Photo: Gov Lalong in a group photo with the NCPF members
The North Central Peoples Forum (NCPF) has inaugurated Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State into its college of patrons, Dr. Makut Macham, Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the forum, Lt. Gen. Sen. Jeremiah Useni, announced this in Jos on Tuesday when officials of the forum visited Governor Lalong in his office, Macham said.
According to Sen. Useni, the Forum found Governor Lalong worthy of being inaugurated into the council of patrons for all the efforts he has been making in keeping Plateau and Nigeria peaceful.
He said that the council comprised of former Presidents, Heads of State, Governors, Senate Presidents, Deputy Senate Presidents and Deputy Speakers of House of Representatives from the North Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
The NCPF BOT chairman said that they were in Plateau State to condole with the governor over the recent spate of attacks in some communities of Plateau State and other states of the North Central part of Nigeria.
Senator Useni further said they were in the governor’s office on behalf of the people of North Central Zone of Nigeria to introduce the forum to him and to assure the governor and the people of the state of their readiness to support, encourage and partner with his administration.
He explained that the forum also comprised of people of different religions, ethnic and political leanings which cut across the North Central States of Nigeria, namely, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, Kogi, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Useni stressed that there must be more proactive measures to address the security situation in the country, adding that the purpose of the group was to unite its people to ensure that peace and stability was sustained.
He added that the forum was also poised to facilitate the region’s rapid industrialization, sound policies and process that would ensure that the massive minerals and agricultural endowment were adequately harnessed, good policies embraced for good governance, as well as the stability and progress of the region and Nigeria as a whole.
The Forum, he added, was also a platform with men and women from different works of life who have had the opportunity of serving the country in various capacities and were ready to serve its people by giving it a voice to be heard.
Responding, Governor Lalong thanked the Forum for not relenting despite the challenges faced in seeing that the forum came into existence and stable.
Lalong described Gen Useni as a man with the interest of Plateau and the nation at heart, and a patriot who kept political differences aside for the good of mankind, the North Central and the Nation at large.
The governor said it was timely to have the North Central Peoples Forum because other zones had equally formed their forums for the purpose of cooperation.
He urged people to imbibe the principle of peace which he said were anchored on justice and fairness without which there will be no peace, tolerance and goodwill that could stimulate the sharing of ideas on comparative advantage for the development of the North Central Zone.
The governor also stressed commitment to the cause of the Forum with the belief that it would guide the zone through restoration of peace because, according to him, once there was peace in the North Central Zone, there would be peace in Nigeria.
