Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong has commended clerics in the state for their efforts in quelling insecurity.
The governor thanked the clerics during his visit to the Catholic Diocese of Shendam Local Government Area in continuation of his consultations with stakeholders in Plateau South Senatorial District.
The consultation is ahead of the lifting of the ban on campaigns for the 2023 general elections.
In a statement issued by his Spokesperson, Dr Makut Macham on Saturday in Jos, Lalong thanked the Church for its guidance and counsel which had engendered peace and harmony among the Plateau people.
He noted that their impact, particularly during recent attempts by some mischief makers and hoodlums to use religion and ethnicity to instigate crises, was quite commendable.
He said he was in the Diocese to appreciate the Bishop, Priests and the entire Catholic family for always upholding and encouraging him, since his emergence as Senatorial Candidate and his appointment as Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Lalong thanked the Church for praying for him throughout his political journey, saying his mission to visit his hometown was to thank his people, sensitise them to the forthcoming elections while seeking their collaboration and cooperation for success.
The governor, who was accompanied by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Idris Wase, was received at the Diocese by Rev. Fr. Raymond Gofut, the Vicar General, Catholic Diocese of Shendam.
Responding, the Vicar General said that the Church appreciated the governor for his efforts in carrying the people along, and seeking the blessings of God and the Church in his endeavours.
He led other Priests to pray for Lalong on his recent appointment as the DG of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, for wisdom, favour and protection.
Similarly, the Deputy Speaker also thanked the Church for providing honest and unbiased advice to the political class, while assuring them that they would do the best to ensure that the people benefitted from the democratic process.
The governor thereafter held consultations with the Plateau South Stakeholders Forum where he urged them to remain resolute in promoting the interests of APC.
He also held another meeting with party leaders and stakeholders from all the six local governments of the Southern Zone.
He reminded the stakeholders of the need to build synergy and strategise appropriately, to enable the party to deliver all their candidates once the ban on political campaigns was lifted.
Responding, the Southern Zonal Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Ya`u Yalum, urged the party stakeholders to work towards the success of all their candidates at all levels during the polls.(NAN)