Solomon Lar
Solomon Daushep Lar | |
---|---|
Barnabas Gemade | |
Personal details | |
Born | Plateau State, Nigeria) | 4 April 1933
Died | 9 October 2013 United States | (aged 80)
Spouse(s) | Prof. Mary Lar; eldest daughter, Dr. Chalya Lar |
Chief (Dr.) Solomon Daushep Lar (4 April 1933 – 9 October 2013) (Walin Langtang) was a Nigerian politician who has held various offices at the National level for over 50 years. He was a member of the first national parliament when Nigeria gained independence in 1960. He was elected governor of
Birth and early career
Lar was born in Pangna, Langtang, Plateau State in April 1933.[2] His father was a farmer and his mother a pottery maker. He studied at the Sudan United Mission Primary School in Langtang, and then at the Gindiri Teachers College where he qualified to teach at the Primary School, Langtang. After two years he returned to Gindiri for his Senior Teacher's Training Programme, earned his Higher Elementary Certificate and started to teach at the Senior Primary School level.[3] He planned to become a clergyman.[4]
Lar was elected as a councilor to the Langtang Natives Authority in January 1959. On 12 December 1959 he was elected to the Federal Parliament on the platform of United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC). He was reelected in 1964, and from then until 15 January 1966, when General Yakubu Gowon took power in a coup, Lar was parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. He was also a Junior Minister in the Federal Ministry of establishments.[4]
After the fall of the democratic government, Lar attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1970 with an LLB and being called to the bar in 1971.[4] He established a private legal practice, and was co-founder and first national secretary of the Nigerian Legal Aid Association.[4]
In 1972, Lar joined the board of Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria. He became chairman of the board of directors of African Continental Bank, member of the Nigeria Council of Legal Education and a member of the Constituent Assembly (1977–1978). He was vice-chairman of the panel chaired by Justice Ayo Irikefe that recommended expanding from 12 to 19 states during the regime of generals Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo. Lar was also a board member of the US-based World Environmental Movement for Africa.[3]
Second and Third Republics
At the start of the Second Republic, Lar was a co-founder of the Nigerian People's Party. He was nominated as the party's presidential candidate in 1978, and later won the governorship election in Plateau State as the first Executive Governor on 1 October 1979.[5] His deputy was Alhaji
After the military coup in December 1983, General Muhammadu Buhari set up military tribunals which tried all former governors. Although Lar was not found guilty of embezzlement or misappropriation, he was sentenced to 88 years in prison, first in Jos and then in Kirikiri in Lagos. His case was reviewed and he was released by the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, who started another transition to democracy in 1992.[3]
During the
Fourth Republic
In the transition to the
Lar has been described as an ardent Middle-Belter, an active participant in the Middle Belt Forum.[8] In Plateau State he championed a policy based on the idea that the state should help indigenes realize the benefits of their "emancipation" from
In an interview in February 2009 he said that the Middle Belt was being neglected despite the great contributions it made to national unity, a reference to sacrifices in the Nigerian Civil War. He also complained of discrimination against Christians in the North, to the extent that they could not get land to build a church.[10]In February 2010 Vice President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him Chairman of the Presidential committee tasked with recommending how to prevent further violence in Jos, the capital of Plateau State.[11]
Death
On 9 October 2013, Plateau state governor Jonah David Jang announced the death of Mr Lar. He died at an American hospital after a long illness, aged 80.[12][13]
References
- ^ "Nigeria States". Rulers.org. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d Olayinka Oyebode (8 April 2010). "Second Republic Governors: A depleting team". The Nation. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d Isa Abdulsalami (25 December 2009). "Lar: 50 years of active politicking". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 April 2010. [dead link]
- ^ a b c d Taye Obateru (24 December 2009). "Day Nasarawa State University Honoured Lar". Vanguard.
- ^ "CITATION OF CHIEF SOLOMON DAUSHEP LAW CON, WALIN LANGTANG". Rural Widows and Orphans Foundation. Retrieved 24 April 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Nigeria: Anenih Is New Chairman of PDP Trustees". ThisDay. 21 February 2004. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ Onoja Audu (5 April 2006). "Lar welcomes IBB to presidential race". Daily Independent Online. Retrieved 24 April 2010. [dead link]
- ^ Haruna Izah (13 December 2004). "Governor Dariye: His Return, Future and Plateau". Nigerian Newsday. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ "They Do Not Own This Place". Human Rights Watch. 25 April 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ RANA BAYOK Kaduna (22 October 2009). "LAR CONDEMNS DISCRIMINATION OF CHRISTIANS IN NORTHERN STATES". Nigeria News. Retrieved 24 April 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ ABDULFATTAH OLAJIDE (2 February 2010). "Lar heads panel on Jos crises". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ Plateau Government the death of Solomon Lar
- ^ "The pillar of my life is gone, says Beni Lar". Vanguard News. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2014.