How the Plateau state ministerial nominee, Solomon Dalung made the list is one question that is difficult to answer by many including those in the corridor of power. A lot of interests clashed in the making of Dalung, some, sour taste to mention. MOHAMMED SHITTU- TANKO presents some details that preceded the announcement of the nominee.
It may take a longer time for the dust triggered by the scramble for ministerial slot in Plateau State to settle. The attendant intense horse trading had involved almost all the major political blocs in the state. There were permutations, with a number of names initially touted as being one of those President Muhammadu Buhari might pick as the nominee from the state. Mr Solomon Dalung, a legal practitioner, eventually emerged as the choice of the president. Today, he is among the first set of nominees screened and confirmed by the Senate and waiting to be assigned portfolio by the president.
While his emergence tickled some stakeholders in Plateau, it came as a surprise to others. Suffice to say that Dalung has been an active politician for quite some time. He is believed to have contributed immensely towards the change of leadership, especially at the governorship level.
Dalung was the Personal Assistant to the late pioneer national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomom Lar and became a thorn in the flesh of former governor Joshua Dariye. He led several protests against the administration over sundry matters.
But, some of his actions became serious issues with his adversaries claiming that he loves fishing in troubled waters, rather than apostle of peace as espoused by his admirers.
In the last gubernatorial primary of APC, he had contested against the incumbent Governor Simon Larlong. He cried blue murder after losing in the primaries, alleging that the exercise was characterised by fraudulent practices. Consequently, he forwarded a petition to the APC national headquarters. His action became the subject of debate and discourse, when his name was announced as the ministerial nominee from Plateau. Some were curious about he was able to beat other politicians of high calibre whose names were doing the rounds before the announcement on the floor of the Senate in Abuja
Blueprint check shows that no fewer than four names were actually submitted by the party for consideration. A source even claimed that Dalung was not among the names short-listed, thus sending tongues wagging, following the official announcement. Some alleged that his choice may have been a way of compensating him for his stance during some trying moments in the not-too-recent history of Plateau. For example, they cited his position during the ethnic skirmishes that occurred notwithstanding the fact that he is a native.
Then, he had looked like a lone ranger, given the sensitivity of the core issues relating to the crisis. He soon became a regular figure and voice on such international media like Radio France , British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Voice of America (VOA), Hausa service.
For certain political considerations, therefore, the larger North saw him as an ally.
Dalung became the darling of many eminent politicians and political pressure groups from the zone. He became a member of highest exclusive political pressure group like the Northern Elders Forum, which parades senior citizens as Professor Ango Abdullahi. Ambassador Maitama Sule, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Professor Awwalu Yadudu and many other prominent elders. Within his party (APC), the eddies generated by the choice of Dalung as minister-designate have not subsided. It was learnt that the stalwarts were yet to come to terms with the development, though none of them was willing to come on record on the issue so as not offend the higher authority. They believed the state leaders should have been offered the privilege of making the nomination, The insinuation in some quarters is that the authority in conjunction with some notable opinion leaders in the North, nominated
Dalung without considering the peculiarity and the interest of the party and Plateau. One of the elders stated:
“Mr President has the prerogative right to nominate whoever he feels he can work with but, it is unfair to have allowed other states to nominate and deny us such opportunity. The peculiarity of Plateau State was not put into consideration.”
Despite the condemnation in some quarters, there are people who lauded the choice of Dalung. A body, the Plateau Professionals Progressive Vanguard, expressed delight on the choice. In its opinion, Dalung will serve the country well and will be a good ambassador of the state. In a statement by the coordinator, Chesil Drenkat, the group described Dalung as a fearless and dogged activist.
According to it, the nominee shares the vision of Buhari on how to move the country forward. “Dalung is also a team player and It is in the interest of Plateau State to have a representative who has character and will be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria and Plateau State. It will be the hallmark of honour done to the president where all Plateau people unanimously rally round him so that Plateau can reap the dividend of democracy under the change agenda of the present administration. Drenkat said that the combination of the visionary
APC-led government of Plateau and the ministerial nominee would ensure that both of them synergize to bring about lasting peace in the state.
Only time will determine the actual gains of the unfolding political changes in the state, as residents of Plateau crave for a new dawn in a state that was famous for tranquility.
