By Teryima Andrew-
Governor Simon Lalong Of Plateau State has enjoined citizens to support his administration by shunning religious, political and ethnic fanaticism across the State.
According to Lalong: “Our vision for the new Plateau State promises to leave behind legacies of our commonality, human dignity and welfare.
“While as a Government we shall strive to meet our own side of the social bargain, we equally expect the good people of Plate State to reciprocate Government gesture, not only by giving their unalloyed support, but, more importantly, by learning to live in peace with one another so that together we can achieve the much desired development.
“We should recognize that corruption, dishonesty, disloyalty, rumour-mongering, fake news, religious and political fanaticism, ethnic jingoism, violence, and other forms of social evil are antithetical to our vision of the new Plateau, and must be avoided,” he said.
Lalong who took oath of office as governor for the second term, said his second term in office a governor of the state shall witness more human capital development.
The governor in an address shortly after he took oath of office on Wednesday at the Twang Pam Stadium in Jos, also grant pardoned to a life imprisonment prisoner.
“In exercise of the powers conferred on me as Governor in Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), after due consultation with the State Advisory Council On Prerogative Of Mercy, I have granted Prerogative of Mercy to one (1) Prisoner, Mr. Evaristus C. Mozie from life imprisonment to absolute pardon. This Pardon is granted for reasons of good conduct and determination to continue to be productive, with effect from the date of sentence.”
“Fellow Citizens, as you are aware, in line with the decision to celebrate June 12th as Democracy Day, we desire to do ours in a special way. On this special day, I shall unveil the vision and programmes of the government for the period 2019 to 2023,” he said.
Earlier, a clergy, Rev Fr Cletus Gotang in a charged appealed to political gladiators of the state to give Governor Lalong a change to governor the state effectively.
Rev Fr Gotang, a Catholic priest however urged the new administration led by governor Simon Lalong to correct mistakes of the past and create peoples oriented programmes.
The cleric tasked the entire Plateau citizens irrespective of political party to cooperate with the state government to enable the state gain the dividends of Democracy.
The event was graced by persons, in spite of the persistent downpours that lasted for close 14 hours since Tuesday night.
The Governor however could not roll out his second term agenda (programme) to Plateau people at the end of his speech.