Gov. Lalong to the Church, I’m not a betrayal

By Kingsley Chukwuka

The Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has told the Church that he is not a betrayal and will not do anything contrary to the interest of the Church and Plateau State.

He also said he would not betray his people for any reason, adding that he was passionate about the survival and progress of Plateau.

He stated this at a thanksgiving service to mark the 60th birthday of the Chairman of the APC in the State, Rufus Bature, at COCIN Church, Kufen, Barikin Ladi yesterday.

Apparently responding to a statement attributed to the former governor of the State, Joshua Dariye, who accused him (Lalong) of betrayal, the governor said given what he, along with 16 other lawmakers went through, including 40 days of detention by the EFCC in Lagos in 2004 when they resisted a move to impeach Dariye, it would be wrong for anyone to label him a betrayer.

He recalled how he and the celebrant, Hon. Rufus Bature, were allegedly persecuted for standing “in the defence of the interest of the State” when they rejected the imposition of the State of emergency on the State and the impeachment of Dariye in 2004, following the Yelwan Shendam crisis, where hundreds were killed.

Lalong, therefore, advised the church not to allow anyone to deceive it that he betrayed the former governor.

However the State CAN Chairman, Rev. Father Polycarp Lubo, cautioned Plateau people against divisive Politics.