By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Several dignitaries have thronged the public presentation of Chronicles of the Rainbow (the post-humous autobiography of late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar.
The event which was held at the NAF Conference Centre, Kado, in Abuja on Thursday, witnessed the presence of the man of the moment, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, PDP National Chairman, Sen Iyorchia Ayu, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party which held sway at the centre for 16 years, with late Lar as one of its founding fathers.
President Muhammadu Buhari, and his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, heaped praises on the lifestyle of the Second Republic Governor of Plateau State, late Lar, describing him as a unifier.
In their separate remarks, they urged Nigerians to emulate his unifying factor, equity and fair play attributes.
According to President Buhari who was represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha at the event, Chief Solomon Lar’s name resonates democracy, patriotism and courage.
“I have no doubt Chief Solomon Lar had the last laugh when he personally witnessed the creation of the FCT. We cannot talk abut Solomon Lar, without his political emancipation”, he stated.
Jonathan who was chairman of the occasion, also in his submissions said, “Solomon Lar was a sincere statesman. I will urge that we all embrace the principles of Solomon Lar. Preach peace, unity and accommodation.
“If we had continued in the political style promoted by people in the likes of Lar, our country would have been better off in the area of unity peace and pace of development. We would have been able to adjust the cracks in our nation.
“Sadly, we are now playing the kind of politics that Chief Lar detested, issues around ethnicity religious bigotry, hatred and personal attacks which has threatened the lives of Nigerians.
“There is no country that has made meaningful progress in a very short time, backed by ethnicity and religion as we experience today. Even if you bring an angel from the moon to rule Nigeria, if we do not stop political errors, we will not get it right,” he said.
Daughter of the late politician and a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Beni Lar in an interview with journalists, said, “I feel very happy that my dad is being celebrated.
“I feel very honoured to say that after many years of his service to Nigeria, he died without having his own house in Abuja. He just had just a small house in Jos that’s all he owned.
“He served people with everything he had and I am so glad to know that everyone in this country appreciates his contributions,” she said.
Some other notable dignitaries spotted at the book presentation, were, former Vice President, Aclrchitect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Talen, Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila.
Others are, ex Senate President, David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Honourable Simon Lalong, Presidential running mate of the Labour Party, Datti Ahmed, immediate past Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Titi Atiku Abubakar, ex Adamawa State Governor, Boni Haruna and the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Also present, were former Bauchi State Governor and ex PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, ace broadcaster, Raymond Dokpesi and Senator Dino Melaye.
