Fred Harrison, Abuja
Governor of Plateau State and Director-General of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Organization, Simon Lalong, on Wednesday, said that the Pope has not told him that it is wrong to accept the position of Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
He said that as Catholics and Christians, they take directivrs from the Pope who had not opposed his decision to accept the position of Director General.
Lalong, who met with President Muhammadu Buhari, to thank him for approving the University of Jos as a National Cancer Centre, claimed that as an ardent member of the Catholic faith, who was baptized and confirmed and has the highest award from the papacy, Knight of Saint Gregory the Great, the Pope has not told him that it was wrong for him to be the DG of the Muslim-Muslim presidential campaign team.
“And as a Catholic, everything we do, we send the advice to the Pope. The Pope has not told me that what I’m doing is bad to accept the Director-General. As a Catholic, we take that direction,” he said.
Lalong also said that he never lobbied to be Vice presidential candidate to Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 elections, to Bola Tinubu.
“In fact, I am a member of the APC, a founding member of the APC. I don’t do anti-party activities. Some people said it is because I was denied VP. I did not lobby for VP. Yes, many people were lobbying and writing on my behalf, but what I have always wanted to be and obtained form for is Senate.
“I have a senatorial ticket that I am waiting for. So if at any time some people who wanted to be VP lost out and they’re using religion, they should not use me to help them.
“We are already far, we’re talking about the leadership. We’re talking about addressing the problems of Nigeria, and all we’re talking about is good leadership that can come from any region.” He said.
Lalong was at the State House to thank President Buhari for some landmark projects in Plateau State.
According to him, the State would return the favour with votes for the APC flagbearer, Bola Tinubu, in next year’s presidential elections.
He stated that the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Plateau State Chapter was full of support of his appointment and welcomed him back to the State.
The governor, who addressed State House Correspondents, stated that the Pleateau State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), came to the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos to welcome him after his appointment as the APC presidential campaign DG.
“I came back home and CAN Plateau welcomed me at the airport. The next day, I addressed stakeholders of Plateau state. And I told them why I am accepting. And then there was jubilation and all of them accepted.
“So if you see people talking about me rejecting it…I’ve accepted already. It’s not an option. I’m a Christian.
“I went through missionary schools. I respect my being a Christian. I have been given the highest award by the Pope. The Knight of St. Gregory the Great
He explained that the appointment was strictly a party affairs adding that it has nothing to do with religion.
Speaking on whether his campaign duties would overshadow governance in Plateau, the Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum, said Plateau State is in “capable hands.”
“We are using technology now. What is the distance from here (Abuja) to Plateau? It’s 20 minutes, if you are going by air. Just as I’m leaving this place, I have a Plateau Executive Council meeting
“I have capable hands that are taking care of the state. So, I have no fear. That was why I mentioned it, that I have no fear about my time
“This is not the first assignment I’m doing. I’ve been handling assignments from the Federal Government, from the party while sitting as governor of Plateau State.” He said.
The Governor explained that he was also at the State House to thank President Buhari for granting presidential pardon to former governor of the state, Joshua Dariye and a former Taraba State Governor, Jolly Nyame, who were released on Tuesday, four months after the pardon.
“The President is the Chairman of the campaign Council. Therefore, as DG, I will come regularly to brief him on certain things that we are planning
“The other aspect of my visit to Mr President was to show him appreciation for what he has done in Plateau State in the last few months
” A week or two ago, we got approval of making University of Jos a Cancer Center. I saw over N3bn approved for a special Center for Cancer.”
“Other projects include the establishment of the only Orthopedic Hospital in the North Central in Plateau State, a Federal Medical Center in Wase, a federal polytechnic which starts operation in October, the conversion College of Education, Pankshin, into a Federal College of Education and approval for the creation of another Federal College of Education.” He said.
Lalong also highlighted the establishment of the Nigerian Law School for the North Central zone in Jos stressing, “You cannot have all these achievements and not come and show appreciation to Mr. President.”
The Plateau State Governor also reacted to an alleged staged protest by a group, whom he described as faceless.
The group was demanding that the governor should reject the appointment as Director General of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign organisation.
Recall that a group of Concern Christians on the Plateau (CCP), staged a rally in Abuja, calling on Lalong, to reject the offer to serve as the director general of APC presidential campaign council.
The group was alleged to have threatened that the Plateau Christians would not support him in ‘the suspicious engagement or assignment.’
According to the group, it was completely out of place for the same APC that rejected Lalong to be the Vice-Presidential candidate allegedly based on incompetence, to turn and appoint him as campaign DG in order to seek for votes for the party.