Lalong Emerges Daily Independent Newspaper Governor of the Year 2019

By Golok Nanmwa,Jos

For his efforts at ensuring that peace returns to Plateau State as well as sustaining the path of reconciliation, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has emerged as the Daily Independent Newspaper Governor of
the Year 2019.

A statement signed by Dr Makut Simon Macham the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State in a statement made available to newsmen reads that the cheering news was communicated to the Governor in a
letter delivered by the Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Independent Newspaper Mr. Steve Omanufeme during a visit to Government House, Rayfield-Jos on Wednesday 12th February 2020.

“While making the presentation, Steve Omanufeme explained that the Selection Committee, which looked for many qualities such as the passion
for good governance and priority to the security of lives and property,
selected Governor Lalong after a vigorous scrutiny.'”

He said, “the committee resolved that the selection of the Governor
of the Year should consider security as a major issue because it is the primary
duty of every government as it forms the pillar on which other indices rest. Without security, there will be no development and even what has been achieved will easily
be wiped out”.

Lalong according to the Managing Director, became an obvious
choice because he has been able to bring calm to Plateau State by pursuing the path of peace and reconciliation while also fighting crime. This situation he acknowledges,is gradually bringing back the old glory of Plateau State which is undoubtedly
the Home of Peace and Tourism.

The Editor-in-Chief explained that although the security challenges in Plateau State have not been completely resolved, the initiatives of Governor Lalong have proven to be effective in ensuring that violence is
curbed drastically through institutional development such as the establishment
of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, which is the first in the country and a
model that is being replicated.

Governor Lalong while accepting the Nomination described it
as a humbling experience considering the fact that his passion for peace is not
only a natural instinct, but a responsibility as the Chief Security of Plateau
State.

He said “I was surprised when I heard that you had selected
me for the Governor of the Year Award because I always do my work without
expecting praises or awards. I am always convinced that the search for peace is
the right thing to do because there is nothing we can ever achieve in an
atmosphere of violence and rancour. That is why I made peace my number one
priority since assuming office and by the grace of God, we have made a lot of
progress. We know that there is still more to be done hence our determination to keep building institutions that will bring our people together so that we
can identify the trouble makers and criminals and deal with them appropriately”.

Lalong also told his guests that the State recently held a stakeholders meeting and resolved to reinvigorate the Operation Rainbow Security Outfit and commence the implementation of the Community Policing Initiative
enunciated by the Inspector General of Police.

He thanked the Daily Independent Newspaper for the honour and
promised to redouble his efforts in enduring that lasting peace returns to Plateau
State as well as the entire Northern Region because of his position as the
Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum.

The Awards are scheduled to hold in Lagos in March this year.

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Lalong Emerges Daily Independent Newspaper Governor of the Year 2019