True motive behind my departure from Tinubu’s cabinet to join Senate- Simon Lalong

The former Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has explained why he decided to join the Senate rather than remain in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

As he took the oath of office as Senator for Plateau South, the legislator from Plateau State said, “To be honest, this was my first choice.”

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He stated that the Senate position was the next natural step in his political career and that his original goal had been to hold the office of governor of Plateau State until May 2023.

He said that he was pursuing a legal matter in court when he agreed to take on the position of interim minister at Tinubu’s request.

He thanked President Tinubu for giving him the chance to be a member of the government amid the legal dispute.

In the end, the Court of Appeal decided in favour of Lalong, nullifying the PDP candidate Napoleon Bali’s earlier proclamation of victory. This made it possible for Lalong to go back to his chosen course.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated the recently sworn-in senator and noted Lalong’s commitment to service, which included his time as the director-general of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign. Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the APC, echoed the sentiment, calling the day a “moment of happiness” for the entire party as well as for Lalong.

“Good legislation is what Nigerians will expect,” Ganduje stated, highlighting the accountability now imposed on Lalong. Ganduje voiced confidence in the APC’s ability to “work for the prosperity of all Nigerians” in light of their majority in the Senate.