ACF, Buhari, others mourn

 

Pan-northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, on Thursday condoled the people and government of Plateau State over the death of the first civilian governor of the state, Chief Solomon Lar.

Lar, a pioneer National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, died of old-age related ailment in a United States hospital in the early hours of Wednesday. He was 80 years old.

The ACF in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, said the forum received the news of the death with heavy heart, describing Lar as the ‘spirit and face’ of his people.

It said the deceased sacrificed all his life for his people and that many Nigerians would passed him for someone who struggled for his people with courage and hope.

It noted that the only way he would be remembered is for those he left behind to reflect what he stood for in their daily lives.

The statement reads: “It is with heavy heart that ACF has received the news of the passing away of Chief S. D. Lar, which sad event took place today.

“In such circumstance, there is little one can do beyond the usual supplication that God should provide the people and government of Plateau State as well as his family the fortitude to bear what cannot be changed, since death is a necessary end and would come when it would come.

“Chief Solomon Lar was the spirit and face of his people and gave all his life to them. Many Nigerians would pass him for someone who struggled for the rights of his people with courage and in hope.

“Considering what he stood and died for, one can imagine his body lying in both peace and pain: the peace associated with death and the pain of what he has left behind: a divided people in endless blame game and engagement of the past at the expense of how to move the nation forward.”

Also, former Head of State and leader of the All Progressive Congress, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari  (retd.) on Thursday condoled with the family and people of Plateau State over the death of Lar.

Buhari, in a condolence letter he personally signed and addressed to the matriarch of the family, Prof. Mary Lar, said he received the news of the death of the former Minister of Police Affairs with great sadness.

Buhari said, “I received the news of the transition of Chief Solomon Lar, former Governor of Plateau State in the Second Republic; former Minister of Police Affairs; and the pioneer Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party with great sadness.

“My sympathy goes to his family, friends, relatives and political associates who will feel most strongly the huge void that his exit has created. May Almighty give you all the fortitude to bear this loss.

“It has taken decades of knowing Chief Solomon Lar as he handled various challenging national assignments to conclude that the circumstances of our initial interaction following our assumption of power in 1983 could have been more auspicious.

“Knowing him in recent years has persuaded me that we all have to do our duties to the best of our understanding, believing that this country is greater than all of us. The important thing is that at the end of the day history will record his legacy as one of selfless service to his fatherland.

“As the nation mourns, I say adieu to a man who stood by the people and remained principled when it mattered most.”

Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Yero expressed deep shock and sadness over the death of the ex-governor.

Yero, in a statement, said Lar was a patriotic elder statesman who dedicated his life to the service of his people and the country.

 “The late Lar was a pillar of Nigeria’s democracy, as a founding father of the PDP, he will be remembered as a pillar of democracy, who made immense sacrifices towards entrenching representative governance in the country. He also played prominent role as an astute politician in stabilising the nation, leading to his emergence as governor in the second republic,” he said.