Connect with us

News

Gov Simon Lalong: setting the template of unity in diversity

Published

on

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

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

NSCDC PARTNERS NILDS FOR IMPROVED SECURITY ADVOCATES FOR NON-KINETIC STRATEGIES TO TACKLE EMERGING CHALLENGE

Published

on

NSCDC PARTNERS NILDS FOR IMPROVED SECURITY ADVOCATES FOR NON-KINETIC STRATEGIES TO TACKLE EMERGING CHALLENGE

By: Our Reporter

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has assured the public of stronger collaborations with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS); this is consequent upon the need to map out workable measures through non-kinetic approach in response to the security challenges across the nation.

Welcoming the Director General of the Institute at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja; the Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni, OFR. said the collaboration had become necessary to provide strategies to combat crime in Nigeria.

The CG in his address expressed optimism in the ability of the Institute most especially due to its technical manpower and effective service delivery; he affirmed that the NSCDC is ready to work with NILDS to enhance the security architecture of the nation.

Dr Audi informed the Director General in the company of the agency’s Directors that upon his assumption of duty; his administration launched a formidable policy to make the NSCDC a knowledge-driven agency. Hence, based on this collaboration Audi pledged to leverage on the platform provided by the institute to strengthen and improve the the capacity building of the NSCDC personnel.

The Director General of NILDS, Prof Abubakar Suleiman Olarewaju, had earlier hinted that the visit was to deepen partnership with the NSCDC as a means of addressing matters of insecurity in Nigeria.

According to him, not all cases of insecurity require the instrumentality of weapons and Kinetic approach.

He further stated that some security issues can be tackled by identifying the remote causes through intelligence and informed research which the institute has the capacity to deliver.

Prof. Olanrewaju however advocated that the paramilitary agencies whose duties and responsibilities are critical in providing solutions to security challenges also need to be accorded serious attention to foster greater achievements like the Military.

He said the NLDS was established in 2017 to provide technical services to political structures in Nigeria apart from other services, the DG said the 9th Leadership of the National Assembly has provided the institute with enough parliamentary framework to discharge its duties and that they are doing the best they can.

Recall that the CG sometimes paid a working visit to the Institute this year which is now being reciprocated to further enhance stronger synergy for an improved working relationship between the two federal government agencies.

NSCDC PARTNERS NILDS FOR IMPROVED SECURITY ADVOCATES FOR NON-KINETIC STRATEGIES TO TACKLE EMERGING CHALLENGE

Continue Reading

News

Ondo APC youths protest at APC secretariat, demand election rerun

Published

on

Ondo APC youths protest at APC secretariat, demand election rerun

By: Michael Mike

Aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress under the aegis of Ondo APC youths on Thursday protested the outcome of Saturday’s primary election that produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner at the party secretariat in Abuja.

The young demonstrators, who came in four luxury buses, were however dispersed by security operatives mounted at the entrance of the national headquarters.

Barely an hour later, the defiant young protesters regrouped a few blocks from the secretariat by the popular Barcelona Hotel, shouting ‘Aluta Continua.’

While displaying placards and banners that read ‘Ondo APC rejects Kangaroo primary election’, ‘No primary held in Ondo’ and ‘We want a fresh election,’ they threatened to march into the party secretariat again.

Their demonstration took place almost the same time the National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and members of the National Working Committee were placating the aggrieved aspirants to bury the hatchet and support Aiyedatiwa ahead of the governorship election in November.

Addressing newsmen, the leader of the demonstrators who is also a party youth leader in Akure South, Kolawole Johnson, described the primary as a sham and declared that only a rerun election can pacify their people back home in Ondo.

Johnson also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders of the party to prevail on the NWC to inaugurate a new election committee chairman to oversee the fresh poll.

He said, “How can you say you want to ratify the outcome of a primary and you declared a candidate? It shows there is foul play. Ondo is APC and APC is Ondo State. We won’t fold our hands and allow opposition parties to snatch Ondo from us.

“That is why we are calling on the party to cancel the primary. There should be a rerun and we want a new person to head the committee that will supervise us. What they did is not a primary election. It is selling the APC ticket. We want a rerun because we are not impressed with the poll.

“We, therefore, invite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to look into this. We don’t want opposition to take over Ondo State.”

