Lalong bags Champion newspapers award, dissolves cabinet

Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has on Friday, May 26th, 2023 held a valedictory session with members of his State Executive Council (SEC), where he was presented with an award by Champion Newspapers. 

However, after the meeting, held at the Executive Chambers, new Government House Rayfield, Jos, the governor dissolved his Executive Council at exactly 3:01pm. 

The governor said the Excutive is to continue to dispense their other assignments until May 29th, the official handing over date.

Presiding over the meeting, Lalong said it was a remarkable and historic meeting which has ended the 8-year old tenure of his APC led rescue administration in the state.

The governor said according to the holy books, there is a time for everything, and period where his mandate will come to an end. 

He said the meeting x-rayed the history, progress and successes of his government. 

While recalling that  his administration came into office to meet numerous challenges, he said the executive council was able to make use of available resources to touch the lives of citizens. 

The governor emphasised that his government inherited uncompleted projects but decided to work on completing them, while also initiating new ones. 

He commended his cabinet for commitment to service, explaining that together with his executives, they had worked hard and  served the state with the best of their ability to deliver the dividends of democracy 

Lalong thanked the people for giving him the opportunity to serve and disclosed that all decisions that were taken in the Executive Chambers was taken in good faith, with  integrity and passion in the interest of the state. He added that trust had been built irrespective of their affiliations. 

He said: “My dear members of exco, the journey through the past 8 years have been challenging and interesting in different aspects. We came into office at very difficult times when the whole system was at a standstill. However we did not allow the situation to overwhelm us as we hit the ground running. Today, we can only look back and see what we have achieved and where we could have done better. While we have no intention to claim to have solved every challenge, in the past 8 years, we can’t be humble enough to say that we are leaving Plateau State better than we met it”.

“As the Chairman of the Exco, I wish to put on record that all decisions taken in this chamber were without any selfish or personal motivations. We did our best to serve with intercity and passion. As human beings, we are not infallible and cannot rule out unintended mistakes in the implementation of some policies. For such situations, we apologise to the people”.

He cautioned against sentiments based on religion or ethnicity promising to carry his executives along in all his future endeavours. 

He urged the incoming governor to continue to promote the good achievements his administration has recorded. 

Earlier, the governor commissioned more projects including the 36 KM Gold and Base/ Drep Favwei road. 

He also commissioned the Simon Bako Lodge, which is an accommodation built in line with the tradition in the state, that warrants all exiting governors to build the edifice as a legacy in their honour and memory. 

 He prayed the lodge to be put to good use for the good of Plateau and visitors that come into the state.

Highlights of the forum include the presentation of an award on security by Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Dan Manjang to the Governor on behalf of Champion Newspapers.