The Plateau State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has commended the immediate past Governor of Plateau State, Rt Hon. Simon Bako Lalong over his patience and tolerance in the midst of provocation, spread of falsehood and mudslinging by some individuals in and outside the party who never wished him well.
Statement made available to this medium stated that the Chairman of the APC in Plateau State, Hon. Rufus Bature stated the party’s position yesterday when he led the State Executive Committee members of the party on a congratulatory visit to him at his Rayfield residence.
Hon. Rufus Bature said the party was surprised when some groups were falling over each other trying to take ownership of the former Governor when his name was announced by President Bola Amed Tinubu as a Ministerial nominee from Plateau State.
He said the former Governor who is the leader of the party in the state is a proud product of the party.
He said out of his respect for the party as a very loyal party man, he told the Executive Committee members to remain in Jos and he would receive them.
He appreciates him for the privilege of making them the first group he received out of the so many others who came on a congratulatory visit yesterday.
Hon. Rufus Bature thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the honour done to Plateau state by appointing former Governor Simon Lalong to serve on the Federal Executive Council.
He assured that by this appointment, the former Governor is going to display his sterling leadership qualities which he has demonstrated at different levels in the past.
The APC Chairman said that as a party, we believe that every leadership has a followership and without followership, there would be no leadership.
He informed the Ministerial nominee that as followers, members of the State Executive Committee have remained loyal, supportive, intact and speaking with one voice.
He pleaded with him to accommodate some members of the State exco of the party wherever he finds himself as only those who know the needs and pains of party administration would be able to take care of its members instead of always going cap in hand begging.
Hon Rufus Bature assured the former Governor that the party is more emboldened now than ever even in the midst of some misguided opposition from within which he said the party is unperturbed.
He said the party which has remained resolute and intact would wax stronger with the former Governor’s appointment as a Minister.
According to the Chairman, the party at all levels in the state will continue to unflinchingly support him to succeed as his success is our success.
Responding, Rt Hon. Simon Bako Lalong said he was very happy to receive members of the State Executive Committee of the party in the state.
He commended the party for solidly standing by him inspite of all odds.
The former Governor said good things do not come easy.
According to him, ” gold is not found on the surface. You have to dig and use furnace before finding it and as it is said, it is not all that glitters is gold”.
He said the party is a movement we started together and we shall swim together as we look forward to reclaiming our mandates by God’s grace.
He said he is very happy with the level of support he has enjoyed from the party.
According to the former governor, if not for the firm position of the party, some Abuja- based politicians would have hijacked the party machinery in the state.
He said under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is a total and committed grassroots politician, gone are the days of ‘monkey de work, baboon de chop’.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the confidence he has reposed in him and promised that he would never betray this confidence as a total party loyalist.
