Second Republic governor of old Plateau State and first national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Solomon Daushep Lar breathed his last yesterday in the United States. Lar, aged 80, reportedly died about 3pm American time (8:00 pm Nigerian time). Though details of the cause of his death were still sketchy at press time, a family source confided in LEADERSHIP that he had been battling with diabetes for a long time.
A source said Lar died in his home in Maryland, while another said he passed on in an undisclosed private hospital in the US.
There was anxiety on Monday over his health, as it was confirmed that he was on life support in a hospital in the US.
A family member who did not want his name in print told LEADERSHIP in Jos on phone that “Baba” finally gave up the ghost yesterday afternoon in Washington, US.
Confirming the passing on of the elder statesman, Plateau State governor Jonah Jang stated that he was informed of Lar’s death through his family.
“The family informed me of his death and I feel duty-bound to inform the good people of the state,” Jang said during a courtesy visit by the new speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Titus Ayuba Alams, at Jishe Government Lodge in Jos.
Beni Lar devasted
The daughter of the deceased and member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Beni Lar said she was devastated by the news of her father’s death.
A relative who answered her phone told LEADERSHIP last night “the lawmaker is too devastated to speak now . She will be speaking over the issue shortly”.
Beni Lar, who had earlier in the day led the House Committee on Human Rights which she chairs to the National Refugee Commission at the Federal Secretariat for an oversight function, had to hurriedly leave the National Assembly Complex when the news filtered to her.
Efforts to reach her on phone were unfruitful as her personal assistant who was taking her calls explained that “she couldn’t take any calls for now”.
Nigeria’ll remember Lar as a great hero of democracy – Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that he received with sadness the passing on of the former governor of old Plateau State and founding chairman of the PDP.
In a statement by his spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, Jonathan said that the late Lar would be remembered as a great hero of democracy.
The president also condoled with the Lar family, Governor Jonah Jang, the people of Plateau State, the people of the middle belt and all others for whom the late Lar was a much-beloved, charismatic and inspirational political leader.
The statement reads in part: “The president believes that Chief Lar will always be remembered for the exemplary humility, great vision, wisdom and maturity which he brought to political leadership in Nigeria for over 50 years as a legislator, executive governor, party leader and highly revered elder statesman.
“He also trusts that present and future generations of Nigerians will always acknowledge and honour Chief Lar’s role as one of the founders and architects of the country’s current democratic dispensation which he helped to establish and stabilize.
Lar was a builder par excellence - Mark
President of the Senate David Mark has expressed regret over the demise of the foremost political leader, describing him as a rare Nigerian who propagated the tenet of democracy and lived to see the actualisation of the people’s will.
Reacting to the news of the passing unto glory of the elder statesman, Mark noted that the late Lar would be remembered for fighting for democracy and enthronement of the people’s mandate against all odds.
He recalled that it was Lar who led the group of G-34 which later metamorphosed into today’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has sustained the democratic rule all Nigerians now enjoy.
Mark said: “We owe him a great deal of gratitude. He surely has a place of pride in the political history of Nigeria. Lar was a different kind of leader. He put the people and the nation first before self.
He was an elder statesman - Tambuwal
Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has expressed immense sadness over the passing on of Chief Lar, whom he described as an elder statesman par excellence.
In a press statement signed by his special assistant on media, Malam Imam Imam, and made available to LEADERSHIP last night, Tambuwal also added that he received the news with a feeling of great national loss and would always remember him as a man of integrity whose forthrightness and wisdom stood him out among his peers.
He added that the late former Plateau governor lived a fulfilled life full of accomplishments and notable contributions to national unity.
Lar, accomplished politician – ACF
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described the late Chief Solomon Lar as an accomplished politician of repute, saying that the country has lost a champion of the masses.
Speaking in a statement made available yesterday by its spokesman, Anthony Sani , the ACF stated that the late Lar passed on at a time his fatherly advice would be needed over national issues.
The statement reads in part, “Lar was the spirit and face of his people and gave all his life to them. Many Nigerians would pass him for someone who struggled for the rights of his people with courage and in hope.
“Considering what he stood and died for, one can imagine his body lying in both peace and pain: the peace associated with death and the pain of what he has left behind: a divided people in endless blame game and engagement of the past at the expense of how to move the nation forward.
“Chief Lar may not be any more with us because no one can fill the void he has left behind in the life of the nation and lives of loved ones. But in a way, he is very much around, considering he needs no monuments to remind us of his legacies.
Northern govs mourn, say Nigeria has lost a patriot
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has described the death of the first civilian governor of the old Plateau State as a devastating loss to the people of Plateau State in particular and the nation in general.
Chairman of the forum and Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu said with the death of Lar, Nigeria has lost a patriot of uncommon courage.
The Forum’s condolence was contained in a statement signed by Governor Aliyu’s spokesman, Danladi Ndayebo.
The Forum added that Lar was a recurrent decimal in the nation’s polity for over five decades, either as a legal practitioner, member of the nation’s first national parliament, state governor, first national chairman of the PDP or an elder statesman.
