The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Organization, and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, says as a Catholic, the Pope has not told him that accepting to lead the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket was wrong.
A group under the aegis of Concerned Christians on the Plateau, (CCP), had on Tuesday called on Governor Lalong, to reject the offer to serve as the Director General of the APC presidential campaign council, saying that the Plateau Christians will not support him in ‘this suspicious engagement or assignment.’
But Governor Lalong while responding to a question from our State House Correspondent, Yemi Adebayo, on the development, shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said he has already accepted the appointment and can not reject it.
There have been condemnations in some quarters over the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Governor Lalong said that as a born, baptized and confirmed Catholic, who has the highest award from the Papacy, Knight of Saint Gregory the Great, the Pope has not told him that it was wrong for him to be the Director General of the Muslim-Muslim presidential campaign team.
The governor, who met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari, told State House Correspondents after the meeting, that the Plateau State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN came to the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos, to welcome him after he was appointed the APC presidential campaign DG.
He berated some Christian leaders calling on him to reject the appointment, explaining that the appointment was strictly a party affair, and has nothing to do with religion.
Also Read: Christian Leaders berate Gov. Lalong for accepting Tinubu/Shettima Campaign DG position
Governor Lalong also denied the allegation that he lobbied to become the running mate of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, in the 2023 elections.
He said that he was at the Presidential Villa to thank the President for approving numerous infrastructural projects and for granting a presidential pardon to the former governor of the state, Senator Joshua Dariye, as well as a former governor of Taraba State, Reverend Jolly Nyame, that were convicted for corruption.
Asked if his appointment as DG of the APC presidential campaign would affect the governance of Plateau State, Lalong said he can govern the state from anywhere, adding that he has vibrant and committed people working with him to develop the state.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
