Press Release

Lalong’s endless gaffes and the dilemma of Spokesman.

At this time, it has become very obvious that the man with the toughest Job on earth is Emmanuel Samuel Nanle, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State.

Rather than, retreat, be sober and find a subtle way to clear the own goals scored daily by his principal, he has resorted to the usual blame game that is characteristic of the current administration at all levels.

Let me quickly remind him that foolish people often recklessly attempt feats that the wise avoid, at this point it would have been wise to take a clue from Mr. Lai Mohammed who have suddenly has gone quiet when he couldn’t continue to defend the indefensible but they say he the gods want to kill they first make mad.

The truth remains that, the lame excuse put up by Nanle in a damage control attempt was an afterthought and has failed, as it was already conceived dead on arrival. Worst still, not surprising though only yesterday the Benue State Governor told the world that Governor Lalong lied. How on earth will a sensible government attempt to play ping – pong with figures of preventable deaths? Ask a few morbid anatomist…. they will tell how their relative avoid them for choosing a vocation that permits them to rummage death bodies with near glee, Nanle shouldn’t usurp their duties.

In an attempt to correct a blunder made by his principal Nanle just brought back the very sad memories of Dogo Nahawa to the anguish of relative of death victims like a second death, people killed by the same agents of destruction in almost the same manner.

Governor Lalong should be reminded that when it matters most even at the expense of his political survival, then Governor Jonah David Jang stood by the Plateau people and dragged the Federal Government to court even when the President was his party man, for the sake of the Plateau people Senator Jang risked his life and stood firm against the military and the powers that be in Abuja.

However, the difference between then and now is that Senator Jang stood by his people and told the world how the military would have averted the painful loss of lives in Dogo Nahawa (may their souls rest in peace) and as a Governor he opened access roads to Dogo Nahawa and communities around in addition to openly scolding the military for lack of commitment not minding its political implications.

Then Governor Jang against all odds pursued the approval to set up a special security outfit which was later known as “Operation Rainbow” , regrettably it wasn’t sustained perhaps, if Governor Lalong had built on it the Plateau people would have had another layer of security and possible avoided the death we recorded recently.

While the Government and people of Benue were burying their dead in a dignified manner, Governor Lalong was on National TV talking about creating peace in Plateau state and blaming Gov. Ortom for the death of his people; what more is playing to the gallery than insulting a mourning lot.

Even in death, those lost souls will feel loved and the memories of how the Benue state government handled their burial will stick with their relatives.

In plateau villagers are left to bury their dead in mass grave without sympathy, empathy or even the presence of any government organ.

What a shame! Gov. Ortom has publicly shown the world that he is with his people. The least Lalong could do was, to either be quiet and learn lessons from his actions or look the other way and pretend he is not aware of the grief of Ortom and his people.

It is Lalong and people like Nanle are trying to justify his verbosity when silence should be golden that are spitting on the graves of the lost souls in Benue state (to borrow your expression).

Reminding plateau people of the heinous crimes committed by the Fulani herdsmen in Dyemburuk (Dogo Na Hawa) is only to advance the cause of Plateau people who have demonstrated their total refusal to any negate the collective interest of the people.

While the APC government in the state continues to blame the PDP for it’s lack lustre, nay, non-performance, be reminded that your time is ticking and in the days ahead, Nigerians, particularly those who have seen and know those who will serve to protect them are watching keenly and would put people who they can trust in political offices.

For now, the director of press and public affairs should continue with his job of cleaning up the mess of his master who is daily trying to play the nice boy of those that a bent on taking our collective heritage.

Lest I forget, please the Nigerian media is too big an entity to conspire against Gov. Simon Bako Lalong, no journalist or media organisation quoted him out of context, his exact words were on live TV.

Senator Jonah David Jang wishes to again advise Governor Lalong to appreciate the benevolence of forgiveness from Governor Otom by personally leading a delegation from Plateau State to sympathize with the people Benue State while calling on the people of the State to pray and condole with the good people of Benue state.

Need I remind you again that; there are times when silence is golden?

Clinton Garuba
Media Consultant to Senator Dr. David Jonah Jang

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Lalong’s endless gaffes and the dilemma of Spokesman – Sen. Jonah Jang