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Tag: Simon Lalong

  • Lalong mourns NIPSS DG, Habu Galadima

    Lalong mourns NIPSS DG, Habu Galadima

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has described the death of Prof. Habu Galadima, the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos, as a “great loss” to Nigeria.

    Lalong said this in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPA), Dr Makut Macham, in Jos.

    He also said that the demise of Galadima was a huge loss to his immediate family, NIPSS, Plateau and Nasarawa states.

    He said that the deceased would be greatly missed by the academic community in Nigeria and the diaspora.

    “Prof. Galadima is an astute scholar of international repute, administrator and professional who demonstrated uncommon commitment in carrying out every responsibility he was assigned.

    “Since he assumed office one year ago, Galadima had injected a fresh impetus in the management of the nation’s apex policy and strategic institution by introducing new concepts that made research seamless even under the current COVID-19 pandemic.

    “He did a lot to improve the physical infrastructure of the institution while strengthening the academic experience for all course participants. He will be greatly missed

    “The late erudite scholar has over the years contributed a lot to the educational development of Plateau, having studied and taught at the University of Jos for many years before his appointment as the DG of NIPSS,” the governor said.

    He prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest and comfort his family, the management and staff of NIPSS.

    Galadima died on Sunday at the age of 57, after a brief illness.

  • Gov. Lalong tests positive for COVID-19

    Gov. Lalong tests positive for COVID-19

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19).

    Dr Makut Macham, Director of Press and Public Affairs to the governor, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Jos.

    According to Macham, the development followed COVID-19 test conducted on the governor and members of his family.

    He said that the governor had gone into isolation, adding that members of his family all tested negative.

    “The results indicated that the governor’s test returned positive while all members of his family tested negative.

    “Consequently, the governor who is asymptomatic has gone into isolation while his close aides are being tested.

    “As a result, the governor will henceforth work from home during the period of treatment.

    “All state matters requiring the governor’s physical presence will be handled by his deputy,” Macham said.

    He said that the governor urged citizens of the state to observe all COVID-19 protocols, adding that the pandemic is still prevalent.

    Macham said that the governor advised citizens to apply all precautionary measures especially during the festive period, by avoiding large gatherings and ensure the use of facemasks.

    He said Lalong also encouraged residents to ensure regular washing of hands with soap under running water and maintain personal hygiene.

  • We are working with FG to secure release of abducted aid worker – Lalong

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau says his administration is working closely with the Federal Government and security agencies to secure the release of the abducted aid worker, Miss Jennifer Samuel, who hails from Plateau.
    Lalong in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Dan Manjang, said the State Government would not rest until Miss Jennifer Samuel and her colleagues were released.
    He said Miss Jennifer Samuel who works with Alliance for International Medical Action, a humanitarian organisation in the North-East, were allegedly abducted recently in Borno by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
    “The Rescue Administration is interested in the welfare of Plateau citizens anywhere in the world.
    “Channels of communication have been opened with relevant authorities to secure the release of not only Miss Jennifer Samuel but also other citizens in the captivity of the terrorists,” he said.
    The governor encouraged the family of Jennifer to remain prayerful and hopeful as nothing was being left to chance to secure her freedom.
    Meanwhile, Lalong has thanked religious organisations, especially the Church of Christ in Nations COCIN, for partnering with his administration in the care and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
    He said his government would continue to work with the Church and other religious institutions to meet the needs of citizens, especially the vulnerable.
    He tasked beneficiaries of government and the church’s gesture to ensure that they used the items given for the purpose they were meant for and not to contemplate selling them.
    The governor implored other religious institutions, corporate organisations and philanthropists to always support the less privileged in the state.

  • Elections: I am not afraid of rerun – Lalong

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau says he is not jittery over the March 23 Governorship Election Re-run in the state.

    Lalong expressed this view while speaking with State House correspondents after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The March 9 governorship election in the state was declared inconclusive as the margin between the votes polled by Lalong and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’ s candidate was less than the number of votes cancelled.

    The governor said he was confident of victory as the units where votes were cancelled were his strongholds

    “How can I be afraid when all the votes that were cancelled were my votes? These were areas that I won. `

    “There was no need for cancellation; but then as a lawyer, I still want to comply with the rules; I don’t want to be talking about infringing on the rules when the elections result is very clear.

    “They said registered voters were 49,000 but the votes were not up to 20,000 but people were still saying we need 49,000 and I was already on top with 45,000 votes. So we are going to get the 49,000.

    “ How can you imagine that a sitting governor cannot get 3,000 votes out of 39,000 in an area that I have dominated for a very long time. So for me, election is as good as concluded in Plateau State.

    “I see it as an opportunity for people whose votes were cancelled for them to vote. People came and said their votes were cancelled; it is for them to go back and vote and ensure their vote counts this time around.

    “That is why I support that we go back and conduct the elections. If they (INEC) like, let them conduct the elections more than once, we will soon win.’’

    Lalong, said, however, that his meeting with the president was the usual briefing borne out of his passion for security and peace in the state.

