Former Governor of Plateau State, Governor Simon Bako Lalong has tasked his successor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang and the political class to put the interest of the state first above personal sentiments.
Lalong gave the advice during a Transition Thanksgiving Mass organised as part of activities lined up to mark the end of tenure of Governor Simon Bako Lalong to usher in the new administration of Barr. Caleb Mutfwang.
The event took place Sunday May 28, 2023, at the St.Monica Catholic Church Rantya, State Low coast Jos.
The Mass attracted government officials and key party stakeholders from the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party.
With the reading taken from John 20:19-23, Catholic Bishop of Jos, represented by Monsignor Cletus Gotan said the state Transition Thanksgiving Mass coincides with the Feast of Pentecost, which means peace, unity, self- control and other good virtues of the Holy Spirit.
Gotan said the mass, which gathered people across all facets of life, and stakeholders in Plateau was to offer thanksgiving worship for the successful tenure of Governor Simon Bako Lalong, who served successfully as Governor of the state for 8 years, Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, and Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
He said the mass was also to thank God for the successful and peaceful elections in the state that ushers in a new Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang.
He lamented the high level of insecurity Nigeria is witnessing, stating “In our society today, there is lack of dialogue, breakdown of peace, horrendous poverty, senseless religious fanatism, extremism causing people to be killed”.
“But serving God means relating to people the way God maps out, not how we map it out. Nigerians need the Holy Spirit to teach them against bloodshed, religious fanatism, ethnicity”.
The man of God urged people of the state to embrace unity, spirit of brotherliness and share inter-community early warning signals, mount roadblocks to safeguard each other against invading killers rather than just sit and politicise security, and demonise each other on the social media.
He challenged the incoming governor to tap from the bulk of experience of the outgoing Governor, Lalong and build a unifying administration that will champion peace in the state.
“Time is too short and whatever we do with our time, we would give account of it to God”, Gotan said.
Governor Simon Bako Lalong said: “I begin by giving all the glory and adoration to God who is the beginning and the end. Through his supremacy and sovereignty, he ordained this very day in which we are grateful for to mark the end of our administration. At this time in 2015, we were celebrating the beginning of an era in the governance of Plateau State. Today, it is the opposite”.
“It is therefore appropriate to come back here after 8 years to thank God, lest we become like the 10 lepers who were healed but only one of them returned to appreciate Jesus. Besides, the Holy Bible in Ecclesiastes 7:8 tells us that “the end of a matter is better than its beginning and patience is better than pride”.
“As Governor of Plateau State for the past 8 years, I have every reason to give all the glory and adoration to God for choosing me out of the millions of citizens who were very qualified to make me leader of the state. Like David who was in the bush tending his father’s flock, I was taken out of my village in Ajikamai to occupy this exalted office despite my shortcomings”.
“When we came into office, we inherited challenges that looked difficult to address but today we look back and see how far God helped us to tackle them”.
Lalong said his rescue led government did its best to move the state forward and serve with the best of intentions. He went further to on behalf of his team apologise for any shortcoming. And added “Nothing was done to intentionally toy with the people’s expectations”.
While appreciating his wife Regina, family, citizens and church for the support he got, Lalong challenged the citizens and especially the political class to put the interest of the state above personal considerations and rally round to support the administration of his successor, Mutfwang, to continue from where he stopped.
In his remarks, the incoming Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang said it is possible for Plateau to be united.
He stated that the sermon challenged him and others to be Christians indeed. He explained that “The reason why our land is being ravaged is because we have lost the sense of brotherhood”.
He promised to unite and build Plateau, stressing that contrary to the questions that kept popping up for him to probe the immediate past government, he will not, but only questions, where he needs clarifications.
“This cycle of aberration where we disgrace our leaders has come to an end in Plateau. If we have any issues, we will sit down and settle it”, he said.
Mutfwang used the forum to wish the outgoing Governor the best in his future endeavours.
Plateau State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Fr. Polycarp Lubo appreciated Lalong for doing his best with the opportunity God gave him to serve.
Lubo said CAN will continue to pray for him as he leaves office for greater opportunities, praying for wisdom for the incoming governor to lead the state well.
There was a procession of thanksgiving for the outgoing and incoming governor, their deputies, government officials as they walked to the altar to offer thanksgiving offerings.
