The first National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the first civilian Governor of Plateau State, the late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar, has been described by his wife, Prof. Mary Lar, as a politician with a conscience who was highly revered by his people.
Mary, on Wednesday, said that her husband, popularly known as “The Emancipator of the Middle Belt People” across the Northern minority tribes, paved the way for the transition of political sojourn.
She said the foundation laid by her husband characterised the uninterrupted democratic journey of two decades (1999 – 2024) with mixed experiences of the good and the bad, progress and retrogression, economic boom and downturn, upheavals and giant strides, success and challenges, hopes and successive fulfillments.
“No matter how it appeared to us as individuals and a people, the fact is that our democracy has been sustained, though with room for further improvement.
“We strongly believe that the years to come will be filled with positivism, success stories, giant strides of achievements, and unmatched synergy towards unity, development of sound democratic values, and ultimately developing the youths of our dear country, Nigeria.
“Our core belief in attaining a peaceful Nigeria still resonates with possibility, only if our government and leaders alike will do more in connecting with the electorate,” she said.
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According to her, “Obviously, Nigeria has a growing democracy. Unlike other developed nations, Nigeria’s democracy is still in its formative phase; but we can keep growing from strength to strength.
Solomon Lar had throughout his life been on the side of the downtrodden and the masses, as he was the brain behind the first Political Summit in Nigeria. He initiated the G18 of Northern Leaders who wrote to General Sani Abacha, later expanding it to G34 and writing a similar letter to the late dictator, she added.
“These letters were signed, sealed, and delivered by this man of courage (Lar), who went to the lion’s den to warn the lion of the danger of self-succession. He was selfless and committed to the entrenchment of democracy in the land. A rugged and calculating politician, he converted the G34 to a political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the largest political party in Africa,” Mary Lar stressed.
She explained: “The fruit of democracy we are enjoying today is a result of the sacrifice of this great leader and his fellow compatriots. His role in establishing the Third Republic was described in the address of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the National Convention of PDP in November 1999, where he said, ‘I wish to thank Chief Solomon Daushep Lar, our indefatigable National Chairman, whose wisdom, dexterity, and political sagacity contributed in no small measure to building the party.’
According to her, the 25th-anniversary celebration of Lar is worthy of commendation and a worthwhile feat to celebrate her husband on this occasion of Democracy Day.
