A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO BARISTER SOLOMON DALUNG - A MAN OF HONOUR -

This is to celebrate another purposeful, productive, fruitful an undeniably accomplished year in the life of an exceptionally qualitative Nigerian. This is another year in the life of Barrister Solomon Dalung. 

Dalung doesn't need being introduced in any circle in Nigeria. A youth leader and probably the only man of his age with hands clean enough to dine with the elders. He is a voice for the voiceless and a hope for the hopeless. Call him a bridge buildet, you are only half way correct. Dalung is a strong bridge build on supportive pillars of honesty and unmatched patriotism. A Nigerian to the core. Passionately patriotic and sincerely concerned about the downtrodden caught in the whirlpool of a lawless society where might is right and is always for the rich.

In a society where it takes a little "bending" to hit it big, Dalung remain rigidly standing and uncompromisingly attached to his humane ideals. With minimal effort he could have been a billionaire living fat on the sweat and blood of shortchanged Nigerians living in unexplainable squalor alongside equally unexplainable wealth corned by a fraction of the society through dubious means. It was therefore, not accidental when Radio France found you worthy of their prestigious man of the year award. And, it was not for nothing that millions of Nigerians found him worthy of their trust and dutifully respect his opinion. Put the Nigerian government on one side of a scale and Dalung on the other and watch how the scale of honour would overwhelme that of obscene wealth and endless opportunities. 

On numerous occasions, there were attempts on his life. Not for the usual purpose of pecuniary benefits. Simply to silence the truth. As God will have it, he always came out of it not only alive but stronger and more determined to toe the path of truth and honesty. This is a man that governors wish to have him approve their performances which he dutifully did based on his conviction and verifiable evidence. He belong to the class of few Nigerians who have the power of moving mountains by the power of their words alone. Yet, neither nor silver listen to his voice.

Just as he is rich in character so he is modest in means. His humility knows no boundary. Just yesterday he took time off his busy schedule to call and comfort me over a sad incident of daylight robbery involving my wife. I met him only once in my life. But when he read my post about the event it triggered the human in him. He called and soothed with me assurances packed in beautiful words laced with sincerity. Such exceptional humility.  

So he is modest. He neither enjoys the trappings of a man of his standing nor does he seem to even appreciate the luxury for which many are sacrificing their souls to the devil. He don't live in a mansion neither does he cruise around in a Prado jeep. You will never notice him if you are looking for a man in a versace suit and Gucci loafers. Just look for the most decent and ordinary Nigerian and you will see him towering high above those with fleet of private jets.

Perhaps, that may explain envious allegations that were as silly as they were unrealistic. Out of frustration, he was variously described as an agent of Hausa/Fulani, an agent of VOA, BBC, RFI and what have you. His crime being his ability to subdue the usual human impulse to say the truth how he sees it with the simple objective of making life better than he met it. At just 50, Dalung has accomplished more than a combine result of many Nigerian leaders put together. Without a doubt, if one man is a Nigerian, Dalung is. The papers might not carry paid adverts celebrating your birthday sir. I'm sure sure you will not be bothered because those are not your values. I am sure you will not be caught celebrating another year wasting monies that may feed an empty stomach, save a life and bring smile on the face of a hopeless kid left to the vicious forces of life without a helping hand. You have every reason to be happy because Nigerians believe in you and and will always pray for you. Sir, may you live long to see the Nigeria of your dream. Congratulation and HAPPYBIRTHDAY.

Written by Maiwada Danmallam katsina. 

A POLITICAL GEM IN THE CRYSTAL OF LIFE

As retiree of Prison Service Officer, former Local government chairman, Bar. Solomon Dalung marks his birthday anniversaries the whole world remember him for his notable contributions to national development and commitment to humanity. Your relentless drive, uncommon passion and selfless commitment towards improving the living standard of under privileged women and children have received national acclamation and recognition.

At the Local Government, Dalung would be remembered for giving good account of his mandate as a chairman Langtang South Local government. In his community he is widely celebrated for influencing the provision of infrastructural facilities and employment. He is often remembered for encouraging electricity, road and water projects etc to Langtang South and its environs. 

Given his philanthropic gesture and political achievements in a single term, the people of Langtang South cannot resist the temptation of sending him back to the State as a governor.

Dalung anniversary is widely believed to be beyond ordinary celebrations that would go without noticed of his political fame and acknowledgement of his humanitarian endowments. He is believed to have created a niche for himself as statesman at a young age. He is generally construed as a national figure of repute, a polished politician, an acclaimed philanthropist, an accomplished businessman who made people and created wealth for many, a visionary leader, a true son of Plateau, and a rare gem.

