Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and his Kaduna State countepart, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, have expressed shock at the death of the first civilian governor of Plateau State and pioneer Chairman of PDP, Chief Solomon Lar, describing it as a national loss.

Akpabio in a statement issued in Uyo extended his condolences to the people of Plateau State, the PDP family and, indeed, all Nigerians who feel the pain of the departure of “this national treasure.”

He described the late statesman as someone who placed the national interest above his personal interest and served his nation with great passion, delight and love.

Akpabio maintained that the duty of all his admirers in particular and Nigerians in general is to continue his work and realise his principles and values in our nation-building efforts.

The governor stated that Lar acquitted himself creditably in every position that he occupied and cast his moral shadow across the nation.

He urged his survivors to be consoled that though he is dead the memory of his good works and labours of love Nigeria “would be stenciled in the sands of time and be embalmed eternally in the sacred places of our hearts.”

On his part, Governor Yero in a condolence message to the Government and people of PlateauState described the late Lar as “a patriotic elder statesman who dedicated his life to the service of his people and the country.”

The governor said history would be fair to Lar for his selfless commitment to the unity of the diverse people in the North as well as national cohesion. He said the death of Lar is a loss to the entire country and not to his immediate family or the people of Plateau State alone.

“The late Lar was a pillar of Nigeria’s democracy, as a founding father of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he will be remembered as a pillar of democracy, who made immense sacrifices towards entrenching representative governance in the country. He also played prominent role as an astute politician in stabilising the nation, leading to his emergence as governor in the second republic,” Governor Yero said.

He said Lar wouldl be forever remembered as a great leader of people who served the country at various positions and was always ready to compromise his personal interest on the altar of commongood and in the interest of the corporate existence of the nation.

The governor said the death of the respected elder statesman came at time the country needed the advice and guidance of its elders in the effort of building an enduring democracy that will guarantee peace, unity and progress of the nation.

He said at this sad moment “our hearts and prayers are with the immediate family of the late Chief Lar, as we urge them to take solace in the fact that their patriarch lived a fulfilled life of service to humanity. “

Governor Yero said “on behalf of the Government and the good people of Kaduna State, we wish to express our sincere condolences with the Government and the people of Plateau State over this colossal loss.”

•Photo shows the late Solomon Lar.

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