    He said that the last election in the state as peaceful and he would want INEC to also conduct peaceful supplementary elections; hence his briefing with the president on the need for adequate security.

    On the recent attack in the state in which cattle were rustled, he said it had a political undertone but was under control.

    “That was why I said I am concerned about security. Usually it starts like that; they start rustling and killing cattle and the next thing you will hear is that it is farmers-herders crisis.

    “I know that I have addressed that issue for a very long time and the police are handling the issue.

    “ So I informed the president that we are on top of the situation because we wouldn’t want that to escalate into farmers-herdsmen crisis.

    “It is not farmers-herdsmen crisis; it is criminals trying to forment trouble after losing elections.

    “ I always say it has political undertone; why is it happening immediately after elections. It usually happens immediately before or after elections; why is it like that? It has some political connotation.’’

    He said that getting reelected would mean continuation and completion of projects and initiation of new projects.

    Lalong said that civil servants had been worried that they would go back to the era of being owed salaries again if he lost election.

    “ So we want to continue with payment of salaries, gratuities, completion of projects that were started before I came and the ones I have initiated.

    “That is the Next Level in Plateau,’’ he said.

  • New Year: Gov Lalong pardons 4 prisoners

    New Year: Gov Lalong pardons 4 prisoners

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has granted pardon to four prisoners serving various jail terms in the state in the spirit of the New Year.

    The governor made the disclosure in a statement signed by Mr Mark Longyen, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity on Tuesday in Jos.

    “The decision was taken after consultation with the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

    “It is in exercise of the powers conferred on the governor under Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    “The sentences of three of the convicts were commuted to absolute pardon, while the third convict had his life sentence commuted to 21 years imprisonment,” he said.

    According to the statement, Abdullahi Musa, Rev. Samson Bisat and Chikwu Anadi were granted absolute pardon while Emmanuel Ochiba who was sentenced to life imprisonment has been commuted to 21 years jail term.”

    Lalong called on the people of the state and the Nation at large to commit the year 2019 to sobriety, penance and forgiveness.

    He urged them to pray fervently for divine intervention in the affairs of Plateau and Nigeria.

    “No challenge under heaven is immune to the power of prayers,” he added.

  • Plateau govt. condemns attack on Lalong’s convoy

    The Plateau Government has condemned the attack on the convoy of Gov. Simon Lalong by some hoodlums.

    Lalong’s convoy was attacked on Saturday while leaving an IDP camp in Jos.

    A statement signed by Commissioner for Information and Communication Mr Yakubu Dati on Sunday said that the hoodlums were acting the script of their sponsors.

    The statement said that the hoodlums laid ambush on the highway and attacked the Governor‘s convoy with stones, rods and other unidentified objects.

    “They damaged vehicles in the convoy including those belonging to the press corp, security and relief agencies.

    “The attack is coming at the heels of a similar invasion on the Plateau State Government House about two weeks ago, where Government properties, vehicles of civil servants and visitors running into millions of naira were destroyed.

    “Government finds it regrettable that while its efforts at restoring peace is yielding results, certain unpatriotic elements are bent on returning our state to the sad era of blood letting by instigating religious and ethnic hatred, for cheap political gains,” it said.

    According to the statement, government views the attacks as an affront on the authority and would take appropriate measures to checkmate merchants of division and death.

    Lalong in the statement assured citizens that government would not relent in ensuring that the safety of citizens was guaranteed and the relative peace sustained.

    “The Governor also wishes to thank the security agencies for professionally carrying out their duties with restrain in the face of extreme provocation.

    “The IDPs must not allow those who do not wish them well to use their misfortune for ulterior motives.

    “We call on parents, religious and community leaders to counsel their children/members not to become willing tools in the hands of conflict merchants.

    “Government has set machinery in motion to fish out and bring to justice all those conniving to present the state as unsafe by sowing the seed of discord among the good people of Plateau,” it added.

     

  • Gov. Lalong sends names of 3 commissioner-nominees to PLHA

    Barely a week after he dissolved the entire cabinet, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau on Tuesday forwarded three names to the House of Assembly for confirmation as commissioners.

    Among those nominated is Yakubu Datti who served as information commissioner under one of Lalong’s predecessors, Joshua Dariye

    Others are Mr Luka Madaki and Chris Ahmadu.

    Speaker Peter Azi, who read out the names to his colleagues during plenary on Tuesday in Jos, said that the governor’s communication was in accordance with section 195 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the lawmakers later agreed to screen the nominees on Feb. 14.

    Lalong had dissolved the entire cabinet on Feb. 8 and thanked the 17 commissioners for their contributions to his administration.

     

  • I’m not perturbed by Atiku’s movement from APC – Lalong

    Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong, a close associate of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, says he is not perturbed by the latter’s movement from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Atiku, on Sunday afternoon, announced rejoining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he left in 2013, joining others to build the APC 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, concurrent with when Atiku was announcing his movement into the PDP, Lalong told newsmen on Sunday in Jos that he would not leave the APC.

    “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.