Ministerial Snub: Lalong Laments To US

By Editor

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has embarked on a trip to the United States despite failing to form a government five months after winning a second term and three months after his second term inauguration. The nature of the visit has not been disclosed.

Political stakeholders on the plateau are, however, worried by the governor’s trip given that crucial appointments have not been made. Sources are also worried that the governor may still be worried over the appointment of a political rival, Mrs. Paullen Tallen as the minister for the state.

Tallen according to sources was not on the shortlist of the governor’s camp for the ministerial position.

Even more, the governor’s camp is said to be bothered by the fact that Tallen is the governor’s rival for the Plateau South Senate seat in 2023.

After a combative four years with the former minister of sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, the Lalong camp is said to be worried that another four years of combat with another federal official in Abuja is bound to ensue.

The governor’s camp it was learnt had proposed three persons including the state party Chairman, Latep Dabang, his 2019 camapign manager, Arc Pam Gyang Dung and his former chief of staff Dafan. Dauda Gotring for the ministerial slot.

However, against its expectations, Mrs. Tallen who came from the camp of the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari emerged as the ministerial nominee for the state.

The governor’s unease it was gathered had to do with the fact that Tallen is desirous of becoming senator in 2023 at the point when the governor would be finishing his second term and hoping to move to the Senate.

A former Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly, the governor it was gathered had eyes on the Plateau South Senate seat where he and Tallen are now expecting to fight it off.

“Lalong is not a happy man to have another political rival for the next four years in the person of a powerful cabinet member,” a senior politician from Plateau South told GreenWhiteGreen.

“Himself and Tallen are both eyeing the southern senatorial seat come 2023. Lalong imposed the incumbent senator and former deputy governor Ignatius Longjan who succeeded Tallen as deputy governor, to prepare grounds for himself.”

The understanding was that the elderly Longjan would do a single term and exit the seat for Lalong in 2023.
“Now with Tallen who contested the Senate with Longjan and still very much interested becoming senator, Lalong may find it difficult to sleep,” the source added.

The bitterness between Lalong and Tallen flows from the fact that Tallen believes that she lost the All Progressives Congress, APC primary because of the strong backing Lalong gave to Longjan and that the governor worked against her.

However, it could not be established as to whether the disappointment over the ministerial slot was responsible for the failure of the government to fully take off.

Before travelling the governor is believed to have announced only one appointment, Dr Macham Makut as director of press, Governor’s Office.

The appointment which was the first to be made by the second term governor was made on July 28, 2019, two months after the governor’s second term inauguration and more than four months after his re-election.

Governor Lalong is not one of the four APC governors on the United States visa ban.

However, the governor’s political mentor who played a key role in the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as presidential candidate in 2015 and in winning the election is on the list of ten notable Nigerians on the United States visa ban.

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