Daily Independent crowns Lalong Governor of the year over security

Nigeria’s Daily Independent Newspaper has listed Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong as its “Governor of
the Year 2019″.

The Governor’s nomination is in recognition of his efforts at improving peace and security in the State, Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of Daily Independent
Newspaper,Mr. Steve Omanufeme said,Wednesday.

Security according to the newspaper Official was a key prerequisite for the award.

He said, “the committee resolved that the selection of the Governor
of the Year should consider security as a major issue because it is the primary duty of every government as it forms the pillar on which other indices rest. Without security, there will be no development and even what has been achieved will easily
be wiped out,” Steve told the Governor in Jos while presenting the nomination letter.

Lalong according to the Editor has been able to bring calm to Plateau State by “pursuing peace and reconciliation while also fighting crime.”

The security challenges in Plateau State have not been completely resolved, but the Governor Lalong has proved determined to ensure that violence is curbed with the establishment of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, which is the first in Nigeria.

Governor Lalong in his remarks described his nomination as a “humbling experience.”

He said, “I was surprised when I heard that you had selected
me for the Governor of the Year Award because I always do my work without expecting praises or awards. I am always convinced that the search for peace is the right thing to do because there is nothing we can ever achieve in an atmosphere of violence and rancour. That is why I made peace my number one
priority since assuming office and by the grace of God, we have made a lot of progress. We know that there is still more to be done hence our determination to keep building institutions that will bring our people together so that we can identify the trouble makers and criminals and deal with them appropriately”.

Lalong also told his guests that the State recently held a stakeholders meeting and resolved to reinvigorate the Operation Rainbow Security Outfit and commence the implementation of the Community Policing Initiative enunciated by the Inspector General of Police.

He appreciated the Daily Independent Newspaper for the honour and
promised to redouble his efforts in enduring that lasting peace returns to Plateau State as well as the entire Northern Region.

The Award ceremony is scheduled to hold in Lagos in March this year.