By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Law Faculty Class of 1990, on Sunday night honoured the ex-governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong, with a dinner for uplifting the people of the state for in his eight years in office.
Chairman of the ABU Law Class of 1990, Sylvania Tahir, SAN, said the class represented those in ABU Law Faculty between 1987 to 1990.
“We are here today to honour one of our colleagues in the person of Lalong, who started his tenure as a governor from May 29, 2015 and ended on May 29, 2023.
“We decided that as a member of the class, to hold a reception in his honour to welcome him back to private life, after being in public life for eight years.
“While in office for these eight years, he kept faith with us. He used the same phone number he is known with before he became governor, and never changed it.
“He always picks his calls, and if he is busy and sees your missed calls, he would return your calls. He has always been with us. He is still a member of our WhatsApp platform,” Tahir said.
He explained that Lolong’s contribution to the members of the class was immeasurable, adding that his attitude as a public servant marveled everyone, because he does not run away from friends.
Similarly, another classmate, Dr Ezra Yakusak, the Executive Director/CEO of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, said the class has been monitoring Lalong’s activities in Plateau for the past eight years.
“Sometimes, he sought advice from the ABU Law Class of 1990. He is a team player. One of the things he did well was addressing insecurity in the Plateau.
“He has done well; and after eight years of uplifting people in the Plateau, it is only fair that the ABU Law Class of 1990 should come together and honour him with a dinner,” Yakusak said.
In the same vein, a member of the class, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, who is also the former boss of National Agency for Prohibition of trafficking in Person (NAPTIP), described Lalong as a calm, respectful, reserved, kind and a shy person.
She reiterated that the dinner was to honour Lalong for representing the class well in his endeavour.
“We find it expedient to celebrate him. We have always celebrated him, but we decided to celebrate him, having completed his tenure in good health and without any form of scandals.
“We are celebrating to tell him, as one of us, that we love him and we wish him well,” she said.
Another classmate, Monica Alphonse, said what makes the ABU Law Class of 1990 special is the unity that exists among them.
“The bond of love that we share is exceptionally good. The class stands out in everything. We are always together and we support each other in everything we do.
“So, we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers; we are a family and we don’t joke with the unity and bond that unify us,” Alphonse said.
Responding, Lalong said this was the first honour he accepted after leaving office as governor of Plateau, adding that he never wanted to, but because he is loyal to the class, he had to accept their invitation.
“The ABU Law Class of 1990 has been wonderful to me all through my tenure; from how I struggle to become governor even up till now; they supported me as a family.
“Before I became governor, they organised a fund-raising dinner for me, although the money was small, it was good because it contributed in making me the governor of Plateau.
“I appreciate and honour them, and today I feel highly honoured to be part of this dinner organised for me.
“They have always described me as a shy person, but I was a good footballer. I played for the Faculty of Law, and as a sportsman you cannot be shy, even if you are shy, people will look for you,” Lalong stressed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high point of the event was a scintillating dance performance to Kizz Daniels’ Bugs, led by Lalong, and an award of a portrait of him playing Golf as the IBB Golf Course. (NAN)