Governor Simon Lalong, Chairman, Northern Governors Forum.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – The 19 Northern States Governors have dismissed insinuations about any political underpinning in the murder of Mr. Ahmed Gulak, former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Northern Governors have condemned the killing saying that the unfortunate incident is a criminal act that must not be left unpunished.
The Governors cautioned against insinuations and politicizing of the incident which they say could lead to further violence.
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They expressed disgust over yet another abduction of innocent citizens across three local government areas of Niger State including students and teachers of an Islamiya school in the State.
The Governors in a statement issued by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Makut Macham reiterated the horrible situation needs to be brought to an end in order to give respite for the people to engage in their legitimate activities without molestation.
It reads in part, “the Northern Governors Forum has described the assassination of Former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters Ahmed Gulak as most unfortunate and totally condemnable. Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong while reacting to the killing said the sad event is a criminal act that must be condemned in totality.
“Lalong said the killing of Gulak must be seen as a criminal act and treated as such, warning against insinuations and politicization that could lead to further violence. The report by the police that it has identified and engaged the suspected killers of the late politician should further be consolidated upon to enable security agencies forestall future occurrence.
“The Forum has also expressed disgust over yet another abduction of innocent citizens across three local government areas of Niger State including students and teachers of an Islamiya school. This horrible situation needs to be brought to an end in order to give respite for the people to engage in their legitimate activities without molestation. He reiterated the commitment of the Forum in working with the security agencies and the Federal Government in tacking the ugly level of insecurity in the region and the nation at large.”
In another development, Governor Simon Lalong has received the second jab of the COVID-19 Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine with a call on citizens of the State to make themselves available for the exercise.
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Lalong who received the vaccine at the Government House clinic alongside his wife, Regina and other Government officials said the fears earlier expressed by some citizens on the safety of the vaccines have not been proved as so far, no adverse effect has been recorded among those who took the first dose.
After receiving the vaccine administered by his personal physician Dr. Benjamin Dashat, he called on “all those who took the first instalment to make themselves available for the second phase in order to complete the cycle,” for those who are yet to take the vaccine, the Governor advised them to “jettison conspiracy theories, the vaccines have been scrutinised by regulatory authorities and adjudged to be safe.”
The Governor used the opportunity to appreciate health workers who have done their best to respond to the pandemic with many of them paying the supreme prize.
