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Gov Simon Lalong: setting the template of unity in diversity

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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

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District head commends Buni over road construction from Fadawa to Daya in Yobe

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District head commends Buni over road construction from Fadawa to Daya in Yobe.

By: Yahaya Wakili

The District Head of Goya in the Fika emirate council of Yobe state, Alhaji Musa Garba Daya, has expressed his gratitude to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe state, Hon. Dr. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, for the construction of a road from Fadawa to Daya, the headquarters of the district.

Daya said, For over forty years we have been appealing to the past governments to construct us this road, but it was not done until the government of Mai Mala Buni came to power. Therefore, the entire people of the Goya district have commended Governor Buni for his transformative leadership, which is really touching the lives of all the citizens of Yobe State.

Alhaji Musa Garba Daya made the commendation in Daya town while speaking to newsmen. He reiterated Buni’s administration’s commitment to rebuilding Yobe’s infrastructure, economy, and human capital. Adding that, still we are requesting more roads, such as a road from Daya to Janga to Yalwa and up to Boza.

The district head, with kudos to His Royal Highness, the Emir of Fika and Chairman of the Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Dr. Muhammad Ibn Abali Muhammad Idrisa CON, CFR, for appointing him as the new district head of Goya, noted that the position he inherited from his late father, Alhaji Garba Abdullahi Daya. (May his soul rest in peace), Ameen, and was made best on merit.

He revealed that what the royal father did to him and the entire people of the Goya district, they will never forget him up to the end of their lives and pray to Almighty Allah to protect him and give him good health, long life, and prosperity, and urge the people of the area to live in peace with one another.

According to him, what the people of Kukar-Gadu did last week is a welcome development; they made unveiling the potentials of Kukar-Gadu, as well as the presentation of the Kukar-Gadu physical development plan, and called on the people of the Goya district to emulate what the people of Kukar-Gadu did.

He challenged everyone in the Goya district to create something tangible that our people will benefit from, because most of our young men and women are staying idle with no work to do, and called on the people of the area to always continue praying for peace, adding that, without peace, there is no development.

The district head also solicits the support and cooperation of the people of the area to pray towards the development of Goya district, Fika emirate council, Fika local government area, and Yobe state at large.

District head commends Buni over road construction from Fadawa to Daya in Yobe

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Cuba, Colombia React as US Confirms Military Strikes on Venezuela

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Cuba, Colombia React as US Confirms Military Strikes on Venezuela

By: Michael Mike

Cuba and Colombia have issued statements following reports of US military strikes on Venezuela, after multiple explosions were recorded in the capital, Caracas, early Saturday.

Residents reported loud blasts across several parts of the city, alongside sightings of warplanes, helicopters and what appeared to be unmanned aerial vehicles operating overhead. Venezuela’s government described the incident as a “serious military aggression,” alleging that US forces targeted both civilian and military sites in Caracas and in the surrounding states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

US President Donald Trump later confirmed that American forces carried out the operation, announcing that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country.

In a strongly worded response, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the action, calling on the international community to respond urgently. He described the strike as a criminal act that violated regional peace, accusing Washington of state terrorism against Venezuela and Latin America as a whole.

“Our zone of peace is under brutal assault,” Díaz-Canel said, expressing solidarity with the Venezuelan people.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro took a more measured approach, stating that his government was closely monitoring developments. He expressed concern over the reported explosions and increased aerial activity, warning against further escalation.

“The Colombian government rejects any unilateral military action that could worsen the crisis or endanger civilians,” Petro said.

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales also condemned the strikes, describing them as an imperialist attack that violated Venezuela’s sovereignty. He pledged solidarity with the Venezuelan people, insisting the country was not facing the situation alone.

The developments unfold against the backdrop of longstanding tensions between Washington and Caracas. The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela’s leadership of involvement in large-scale drug trafficking, claims the Maduro government has dismissed as justification for foreign intervention and regime change.

Cuba, Colombia React as US Confirms Military Strikes on Venezuela

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Seven killed in Qua’an-Pan as attackers target fellow Christian villagers in Plateau

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Seven killed in Qua’an-Pan as attackers target fellow Christian villagers in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

At least seven persons were killed late Friday night in Bong village, Doemak District, Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, in an attack reportedly carried out against fellow Christians residents by criminals operating within the community.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the community late at night while residents were asleep in an attempt to rustled their livestock.

A native of the area, Mr Lawrence Dogari, said that many villagers were injured in the attack, while some persons were still missing.

“For now, I can confirm that over seven persons have been killed, while several others were injured. Some people are still unaccounted for,” Dogari said.

Confirming the incident, Mr Danaan Cletus Sylvanus, Director of Press and Publicity to the Executive Chairman of Qua’an-Pan Local Government Council, Mr Christopher Audu Manship, said the exact number of casualties was still being verified.

He said the council chairman had condemned the attack and was working closely with security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and brought to justice.

“The chairman is deeply saddened by the attack on innocent persons and is collaborating with security operatives to ensure the culprits are brought to book,” Sylvanus said.

Meanwhile, sources at the Plateau State Police Command said the incident was linked to a cattle-rustling attempt carried out by criminal elements operating within the area.

According to a police sources, at about 4:20 a.m. on Jan. 2, unknown armed men invaded Bong/Kook village in Qua’an-Pan LGA and rustled some cows. It said that operatives of the police, military, NSCDC and vigilante groups were mobilised to the area following a distress call.

The sources said that two of the assailants were killed in a bid escape, but later abandoned the rustled cows and fled.

“The rustled cows have been recovered, while the corpses of the deceased were deposited at the Cottage Hospital morgue in Kwalla for autopsy,” the police sources said, adding that additional security deployment had been made to the area.

Notably, preliminary accounts from the community and security sources indicate that the attack was not carried out by Fulani bandits, nor did the rustled livestock belong to Fulani pastoralists, pointing to the indications that the attackers were members of the local community.

Seven killed in Qua’an-Pan as attackers target fellow Christian villagers in Plateau

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