Plateau governor Simon Lalong on Monday met with heads of security agencies over the recent skirmishes in some parts of Jos North Local Government Area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the meeting was to review the prevailing security situation in the affected areas.
A source from the meeting told NAN that the governor charged security agencies to exhibit utmost professionalism in the course of their duty and observe rules of engagement while restoring law and order.
It also quoted the governor as advising Plateau residents to avoid rumour mongering that could lead to further confusion in the state capital.
He also advised them to be security conscious and report suspicions movements in the vicinity to security agencies
Among security chiefs at the meeting were Mr Undie Adie, Police Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Augustine Agundu, Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Mr Babagana Bulama, Director, State Security Service, and Maj. Gen. Steven Go’ar (Rtd), Commander, Operation Rainbow.
Tag: Lalong
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Lalong meets security chiefs over Jos skirmishes
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Plateau killings: We’ll Dogara whatever it takes to defeat violence in Nigeria
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has commiserated with the people of Plateau state following the recent wave of violence which engulfed communities in the state which claimed the lives of about 200 people.Speaking during a condolence visit to the state, Speaker Dogara described the sad occurrence as a collective loss not just to the affected communities and families, but to the country as a whole.“I know that in difficult moments like this when you’re dealing with tragedies that involve collective loss it’s always difficult to cope in the sense that in most cases bereavement has been individualized. People tend to deal with the bereavement on individual basis but this is something that involves collective loss, not only to the people of Plateau State, but across Nigeria as a whole. I know that the wounds will still be fresh and deep, because tragedies of this scale leave scars.”“When events like these happen, the tendency is to ask what the government is doing about it? I had cause to have an interphase with the President, in company of the Senate President, and he has assured that the affected communities will be rebuilt. He has even directed NEMA to take census of what has happened and present the implication to him for approval. He also talked about looking at the security architecture to see what can be done in order to ensure that we do not have a repeat of this type of tragedy.”He further warned of the grave danger which unchecked violence portends for Nigeria and restated the commitment of the House to working seamlessly with the Executive to combat insecurity, while using legislative tools such as appropriation to ensure adequate funding for security agencies.“I’ve always repeated the point that we cannot afford to lose the fight against violence and still maintain our democracy and civilization, it’s impossible. Whatever it takes, we have to defeat violence. Because if we do not, we may think now it is affecting only Plateau and some selected states in Nigeria but unfortunately, mayhem like these can lead to chaos on a national scale. It may lead to a scale that may even play out outside the territory known as Nigeria, with international implications. It is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure this doesn’t occur again, and if we’re determined, we’ll be able to stamp it out.As a leader in the National Assembly, I want to say from the bottom of my heart because of the teeming people who put us in office, that we are willing and ready to work with the security agencies and the Executive to provide whatever is necessarily needed to end this mayhem across Nigeria, wherever it is in the North or South, and to provide support and funding through appropriation to be able to deal with this challenge that is a serious threat to us all.”The Speaker also called for wider consultations and coordinated efforts to restore peace.“Working for peace is really not easy; it should involve the government, faith-based organizations, the Church and its builders, leaders from the Islamic faith, community-based organizations and leaders, and if we’re finding it difficult, nothing stops us from calling for assistance from the international community in order to deal with this problem.”Speaking further, he noted that the people of Plateau state are widely acclaimed for being peaceful and urged those who lost loved ones to the violence to not resort to self-help by engaging in retaliatory attacks.“One thing the people of Plateau have been known for is being peace-loving, as the motto is home of peace and tourism. We shouldn’t allow these deep and fresh wounds or scars that the crisis is leaving behind to turn us into what we are not. In most cases when events like these happen, because we’re all human, the tendency is for one to seek revenge or retaliate; we should however always look to the future.”Governor Simon Lalong, in his remarks, thanked members of the National Assembly for their concern regarding the insecurity in the state. He lamented the resurgence of violence following more than three years of uninterrupted peace and pledged the commitment of his administration to restoring harmony.The speaker in company of members of the House of Representatives paid condolence visit to the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba and also visited victims of the violence who are receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital.Ends -
Plateau 2019: Why I am seeking reelection – Lalong
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau has formally declared his intention to contest 2019 governorship poll in the state.
Lalong made the declaration at Plateau All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders meeting in Jos on Friday.
The governor said that the declaration was as result of the intense pressure from the people of the state for him to recontest.
Edward Pwajok, Member Representing Jos South/Jos East at the House of Representatives moved the motion for Lalong to recontest.
Pwajok’s motion was unanimously seconded by voice vote from stakeholders at the meeting.
Mrs Pauline Tallen, former Deputy Governor of Plateau, Mr Pam Dung Gyang , former governorship aspirant, Malam Samaila Makama, former Chairman, National Population Commission and several others paid glowing tributes to Lalong for successfully contributing to the growth of Plateau.
They appreciated Lalong for steering the APC in the country away from crisis following his committee’s report which gave an amicable solution to divergent views concerning the tenure of the party officials.
