The entire APC family in Plateau state, heartily joins Plateau citizens both at home and in the diaspora in felicitating with His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr Simon Bako Lalong KSGG, CON, the Executive Governor of Plateau State and Chairman Northern Governors Forum, as he celebrates his 60th anniversary birthday today.
Attaining this remarkable and diamond birthday which is God’s grace upon the Governor’s life, is no doubt, worth appreciating God for his mercy.
This is moerso given the so many records of spectacular and uncommon achievements by His Excellency within these sixty years which have placed him at a comfortable and special place in book of fame for achievers.
Though born without a silver spoon in his mouth, Governor Siimon Bako Lalong has by dint of hard work and determination rose from the lower rung of life to a towering level to the admiration of all well meaning and discerning minds.
He started demonstrating his leadership traits as a young man when he became the the National President of Gammai Youth Movement in the nineties.
Joining active politics as a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party which was then the party with wide national appeal embraced by the people of Plateau state, Governor Simon Bako Lalong contested and won election to represent the good and peace – loving people of Shendam Local Government as Member of the Plateau State House of Assembly.
As the saying goes, ” the golden fish has no hiding place, as it can be spotted even in the deepest level of the sea”, he was easily identified and unanimously elected by his fellow Members as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly in 2000, a position he served with great honour and distinction for a record six years till 2006.
His legislative prowess saw Plateau State enjoying great dividends of democracy, especially in the field of education where given the cordial working relationship between the Legislative and executive arms, several tertiary institutions, including the Plateau State University, Bokkos, College of Agriculture, Garkawa and School of Science and Preliminary Studies, Kurgwi were established with speedy and seamless passage of bills to that effect.
A very humble but deft and calculated politician, Rt. Honourable Simon Bako Lalong won the governorship election in 2015 under the APC and again in 2019 against all odds, as most of the political big wigs never gave him a breathing space.
This to a great extent spurred him to put in his best especially in the area of peace building and its maintainance where he picked up the broken pieces as Captain of the Rescue Team and restored calm and relative peace in Plateau state, a legacy he will long be remembered for after the eight years he has been on the saddle as governor.
As an acknowledged and accomplished politician, he was able to properly launch Plateau State into the national arena with several benefits accruing to the state through the attraction of many institutions especially educational institutions where space and time would not allow us mention in this breath birthday wish for a great and honourable man of peace and bridge builder.
Governor Simon Bako Lalong stands very tall for ensuring as the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, the victory of the President – elcect, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice- President- elect, Senator Kashim Shettima who would be sworn- in. on 29th May, 2023.
As we join his family, friends and loved ones across the nation and globe in celebrating this quintessential leader, a legislator par excellence, a peacemaker and bridge builder of note, it is our sincere prayer and wish that Almighty God will continue to bless him with abundant health and protection and to elevate him for greater responsibilities in the years ahead.
Long Live the people’s Governor! Long Live a prosperous and Plateau State of our dream!!
Signed:
Hon. Sylvanus Namang,
APC State Publicity Secretary