Ondo APC youths protest at APC secretariat, demand election rerun

Continue Reading

News

FUNE LGA: Baba Goni applauded Buni on the promise kept with the people in Yobe

Published

on

FUNE LGA: Baba Goni applauded Buni on the promise kept with the people in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

The Chairman of the Caretaker Management Committee of Fune local government area in Yobe state, Alhaji Baba Goni Bade, has commended the Executive Governor of Yobe state, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, Chiroman Gujba, for fulfilling all his campaign promises to the people by providing the dividend of democracy.

Baba Goni Bade said Yobe is blessed with a governor characterized by humility, sympathy, accessibility, and a genius go of what rightfully and lawfully belongs to him, for peace to reign, adding that giving kudos to the governor has become imperative because of his numerous achievements in improving the living conditions of the masses in the state.

According to the Fune Chairman, commendation as such is not only coming from members of his party APC in the state but also from the opposition, which has come to terms with the development strides of the Mai Mala Buni CON Administration in the last five years.

“Members of the opposition parties are praising Chiroman Gujba for executing the developmental projects both in rural and urban areas within the five years in office.

“Buni’s developmental projects are physically on the ground. Buni’s administration is full of initiatives. The government has constructed modern markets in major towns across the state, including Damaturu, Potiskum, Gashu’a, Nguru, Geidam, and Buni Yadi. The government also constructed Trailer Park in Potiskum and resuscitated three dormant industries in the state. These are the Woven Sack Company in Damaturu, Yobe Sahel Aluminum and Flour, and Feed Mill Company in Potiskum.” Baba Goni Bade said.

Speaking further, he said the Buni administration completed the state-owned International Cargo Airport, which was commissioned by the former President Muhammadu Buhari. He said all these achievements were to create a conducive environment for trade and commerce for the economic development of the state.

Alhaji Baba Goni Bade maintained that the Mai Mala Buni administration also established six modern and seven mega schools, procured books and laboratory equipment, employed more workers and teachers, and re-trained teachers in order to enhance and improve the quality of education in the state. Adding to that, Governor Buni also sponsored many students studying specialized courses abroad.

“The Buni administration also constructed numerous township and inter-town roads to facilitate the movement of goods and services and also provided women and youth empowerment initiated for self-employment. In addition, it constructed 1,800 housing units across the state, already allocated to public and civil servants, and discounted the units by 50 percent.

Determined to alleviate the suffering of his people. Governor Mai Mala Buni CON recently distributed assorted food items as Ramadan palliatives to vulnerable groups and to 120,000 households across the 17 local government areas of the state. The 50,000 bags of assorted food items, including rice, maize, millet, and sorghum,.

The Buni administration also recently launched the distribution of cash support of $50,000 each to 1,000 orphans in the 17 local government areas of the state.

“Governor Mai Mala Buni has made tremendous achievements in the health sector. Under five years, he has constructed 138 primary healthcare centers in every electoral ward across the state and also upgraded over seven PHCs to standard general hospitals and four general hospitals to specialist hospitals to provide affordable and accessible healthcare services for the people of Yobe State.

“There is no part of Yobe State without the appreciable positive impact of Buni’s administration on the lives of the people. He also constructed the largest maternal and child health care complex at the State University Teaching Hospital, which was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari.’

Speaking of his achievements in the Fune local government area, the chairman said he has been following in the footsteps of Governor Mai Mala Buni CON in improving the standard and quality of education. He revealed that the council has provided copies of exercise books and distributed them to all primary schools across the local government.

Alhaji Baba Goni Bade said the council has been drilling new boreholes and repairing all old borehole generators. He said that despite the heavy cost of diesel, the council has taken on the burden of ensuring the availability of the product to service the people’s needs. According to him, every month the council distributes enough of the product to power generators in all boreholes, as well as the drilling of new boreholes at Jama’are and health facilities across the local government. Adding to that, the council was also able to construct a bridge Damagum to Dumbulwa, and the council also constructed a newly constructed police station at Alagarno and repaired bridges and culverts to ease water flow during the rainy seasons.

Baba Goni Bade further said that his administration also gives priority to agriculture; he has transformed agriculture through the provision of inputs and implements for both rainy season and irrigation farming. The council also purchased drugs worth millions of naira, distributed them to all our primary health centers across the local government, and repaired primary health centers.

FUNE LGA: Baba Goni applauded Buni on the promise kept with the people in Yobe

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights