Solomon Lar, A Rare Nigerian—Arise

Former Senator representing Ekiti North, Ayo Arise has lamented the demise of the first Civilian Governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar, describing him as a rare Nigerian, a noble statesman, a lover of peace and a firm believer in the Nigerian project.

Reacting to Lar's death, Arise said in a release made available to journalists today that Chief Solomon Lar's place in the politics of Nigeria will be very difficult to fill within Plateau State, the middle-belt, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the country.

Arise said; "It is on record that it was Chief Solomon Lar who led the group of G-34 that later metamorphosed into what we have as the PDP today, and people like us who are beneficiaries of the platform that he helped to establish cannot but be grateful to him.

"If one also cast his mind back to the active roles Chief Solomon Lar played as one of the leaders from the Middle Belt in the First Republic and one of the nine progressive governors in the Second Republic, one cannot but be pained by his demise.

"However, having lived a fulfilled life and made his mark as a great Nigerian, the family, people of Plateau State and members of our party should take solace in the fact that Chief Lar's name is such that can never be erased from Nigeria's political and diary."