Mr Letep Dabang, Plateau APC Chairman, later told newsmen that the party strongly supported the governor’s declaration.
Dabang, however, said that other interested candidates on the party’s platform were free to contest the position.
He said that contesting was a right of every party member and that the party would provide a level playing ground for all.
“We cannot stop anybody from contesting but for now Governor Lalong is the one that publicly declared to contest.”
He said that the stakeholders meeting was convened by the party leadership to brief members of the resolutions reached at the last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.
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Herdsmen/farmers crisis: Stop meddling in our issues in Benue, Ortom warns Lalong
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has warned his counterpart in Plateau State, Governor Simon Lalong, to ‘mind his own business’ and not to interfere with the issue of Benue.
Ortom said this to the representative of Lalong at the stakeholders’ meeting with the National Economic Council Technical Committee on Herdsmen/Farmers’ Crises Resolution.
The stakeholders were led by the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi.
Ortom said his deputy, Benson Abounu, informed him about the discussion between him and Lalong, where the Plateau State Governor reiterated his warning to Ortom not to go ahead with the Benue State anti-open grazing law.
Ortom said, “My deputy told me that he had a discussion with Lalong recently at a function, where he (Lalong) said that he had to apologise to me over his statement because of pressure on him, saying, he stands by his earlier statement.
“He also told the people that he introduced this woman (pointing at the woman on the high table) in this committee to me, whereas, this woman was introduced to me by Nasir el-Rufai, not him.
“Thank God he has a representative here; please tell him to stop interfering with the affairs of my state; let him mind his business in Plateau and I will mind my own business here.
“I am the governor here (Benue); how can he say that he warned me? Who is he to warn me? He can only advise me.”
Lalong had at the peak of the herdsmen’s attacks on Benue State told newsmen in Abuja that he warned Ortom against the new law.
The stakeholders’ meeting held at the new banquet hall of the state government house on Sunday night.
The meeting, which dragged into the early hours of Monday, had in attendance some National Assembly members, religious leaders, traditional rulers and opinion moulders.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, HRM Prof. James Ayatse, questioned the credibility of the committee since some of its members had at one time or the other taken position on the Benue crisis.
According to him, the governors of Plateau and Kaduna State – Lalong and El-Rufai, respectively – had made cynical statements concerning the crisis and asked, ‘how do we get justice?’
“While in pains, a Benue delegation visited President Buhari and the only consolation he could give us was to say, ‘In the name of God, accommodate your fellow countrymen.’ With this statement, how will my people get justice?”
The paramount ruler charged the committee members to be neutral and discharge their responsibility with the fear of God.
Other who spoke at the meeting included the Catholic Bishop, Makurdi Diocese, Wilfred Anagbe; a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mike Aondoaka, (SAN); and a former commissioner in the state, Mrs. Rebecca Akpedzan.
Others were the President General, Mdzough U Tiv, Chief Edward Ujege; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Benard Hon; the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Benue State, Rev. Akpen Negua, and a second-class traditional ruler, Chief A. Abomtse.
All the speakers condemned what they termed the lacklustre attitude of the Federal Government to the crisis and insisted that there was no going back on the new law.
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Plateau Gov, Lalong makes U-turn, rejects Buhari’s cattle colonies
Following severe pressures mounted on his administration by critics of cattle-colony initiatives, Simon Lalong, Governor of Plateau State has dismissed reports that He had adopted the cattle colony policy of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a Statement signed by Dan Manjang, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Governor of Plateau State and released to newsmen on Friday, January 26, 2018, Lalong stated that the rumor is the handiwork of political mischief makers who wanted to gain political mileage out of a very serious national issue.
The Statement read in full ;
The attention of the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong has been drawn to the news making the rounds, particularly in the Social Media that “parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos Local Government Areas have been carved out for the creation of colonies for cattle, in fulfilment of his promises to the Fulani who have pressured him, to either cede those areas or he faces the other side of their viciousness which may cost his aspirations”.
The Governor herein after state unequivocally that this thinking is not only the figment of the imagination of its authors, who want to make political capital out of it, but false, malicious and highly mischievous.
Governor Simon Bako Lalong has and does not contemplate such action and he further calls on all good citizens of Plateau to bury such imagination of these elements, who are bent on throwing the State into confusion. Cattle colonies are not in the imagination of Governor Lalong.
Consequently, the Governor urges all peace loving citizens of Plateau State to discountenance such mischievous information but to gravitate towards issues that unite us rather than those that divide us.
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Gunmen kidnap former Bayelsa commissioner, soldier
Gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, have abducted a former Commissioner for Transport in Bayelsa State, Mrs. Marie Ebikake, and a military official in the state.
The abductions took place in two separate incidents.
While Ebikake, the first female Chairman of the Brass Local Government Area, was abducted on Sunday at her residence in Igbogene, Yenagoa, the soldier, identified simply as Rotimi, was abducted along the Foropa-Gbarain route of the Southern Ijaw creek.The assailants reportedly seized Rotimi on his way to Yenagoa, shot the driver of the boat conveying him in the shoulder and stole the engine of the boat.
