SAN FRANCISCO, October 09, (THEWILL) – A Nigerian Presidency statement said President Goodluck Jonathan 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.
Lar died on Wednesday morning in a United States of America hospital after an ailment.
The statement signed by Reuben Abati, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity 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 Solomon 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 Almighty 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.”
Nigeria has lost a great statesman – Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the demise of Lar as the loss of one of the country’s greatest statesmen.
“He was a leader Nigeria needed at each time of crisis,” Atiku said noting that his departure will be most felt at this time when there is growing disagreement among the country’s political elite.
Atiku, according to a statement from his media office said, the late Chief Lar’s “fight for his middle-belt region in particular and Nigerians in general will be remembered by every worthy historian of this era.
He prayed to God for the repose of his soul and to grant the entire Lar family, people and government of Plateau state and Nigerians as a whole the fortitude to bear this huge loss.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed “deep sadness” over his death 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”.
