Jonathan, Others Pay Tribute To Late Pioneer PDP Chairman

President Goodluck Jonathan has received with immense sadness and a feeling of immense national loss, news of the passing away of the former governor of Plateau State and founding chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomon Daushep  Lar.
 
A statement signed by his adviser on media and publicity Reuben Abati said “On behalf of himself and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Jonathan extends heartfelt condolences to the Lar Family, Governor Jonah Jang, the people of Plateau State, the people of the Middle Belt and all others for whom Chief Lar was a much beloved, charismatic and inspirational political leader”.


The President joins them in mourning the passage of a truly great leader whose eventful and highly successful political career predated Nigeria’s independence, having started with his election as a Councilor in the Langtang Native Authority in January 1959 and continued with his election to the Federal Parliament in December, 1959.

President Jonathan urges them to take solace in the knowledge that Chief Lar lived a long and most fulfilled life, and that his immense contributions to communal, state and national development have assured him of a place amongst the eternal heroes of the Nigerian nation.

The President believes that Chief Lar will always be remembered for the exemplary humility, great vision, wisdom and maturity which he brought to political leadership in Nigeria for over 50 years as a legislator, executive governor, party leader and highly revered elder statesman.

He also trusts that present and future generations of Nigerians will always acknowledge and honour Chief Lar’s role as one of the founders and architects of the country’s current democratic dispensation which he helped to establish and stabilize.

The President prays that God Alimghty who blessed the Nigerian nation with the gift of Chief Lar’s acclaimed leadership abilities for so many decades, will receive his soul, and grant him a well deserved rest from his earthly labours.

In the same vein,the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), has described the death as a devastating loss to the people of Plateau State in particular and the nation in general.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said with the death of Chief Solomon Lar, Nigeria has lost a patriot of uncommon courage.

The forum’s condolence was contained in a statement signed by Governor Aliyu’s spokesman, Danladi Ndayebo.

The forum said Chief Lar was a recurrent decimal in the nation’s polity for over five decades  “either as a legal practitioner, member of the nation’s first national parliament, state governor, first national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or an elder statesman”.

The statement described the late Chief Lar “as a nationalist who lived a purposeful life of dedication to the cause of the nation’s unity and dedication as well as commitment to the upliftment of the citizenry”
It called on the Plateau State government to honour the memory of former Governor Solomon Lar to serve as an inspiration to the younger generation of Nigerians.

The forum prayed God to grant repose to the soul of the departed and grant the PDP and the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss
Moreso, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed “deep sadness” over the death of its pioneer National Chairman and former Governor of Plateau state, Chief Solomon Lar, describing the development as a huge loss to the nation.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement said the death of the politician has “left a big vacuum not only in the party but in Plateau State and the nation at large.”

The party described Lar as a quintessential politician and patriot who sacrificed the greater part of his life for the entrenchment of true democracy and an egalitarian Nigeria where all are free.

“Our hearts reach out to the government and people of Plateau state, the millions of PDP family nationwide, but most importantly to his loved ones and immediate family.

“Chief Solomon Lar will be remembered for his insistence on the emancipation of the masses and his white handkerchief. That is why he was fondly called “The Emancipator”. PDP members will not forget the image of Chief Solomon Lar on the podium with his white handkerchief singing and dancing to the PDP song”
The statement further said the “PDP at the national level will participate fully in ensuring that Chief Solomon Lar is given an equivalent of a party national burial”.

Furthermore, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said he received with immense sadness and a feeling of great national loss, the news of the passing away earlier today of elder statesman per excellence, Chief Solomon Lar.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said Lar will always be remembered as a man of integrity whose forthrightness and wisdom stood him out among his peers.
He said the late former Plateau Governor lived a fulfilled life full of accomplishments and notable contributions to national unity.

While praying for the repose of the soul of the elder statesman, the Speaker urged his family, friends, associates and admirers to be comforted by the knowledge that he will always be remembered as a visionary and a universally acclaimed pacesetter who delivered positive results in all the public assignments he undertook.

So also, the Lagos State PDP regrets the passing on of Chief Solomon Lar at this particular period in the life of the Party.
Speaking through the Chairman, Tunji Shelle, the Party described the pioneer National Chairman of the Party as a distinguished leader, impeccable character and Political colossus whose methodology actually enshrined the Party as the only National Party and Ruling since 1999.
The party further described the Late Politician as a true Nationalist, who until his death believed in ‘One Nigeria’
“He may not have witnessed the best he wanted for Nigeria, but his own contributions will remain unforgettable and inspiring to living politicians”
The Party thus recommends that the best immortalisation for the late sage is for PDP members to get more united whilst other Politicians also emulate his ideals. This way, Nigeria will be greater than the greatest Nation on Earth.

Finally, the Party prayed that the Lord give the family the fortitude to bear the big loss.