Ebikake, an indigene of the Brass LGA and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, was reportedly abducted at about 1.30am on Sunday.
Ebikake had resigned as Commissioner for Transport during the campaign for the re-election of Governor Seriake Dickson amidst a political dispute between Dickson and the wife of a former president, Patience Jonathan.
She was reported to have later returned to Dickson’s political camp.
It was gathered that Ebikake was a key member of the contact and reconciliation committee of the state chapter of the PDP set up by the governor.
It was learnt that three days before her abduction, some armed men had invaded her country house in Twon-Brass, in the Brass LGA, and vandalised the palatial residence.
It was further learnt that although she was not at home during the invasion, the armed men destroyed her bullet-proof doors and broke eggs on her vehicles and doors.
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Jang rejects proposed cattle colonies, says Lalong “on his own”
Former Plateau governor Jonah Jang says his constituents are opposed to the creation of cattle colonies as proposed by his successor, Simon Lalong.
Jang, who represents Plateau North in the Senate, said in Jos on Friday that he had met with his constituents to gauge their feelings on the proposal.
“My people are against cattle colonies; they have said that they would not relinquish their ancestral lands for the purpose of grazing reserves or colonies,” Jang said in a statement signed by his media consultant, Mr Clinton Garuba.
Lalong had told State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday that he would introduce cattle colonies instead of enacting a law to ban open cattle grazing in Plateau.
The colonies, Lalong argued, would check the clashes between herdsmen and farmers as the cattle would be restricted to particular areas which would reduce the chances of straying into farmlands.
But Jang, who lamented the attacks on his people by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen over the years, said that victims of such attacks were “not ready to accept the confiscation of their land by government”.
“Cattle colonies are detrimental to the people and will not be accepted. The Plateau government is aware of this,” he declared.
According to him, Lalong was speaking for himself when he promised to establish the cattle colonies.
“As far as the people of my senatorial zone are concerned, Lalong spoke for himself and not for us.
“We have already suffered too much loss in the hands of attackers believed to be herdsmen; creating colonies for them will only worsen the situation,” he said.
He dismissed claims by the governor that people were already donating lands for the purpose of grazing and cattle colonies.
“If the Governor claims that people are already donating lands for the purpose of grazing reserves or
cattle colonies, let him name the donors.“The Plateau people are peaceful and have always rejected any policy that could undermine that peace.
“My constituents’ position is clear – Lalong is on his own and alone in this path that he has chosen,” Jang said.
Jang, however, advised Lalong to apologise to Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue over a statement credited to him (Lalong) in which he claimed to have warned his Benue counterpart against the anti-open grazing law.
“That statement was particularly unfair to the people of Benue, coming at a time they were mourning scores killed in the Jan. 1 attacks on villages in Guma and Logo Governments.
“The statement suggests that the killings took place because of the law. This cannot be true because the killings have been on for years while the law only took effect on Nov. 1,” the statement said.
Jang urged the federal and state governments to organise a meeting of stakeholders to seek a lasting solution to the incessant herdsmen/farmers clashes, and stressed the need for policies that would be fair and acceptable to all concerned.
NAN
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2019: I stand with Buhari, APC not Atiku – Lalong
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has said despite being a close associate of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, says he is not perturbed by the later’s resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
TheNewsGuru.com reports that Atiku had last week, announced his resignation from the APC, a party he joined others to build into a strong political force that wrestled power from the PDP in 2015.
The former vice president and Lalong had been very close friends in the PDP before moving to the APC, making pundits to list Lalong among governors Atiku had boasted would soon join him in his new political fold.
But Lalong told newsmen on Sunday in Jos that he would not leave the APC to join Atiku.
“We reached out to Atiku while building the APC structure in Plateau and received some help from him, but my loyalty is with the APC. My loyalty is with President Buhari and my people have endorsed him for a second term.
“Whatever happens in another party does not concern me. We are only waiting for the APC National Convention to endorse Buhari for a second tenure,” he said.
He, however, stated that it was the constitutional right of every Nigerian to decide which political group to associate with.
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Gov Lalong dissolves LG caretaker committees
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau on Thursday dissolved caretaker committees of the 17 local governments of the state.
Lalong announced the dissolution in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Nanle, noting that it was with immediate effect.
The governor directed the caretaker committee chairmen to handover to directors of personnel management in their respective councils.
He said, “the chairmen and management committee members are to immediately hand over the affairs of local governments to directors of personnel management pending further actions in line with the provision of law.”
The governor constituted the management committees in line with his powers under the edict providing for the establishment and administration of Local Government Councils 2005 (as Amended), subject to ratification of the House of Assembly.
The tenure of the management committees expired on June 28, 2017.
The governor appreciated members of the dissolved council management committees for their selfless service in the two years of their stewardship.
He wished them well in their endeavours and hoped they would be available in future for service when called upon.
NAN