Exposed: How Governor Lalong Allegedly Gave Out Cars Worth Millions Of Naira To Senators, Reps From Plateau, Allegedly Spent N400 Million On 2017 Jos Carnival

Yakubu Busari

At a time when the economy of the nation and states as well is said  not to be moving, this medium findings has learnt that millions of Naira has been expended on the purchase of cars for Plateau State Federal Legislators by the Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong.

The Plateau Governor Simon Lalong universalreporters247.com learnt doled out car largesse worth millions of Naira to Federal Houses of Assembly members all in a bid to gain their political favour ahead of 2019 general elections, aside that, this medium learnt that the same governor is alleged to have spent about N400 million naira to organize the 2017 Jos carnival.

It was reliable gathered that the governor doled out new brand expensive and exotic cars to members of the National Assembly, from the State, even as opposition kicked against.

Lalong’s who rode to prominence with the support of  the media and the plateau project aimed to stop politics of ethnicity, tribal bigots and  impunity of imposition of candidates may have jettison the reason why he was elected into office.

Information revealed that the Governor has doled out new brand Toyota Camry cars, to each of the 8 members of the House of Representatives, representing respective federal constituencies that made up the State.

Besides this development all the three Senators, Jonah David Jang, PDP Plateau North district, Joshua Dariye, APC, Plateau Central district and, Jeremiah Timbut Useni, PDP, Plateau South district, were also beneficiaries of the Governor’s gift of Prado jeeps to seek their blessings to solicit votes ahead 2019 election.

Our reporter who spoke with one of the aides, this is what he said, that; “Yes, it was true that the Governor has given cars to all of them (NASS members).”

According to the source, (name withheld), it was all of the members, “including Jonah Jang.

Another close source to a Senator, also revealed that Governor Lalong, had last month met with their bosses, in Abuja where he told them that, as legislators from Plateau State, he wants to give them a gift.

The source (name withheld), said his boss had informed him that; “the Governor promised to give each Senator a new brand of Prado jeep,  while the eight House of Representatives members were promised Toyota Camry cars.”

The source said his boss is yet to receive the promised Jeep, but could not speak of others as to wether they have been received theirs or not.

It was confidently, reported that Hon. Timothy Gulu (PDP) , and Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande(APC), were seen plying the roads with their new brand Toyota Camry cars.

It would be recalled that Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), Hon. Rufus Bature, had once told the state House of Assembly, committee on appropriation that some of the senior staff of the state Government have no official cars, and therefore need the approval of N3b, to purchase the cars. He said a Toyota Camry car, cost about N27m, each, due to the rise in Dollar exchange rates.

Reacting to the situation, State chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mr. Nanya Daman Andrew, described the Governor’s gift as a, “misplacement of priority.”

According to Andrew, for the Governor to spend a huge amount of hundreds of millions of Naira,  to purchase cars for the National Assembly members is uncalled for.

“The money should have been used to renovate, equipped and stock up drugs in Hospitals in the State,” he advised.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Hon Dan Manjang when contacted confirmed of the car gifts to the National Assembly Members from Plateau, but on the alleged N400 million spent on carnival, he said it was not true.