The statement described the late Lar as a nationalist who lived a purposeful life of dedication to the cause of the nation’s unity and dedication as well as commitment to the uplift of the citizenry.
Lar, a titan of democracy - Anenih
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, has described the death of Lar, as a great loss to both the party and the nation.
Anenih, who started this yesterday while reacting to the news of Lar’s passage said, “This is indeed sad and very painful. Chief Lar was a great leader and pillar of our Party. He was a titan of democracy whose leadership and invaluable advice will be missed by the PDP family, especially at this time when efforts are being made at genuine reconciliation.”
Declaring that the elder statesman would be sorely missed by the PDP and the nation, Anenih sympathized with the wife of Chief Lar and family members and prayed that the Almighty God would grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Nigeria has lost a great statesman - Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar last night reacted to the death of pioneer chairman of the PDP, Chief Solomon Lar, describing his demise as the loss of one of the country’s greatest statesmen.
Atiku, who stated in a statement by his media office, said, “He was a leader Nigeria needed at each time of crisis,” Atiku said noting that his departure will be most felt at this time when there is growing disagreement among the country’s political elite.
Atiku added that the late Lar’s “fight for his middle-belt region in particular and Nigerians in general will be remembered by every worthy historian of this era.”
We’ve lost finest political Figure - Ekweremadu
The deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, expressed shock and sadness over the death of Chief Lar. He said: “We have lost one of the finest political figures of our time and a hero of our current democratic dispensation; his death marks the end of an era.”
He condoled with the government and people of Plateau State and the nation and prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the dead.
He was a quintessential patriot - PDP
The PDP has expressed deep sadness over the death of its pioneer national chairman, the late Chief Solomon Lar, describing the development as a huge loss to the nation.
The PDP national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement said the death of the politician has “left a big vacuum not only in the party but in Plateau State and the nation at large”.
The party said, “Our hearts reach out to the government and people of Plateau State, the millions of PDP family nationwide, but most importantly to his loved ones and immediate family.
“Chief Lar will be remembered for his insistence on the emancipation of the masses and his white handkerchief. That is why he was fondly called ‘The Emancipator’. PDP members will not forget the image of Chief Lar on the podium with his white handkerchief singing and dancing to the PDP song,” the statement further. “PDP at the national level will participate fully in ensuring that Chief Lar is given an equivalent of a party national burial.”
We have lost a rare gem - new PDP
The Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led PDP yesterday described the death of Chief Lar as an irreparable loss, saying he was a first-class patriot.
A statement by the party’s spokesman, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said “Chief Lar was a colourful politician of substance, a first-class patriot and an accomplished administrator.
“As pioneer chairman of PDP, he played a significant role in laying a solid foundation on which his successors built to make the party the poster boy of Nigerian politics and in sustaining and growing our hard-won democracy.
“Chief Lar’s death, coming on the heels of that of another of our former leader, Dr Olusegun Agagu, has robbed both our great party and the country at large of a rare voice of wisdom.
Gen. Useni mourns
The former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, General Jeremiah Useni, has stated that the demise of Chief Solomon Lar was a great loss to the country, saying that Nigerians would miss his wise counsel.
He added that the contribution of Lar to the enthronement of Nigeria democracy would never be forgotten in a hurry.
His death a great loss - Prof Alkali
A former national publicity secretary of the PDP, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, has expressed deep shock over Lar’s death. According to him, “Nigeria has once again lost a deeply committed leader, elder and fearless democrat. May God grant his family the strength and courage to bear this huge loss with fortitude.
We’ll miss his fatherly advice – Gov Suswam
Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam has stated that the late Chief Solomon Lar was a political icon, adding that the political class will surely miss his fatherly advice.
He said, “ It’s a sad death for a man who lived and died serving Nigeria. Benue
State and the people of Benue will miss his fatherly advice. My condolence goes to the Lar family, the government and people of Plateau State and the entire Middle Belt.
Death of Lar a big blow to democracy - Amosun
Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has described the demise of Lar, as a big blow to democracy.
In a statement signed by his Senior special assistant on media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Amosun described the late Lar as an icon of democracy, whose contributions to the enthronement of civil rule would remain indelible in the annals of Nigeria.
He said, “As civilian governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar brought development to the nooks and crannies of the state. He was a thoroughbred democrat, detribalized Nigerian and a firm believer in the rule of law, justice and equity.”
He was a man of impeachable character – Ogbulafor
A former national chairman of the PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, described his predecessor as a man of impeachable character.
He said, “Chief Lar was one of the founders of the party. Nigeria has lost a great man who left his footsteps in the sands of time. We will surely miss him. May his soul rest in peace.”
He was a political iroko – Nwodo
Another former national chairman of PDP, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, described the late Lar as an astute politician of repute, saying that his demise was a great loss to the country. He said, “The news of Chief Solomon Lar’s death, the first national chairman of PDP, reached me as a shock. In his death, Nigeria has lost another political iroko, the real bridge builder whose political space was large enough to accommodate all irrespective of tribe, religion or region. He loved his country and would take any risk for its peace and unity. May his soul rest in peace.”
