincnet Bulus, Hosea Pokyes and Maxwell Idi.

    “Those who have their sentences reduced are: Yakubu Yohana and Victor Bakyil; they will now to spend 10 years in prison, instead of 20 years.

    “The crimes of those pardoned include attempted robbery, criminal conspiracy, possession of firearms, theft and culpable homicide.”

    Lalong implored those pardoned to turn a new leaf and make useful contributions to the society.

  • Lalong approves appointees’ resignation to contest in 2019

    Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has approved the resignation of the Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS) Rufus Bature.

    A statement yesterday by his media aide, Mark Longyen, said: “Bature recently resigned his appointment to contest for Plateau North Senatorial District in 2019. Consequently, the governor has approved the appointment of Sir Richard Tokma, who is the Permanent Secretary, Policy and General Services in the office of the SGS, to replace him in acting capacity.

    “The governor has also approved the resignation of the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Hitler Dadi, who resigned to contest as a federal lawmaker to represent Langtang North and South.

    “Governor Lalong thanks the duo and others who also resigned to pursue their political ambitions for their invaluable services to the state and for their contributions to the success of the Rescue Administration in the last three years. He wishes them the best in their political aspirations and future endeavours”

  • Lalong mourns aide Nanle

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has mourned his Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA), Mr. Emmanuel Nanle.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communication Yakubu Dati described Nanle’s death as shocking.

    According to the governor, Nanle died on Monday evening at an Indian hospital.

    The statement reads: “The late Nanle was a close ally and pillar of my administration as he worked consciously for the success of the Rescue Administration.

    “The deceased worked for APC’s success in the 2015 elections.”

    The governor urged the family and the people to be comforted by God. He added that arrangements would be made to bring the body home for burial.

    Meanwhile, a condolence register has been opened at the Government House and at the Ministry of Information and Communication.

  • Lalong mourns death of aide, Nanle

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has expressed deep sadness over the death of his Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA), Mr Emmanuel Nanle.

    Mr Yakubu Dati, Commissioner for Information and Communication, in a statement on Wednesday, described the death of Nanle as shocking.

    According to Lalong, Nanle, passed away on Monday evening in an Indian hospital where he was receiving treatment.

    Lalong said the deceased was a committed patriot who pursued his beliefs with uncommon zeal.

    “The late Nanle was not only a close ally but a pillar of my administration as he worked consciously for the success of the ‘Rescue Administration’.

    “The late Nanle braved all odds in 2014 and tirelessly worked for the success of the APC in Plateau in the 2015 general elections,” he said.

    The governor said that he and his government would surely miss the deceased, especially at this time when his services were most needed.

    He explained that though painful, it was the will of God and asked the family and people of the state to be comforted by the Lord Almighty.

    Lalong said arrangements would be made to bring the remains of Nanle home for a befitting burial.
    Meanwhile, a condolence register has been opened for sympathisers at the Government House and at the Ministry of Information and Communication.