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Gov Simon Lalong: setting the template of unity in diversity
Gov Simon Lalong: setting the template of unity in diversity
By Yakubu Dati
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” —Lao Tzu
Gov Simon Lalong was at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Wednesday, to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the many good things he has done for the government and people of Plateau State recently.
Specifically, the Governor was in the Villa to appreciate the President for approving several projects in Plateau State including
a Cancer Centre for the University of Jos and the over N3 billion approved for the purpose; the establishment of an Orthopaedic Hospital in Jos; the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Wase; the Federal Polytechnic Shendam, the conversion of the Federal College of Education, Pankshin, to a Federal University of Education; establishment of another Federal College of Education in the state and the establishment of a zonal campus of the Nigerian Law School for North-Central in Jos.
This, the governor made clear to reporters who tried to ambush him with barrage of questions while coming out of the villa, but not so surprisingly given the nature of Nigerian politics, it was his response on the issue of his acceptance to lead the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organization that was not only given prominence but made to overshadow all issues with his comment being twisted in the social media to give it a different meaning.
Welcome to Nigerian politics where opposition elements must ply their trade: Downplaying major milestones and confusing otherwise straight narratives through the promotion of self serving angles is the new low.
The slant given to Gov Lalong’s response on his acceptance to lead the presidential campaign falls in this category and is meant to obfuscate these achievements by throwing up sentimental issues that tend to divide the populace.
But one wonders why some are always ready to bring up the religious and ethnic cards when citizen cohesion and nation building as demonstrated by the Governor in highlighting the projects approved for his state, should be the focus.
According to research, there exists about 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements and ultimate concerns, which at some point will be countless.
The Rwandan genocide that led to the slaughtering of about 800,000 persons in just 100 days, has according to a BBC report been traced to the exploitation of existing fault,-lines between the Tutsi and Hutu.
These imply the very intricate and diverse sentiment that prevail as far as religion and ethnicity are concerned, and why rather than use these fault lines to divide, they should form the basis for integration and peaceful coexistence which should be championed by all men of goodwill.
To paraphrase Gen Ibrahim Haruna rtd, on an ARISE TV interview “Why does the mass media think only of failure?”
Gov Lalong is rising above the fault lines of religion and ethnicity to project appreciation of religious tolerance and steer the nation away from plunging into the tenterhooks of war, to setting the building blocks for harmony and peaceful coexistence.
Lalong would, rather than dwell on what divides citizens, draws from his personal experience where his kith and kin are made of a fine mix of Christians and Muslims living in harmony, to build on.
Back to the villa interview. In response to a question about his acceptance to lead the Tinubu/Shettima campaign, the Governor used the analogy of the most respected Vatican potentate to underscore his proud religious heritage to promote the cardinal attribute of peace.
He said: “I hold a Papal knight and as a Catholic, everything we do, we do it and send the advice to the Pope. The Pope has not told me that what I’m doing is bad – as a catholic, we take that direction.”
The attempt by conflict merchants to confuse his metaphoric reference to his Knighthood of Saint Gregory the Great KSGG, is being weaponized for political mileage with the intention of plunging the most populous African country to war.
But the bid to misinterpret this analogy is dead on arrival, as many have come to understand the context it was used.
The Catholic Church has, over the years made it a policy to explore ways of opening avenues for interreligious harmony and the reference by Governor Lalong is an enunciation of this pursuit and his belief in peaceful coexistence.
As one whose worldview is shaped by unity in diversity, the Governor is driven to replicate this win win experience for national cohesion.
Therein lies his motivation to defend peaceful coexistence and promote the Tinubu/Shetima APC presidential ticket without fear or intimidation.
While his political traducers resort to exploiting the Freudian slip to ply their trade, men of goodwill will dig deeper and appreciate his internal train of thought that means no harm.
Yakubu Dati, a Commissioner of lands Plateau State can be reached on Yakubudati@gmail.com
Gov Simon Lalong: setting the template of unity in diversity
News
Bandits loyal to Bello Turji kill several, abduct dozens in Sokoto communities despite peace negotiations claims
Bandits loyal to Bello Turji kill several, abduct dozens in Sokoto communities despite peace negotiations claims
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits loyal to notorious kingpin, Bello Turji, have carried out a series of attacks on communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving several people dead and dozens abducted between Wednesday, Aug. 14, and Friday, Aug. 16.
