Lalong’s template for peace

As he rose amidst thunderous applaud to address the first combined convocation ceremony of the Plateau State University, Bokkos as Visitor and the Executive Governor of Plateau State, one could not but marvel at the twist of faith.

At the same venue 12 years ago, Lalong was on the same ground to witness the foundation laying of the institution performed by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State.

The question of whether individuals shape history or history shapes individuals has remained a recurring decimal in the life of Rgt Hon Simon Bako Lalong, Governor of Plateau State.

Lalong’s own life and the metamorphosis of the Plateau State University, Bokkos, has remained intertwined. As the then Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, he re-engineered the legislative process that gave birth to the ivory tower under the Joshua Dariye administration.

Having seen the institution at the prospects of its infancy, Lalong witnessed the painful trauma of its abandonment by his predecessor, Jonah Jang and is today central to its rebound as a fledging institution under the respected Prof Danjuma Sheni.

The extend to which he embodies the history of the University can be gauged with the overwhelming support he received from Atahiru Jega, a Professor and former Chairman of INEC who accepted to be the Pro-chancellor of the institution.

Lalong has joined the ranks of great philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle who believe in the potency of education as the most powerful instrument of social change.

His deployement of massive resources to fast track it’s academic and structural development is yielding bountiful harvest. Youths have found conducive avenues to acquire the golden fleece and become responsible members of the society, with little or no time to indulge in vices inimical to the society. No wonder peace has returned to Plateau.

Hear Lalong “Ours is a promise to create opportunities not just for those with the money and influence, but for every Plateau citizen who desires to have meaningful and productive life”.

The educational empowerment of the youths will no doubt further broaden viable choices and make them competitive in the direction of innovative creativity the world is heading towards.

Since assuming office, Governor Lalong has deplored a combination of strategies and activities that had great meaningful impact, fostering a culture of peaceful coexistence and, in turn, economic progress in a period of recession such as ours.

While efforts geared at educating leaders of tomorrow has gained traction, the working class had their day in December 2016 when Governor Lalong injected over 4 billion naira into the economy when he paid up the backlog of salary arreas to civil servants. This gesture has endeared him to the Plateau people who fondly address him as Simon Bankalert Lalong.

While the search for peace has remained of great challenge to neighboring states and indeed, the nation, the Lalong template is worthy of emulation.

The presence of the Gov Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Mallam Nasir Elrufai of kaduna State, Bar. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State and Gov Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State has sent a clear signal that Plateau is back to it’s true identity- Home of Peace and Tourism.

Yakubu Dati was former commissioner of Information, Plateau State.