The Distinguished Barrister is often remembered for his contributions to the establishment and consolidation of peace building in Plateau. He is known to be a household name in his state.

Many stakeholders in Plateau politics have argued that the state needs a leader who is visionary, goal driven, motivation oriented, gender sensitive and objective centered to take the state to the heights it desires. This was believed to be the rational why the people of the state will send a save-our-soul (SOS) to Bar. Dalung to salvage the state from social, industrial, educational infrastructural decay and collapse which the state suffered from previous governments if given the chance.

As political, business associates, friends and well wishers from all works of life gathered to celebrate a astute politician, John Pofi, had this to say “Today, we celebrate a quintessential man, an international businessman, a politician of notable character, a sure-p coordinator of southern zone and by the grace of God, hopeful Governor, a man who had touched lives, a man who remains a reference point, a friend to all including the downtrodden”. 

Once more congratulation my leader, mentor and my friend wishing you long life and prosperity, God’s blessings and Happy Birthday sir!!!

Written by John Pofi

FAKE APPOINTMENTS IN NIGERIA SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS?

   Wonders will never end as long as one belongs to human society especially our own community known as Nigeria. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) popularly referred to as Civil Defence but my unlettered mother called it "Simple defence" has been bedevil by intrigues revolving around employment racketeering.

    Sometimes in December 2012, the Organisation retrieved over 200 appointment letters from newly recruited officers for verifications. According to official sources there were instances of irregular appointments. After the verification exercise, about 102 officers were confirmed but their appointment letters were still retained. However, they were absolved into the system, while their salaries started flowing. They were trained in arms handling had continued working without any problem. 

    Before this development, these officers were screened with proper documentation. They were issued with security inbuilt identity cards. However, in June 2013, there was an absurd development when 97 out the initial 102 of the officers had their salaries stopped without any explanation while their colleagues were being paid. 

    Worried by the turn of events, the affected officers demand explanation from their superiors but they were informed that they were fake officers and that official communication to that effect directed the removal of their names from the pay roll system.

 The affected officers continued to report for duty since they were not issued any termination letters. After a period of about a month thereafter they decided to stay away from their offices. As at the time of writing, they NSDC has re-absolved more leaving about 57 alleged fake officers. There has been no any review panel set up to justify the piece meal re-in statement of the others.

    Assuming its correct that the appointments of the over 102 officers was irregular why did the Organisation placed them on salaries from January - March 2013 after the verification exercise?

    And if they had not concluded their findings on them why paying people with irregular appointments salaries?

  Granted if the argument of fake appointments is to hold, may I asked at what point was it supposed to be detected, at screening and documentation or even after the verification exercise? 

   Were the fake officers screened by fake Civil defence men or is the entire Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps fake too?

 This is ridiculous, that people were appointed with letters, invited to screening and documented, trained in arms handling, posted and assigned responsibilities just to be termed fake and thrown out of jobs without termination letters. If the Commandant-General has no skeletons in his cupboard why will he remove the names of the alleged fake officers without any termination letter? 

    If they were actually fake why have they not been arrested and prosecuted for forgery but Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps preferred to remove their names secretly? 

    The sum total of these mind bugging questions leaves a rational mind with the suspicion that something is wrong and the Oga at the top are trying to cover up. They are trying to sacrifice these innocent young people to cover their wrong doing. If these people that went through all the enlistment processes just to be termed to be fake then its not out of place to say the entire system is fake and corrupted and cannot discharge the desire security obligations required by law. Therefore, Iam calling on the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to intervene and save the integrity of the Organisation from total collapse. The act has destroyed public confidence in the Organisation.

 Secondly, on behalf of these young people whose destinies is been gambled with Iam calling on all Civil and Human Rights advocates to declare their participation in this battle of the future of the 57 officers who presently have been thrown out of jobs while their families are languishing with starvation. 

    As mark of our determination to get justice for these people, we gave the NSCDC a notice to withdraw their action or we challenge it in court which had expired without any response from them.

    We shall mobilise all resources at our disposal to resist these injustice to the Supreme Court. We appeal to all to be calm as we are determined to follow due process to get justice for the oppressed. 

    With God on the side of the oppressed, we are confident that we shall be vindicated.

 Frantz Fanon argued that "the future shall have no pity on those men who poses the exceptional privilege of telling a word of truth to their oppressors but chose to take refuge under silence, mute indifference or sometimes cold complicity."

We have taken our stand, join us if you believed.

Written by Solomon Dalung, LLB, LB, LLM