The attacks, according to residents, claimed the lives of villagers, a soldier, and a vigilante member, while the fate of many abducted persons remains unknown.
Eyewitnesses told Zagazola Makama that the bandits moved from one community to another, abducting residents and causing panic.
“On Wednesday, they laid an ambush for travellers along the Yankasuwa–Masawa road, stopped vehicles and abducted all passengers on board,” one survivor said.
On Thursday, the gunmen attacked Garki village, abducting 16 persons. One was killed, another managed to escape, while three cows were rustled.
The attacks continued on Friday when they raided Turtsawa and Faru villages near Sabon Birni, abducting 28 residents. Families of the missing persons are still searching for their loved ones.
The Movement for Social Justice, a civil society group in Sokoto, confirmed the incidents, noting that their monitoring indicated repeated attacks within four to five days despite peace negotiations claims. The attack is suspected to be orchestrated by Kallamu a top Loyal fighters of Bello Turji.
“Our reports show multiple attacks in succession. It is possible some incidents have gone unreported. We call on the Sokoto State Government to act swiftly and implement recommendations we have submitted to curb the atrocities of Turji’s fighters,” the group said in a statement.
The civil society organization offered prayers for the victims and appealed to government and security agencies to intervene urgently to stop what they described as “unrestrained brutality” in eastern Sokoto.
Last week, the Defence Headquarters in Abuja dismissed claims that Bello Turji had surrendered and accepted amnesty.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, told journalists in Abuja that Turji had not surrendered and remained on the wanted list of the military.
Turji, who operates between Sokoto and Zamfara States, is accused of masterminding several deadly raids and mass abductions across the North-West.
Bandits loyal to Bello Turji kill several, abduct dozens in Sokoto communities despite peace negotiations claims
Buni directs SEMA to provide flood victims with support
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON COMN has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide the victims of the flood in the state with immediate support.
Governor Buni commiserated with the victims, adding that, “We have in the last few years been battling with the menace of the flood in some parts of the state, destroying houses and farmlands.
The governor directed the local government chairmen to liaise with SEMA to provide support to the victims.
He also called for cooperation from the communities in finding lasting solutions to the reoccurrence of floods in the affected areas.
Governor Mai Mala Buni also urged the council chairmen to liaise with the community leaders to move flood-prone communities to safer areas.
He directed the relocations of flood-prone communities to safer areas to avoid more casualties.
According to Governor Buni, “As the rainfall intensifies, people in communities in flood-prone areas are kindly requested to move to safer places because we can’t tell when the floods may occur.
Buni directs SEMA to provide flood victims with support
Police arrest INEC officials, recover election materials in Taraba by-election
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Taraba has arrested some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and recovered election materials allegedly diverted during the by-election for Karim Lamido I Constituency of the State House of Assembly.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that on Sunday that the arrests followed credible intelligence provided by party agents.
The sources said the incident occurred on Aug. 16 at about 2:20 p.m. when a team of policemen intercepted the suspects at a private residence in Angwan Sarkin Panya village.
Those arrested included Gideon Amos, 49, an Assistant Presiding Officer II assigned to Polling Unit 16, Angwan Yusuf Dogo, Bikwin Ward, and two others identified as Matthew Jayi, 47, and Tiasama Mathias Musa, 32.
The suspects allegedly diverted materials meant for three polling units PU 005 Gandara, PU 016 Angwan Yusuf Dogo, and PU 029 Angwan Sarkin Primary School — to the residence.
Items recovered from them included three ballot boxes, two BIVAS machines, 19 booklets and 20 pieces of ballot papers, two stamp pads with ink, one marker, and two result sheets.
The sources also disclosed that in the process of resisting the diversion, a police officer on election duty, PC Christian Garba, had his uniform forcibly removed by hoodlums who fled with it.
The sources added that voting had ended in most polling units and collation of results was in progress while investigations into the incident were ongoing.
End
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