Lalong Gives Reason For Handing APC Leadership To Gov. Mutfwang

Former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong, has said his decision to relinquish his position as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to his successor, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, was born out of his desire to promote peace, unity, and stability within the party in the state.

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Naija News reports that Lalong, the senator representing Plateau South Senatorial district in the National Assembly, disclosed this in a chat with select journalists in Jos on Wednesday.

While responding to a question on why he agreed to let go of his leadership position, Lalong said the move was in line with the APC’s ideology of cohesion and collective progress.

Announcing his plans to re-contest for a second term in the Senate shortly after collecting his nomination form, Lalong emphasised that with Mutfwang’s defection to the APC, there was no reason for him to still hang on to the leadership position of the party.

He said, “The governor indicated that he was coming back to the APC, and without any resistance, as was done in so many states, we accepted him.

“The PDP collapsed and governance came back to my party because I was responsible for bringing the APC to the Plateau. I was the leader and sole commander of the party, along with the likes of the late General Shagaya and others now of blessed memory. APC gave me a platform, and I became the governor of Plateau State.

“So, with the establishment of APC on the Plateau, I feel honoured to be regarded as the father of APC in the state, and I am honoured that people left their parties and came back to join me in my house.

“And it is only natural that when you see a guest, the governor, coming to join you with good intentions, you welcome him. Today, we have a very cordial relationship with the governor of the state.

“I feel honoured and dignified that Today, Plateau State is APC. Therefore, when Governor Mutfwang joined the APC, one of the first things I did to welcome him was to say, ‘I surrender the leadership to you,’ so that he could be comfortable knowing that the house he is entering has been fully handed over to him.

“And if you recall, on that day, the governor also replied and said to me, ‘Your Excellency, I am surprised that you have just surrendered this leadership to me. Do not think you are running away from me. You cannot run away from me. Both of us will run this party.’ That was his response.”