Lalong Explains Why APC Leadership Was Handed To Gov. Mutfwang

Former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong, has said it was his desire to foster peace, unity and stability in the party in the state that made him to quit as leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to his successor, Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

Lalong, Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial district in the National Assembly, made the disclosure in a chat with select journalists in Jos on Wednesday, it was reported.

Lalong said his decision to step down from his leadership position was in line with the ideology of cohesion and collective progress of the APC.

Shortly after collecting his nomination form, Lalong announced his plans to re-contest for a second term in the Senate. He 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 said he was coming back to the APC, and without any resistance, as was done in so many states, we accepted him.

“If I was the one that brought the APC to the Plateau, the PDP collapsed and governance was returned to my party. I was the leader and sole commander of the party, together with the likes of the late General Shagaya and others now of blessed memory. APC gave me a platform and I became governor of Plateau State.

“So, with the formation of APC on the Plateau, I feel honoured to be considered 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.

It is only natural that when you see a guest, the governor, coming to join you with good intentions, you welcome him. We have a very cordial relationship with the governor of the state today.

“I feel honoured and dignified that Plateau state is APC today. So when he came into the APC, one of the things I did to welcome him was to say, ‘I surrender the leadership to you.’ I said that so that he can be comfortable that the house he is entering has been completely handed over to him.

“And if you remember, that day, the governor also responded and told me, ‘Your Excellency, I am surprised that you have just handed this leadership over to me. Don’t think you’re escaping me. You can’t hide from me. ‘We’ll both run this party.’ That was his answer.”