BEVERLY HILLS, CA, December 10, (THEWILL) – The chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, on Monday, asked the Federal Government to immortalise the first national chairman of the party, Chief Solomon Lar, who passed on in October.
Anenih, who made the call at the Night of Tributes organised to honour the former Plateau State governor, also described him as an exemplary man who lived for others.
“Lar demonstrated commitment and discipline in leadership; he led the way while his loyalists steadfastly followed him.
“In all the moments of tension and crises that manifested in our Party, Lar did not jump ship; rather he played important roles in resolving them. He did not waver in the face of challenges. He remained a father figure to all.”
“Lar deserves the best we can do to immortalise him; his family members deserve the best we can do to assist them. I like to take advantage of this opportunity to advise that the Federal Government should try to recognise prominent Nigerians who have contributed to the development of this nation in their chosen fields of endeavour, especially while they are alive.
“The families of such prominent citizens should not be abandoned after their death. The family of Lar should therefore not be abandoned. We owe his family an unfailing love as a Government and as a Party,” Anenih said.
While thanking guests at the service for their presence, Anenih said he agreed with them on the true portrait of Lar that they painted in their tributes.
“You have all painted the true portrait of Lar in your tributes; and, I concur with your accolades: Lar was a political titan, an iconic democrat, a consistent pacifist, a solid bridge builder and a unique emancipator, who committed his life and times to the promotion of peace and stability in our polity as state governor, minister, party chairman, member and chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees at different times in the past.
“He was, indeed, a loyal party man; and, as the first national chairman of the PDP, he spared no effort to work for the upliftment of our Party in which he played a frontline role in its formation. It was under his chairmanship that our Party produced Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as President in the 1999 presidential election.
“In the same general elections, our Party, under Lar’s watch, produced 21 state governors; 67 members of the Senate; 215 members of the House of Representatives; 464 Local Government Chairmen and 4840 Councilors.
“These were, indeed, no mean feats. They were the building blocks upon which our Party’s successes in the subsequent elections, so far, were erected.
“I join all of you, who have paid tributes to Chief Lar, in celebrating his worthy life of solid political legacy; and, my epitaph for him as he goes home in a blaze of glory is: “Here goeth Solomon Daushep Lar; when cometh another?” May the soul of this great compatriot rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord! Amen,” he said.
