Exposed: How Governor Lalong’s Commissioners Disguised As Disabled Persons To Attend Foreign Trip

 

Yakubu Busari

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has been accused of the speedy release of N6.9 million Naira for the Commissioner of information and communication, and her Women Affairs counterpart for an oversea trip meant for disabled persons.

In a statement, signed by the Spokesperson of the Joint National Association of Person with Disability, Plateau State Chapter Mr. Bulus Shandi and its affiliate, the Association of Special Schools on the Plateau, National Association of Blind Persons with Physical Disability-Plateau State Chapter, Nigeria Association of People Affected by Leprosy and Nigeria National Association of the Deaf he stated that Governor Lalong smuggled the name of one Elizabeth Lalong whom the disabled persons stated that is unknown to them.

The association in their statement also accused the Governor and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Commissioner of Information of siphoning state funds using the name of Disabled persons in the State.

Speaking Shandi said when they reached out to their contacts in the United States of America, it was confirmed to them that there is no representatives of the disabled persons from Plateau in the US.

The statement disclosed that, the government hurriedly drafted and approved funds for them to travel for United Nations event in the United States.

The Senior Special Assistant to former, governor Jang on disability matters, James David Lalu who was a politically appointed member of the commission for eight was accused by the association of being used by the Lalong’s Government to facilitate for the quick release of the fund used for the trip to the US, and after getting his own cut, he left the association.

According to the Association, in their statement, they said in order such an evil plan the Lalong’s Government through the help of the former SA, recommended the names of some top government officials to attend the program, which include the Commissioners of Information and that of Women Affairs, as well as the name of one Elizabeth Lalong, whom the association said is not known to the disabled association in the State.

Shandi also slammed the Secretary of the Disabled Commission in the State, Ayuba Gufwan who has been complaining over the closure of their centers, however, when he was bought over and when his name was scripted among those scheduled to travel, he couldn’t speak again.

Shandi stated that the secretary of the commission connived with the State to defraud the members, adding Mr. James Lalu used the association’s platform to attend disable person’s program in Ethiopia and also attended Disable persons program alongside one Rev. Dogo in Philippians and Netherlands.

Shandi statement also accused the former Special Assistant during the government of former Governor Jonah Jang, James David Lalu and his brother Tangkat Lalu of using the association to enrich themselves without representing the interest of persons with disabilities in the state and outside the Nigeria.

Shandi revealed that they cannot remain silent while a few groups of individuals made use of state resources meant for the generality of persons with disabilities to service their personal interest.

He complained that what worried the association most is that their two vocational and rehabilitation centers for the blind in Zawan and the physically handicapped in Zaria road have remained closed for almost eight months.