Solomon Lar Died A Pauper, Says Daughter

Solomon Lar

The late Solomon Lar

Chief Solomon Lar, the pioneer National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor of Plateau, died as a poor man, his daughter, Dr. Chalya Lar has said.

She spoke  during her testimony at the service of songs for the late Lar at the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) headquarters in Jos.

“Baba has only one car at the time he died; I am not even sure he has up to N1 million in his account before he died,” she said.

The late Solomon Lar
The late Solomon Lar

The daughter said that she had cause to have a one-on-one discussion with her father as they travelled abroad on his medical trip.

She said that she asked the late politician why he did not amass wealth and build houses like other politicians but that the reply she got from him was on how he was educated on other people’s sweat.

“They contributed their sweat to send me to school; I cannot forget that,” she quoted Lar as saying to her.

She said that rather than telling her why he remained poor, the deceased stressed the need for his children to strive for good name.

According to her testimony, the late politician said: “A good name will always open doors for you.”She said that her father was also a very good Christian and a lover of the people even at the point of his demise.

“He never ceased expressing faith in God and his love for the people while on his sick bed, even when he knew his end had come,” she said.

A former Personal Assistant to Lar, Mr Nanven Nimsel, in his testimony, described his former boss as a good Christian and a generous politician.

He said that late Lar practiced self denial to a fault, adding that “this robbed his people of Langtang some good opportunities when he was governor of the state”.

He said that at a time when Lar appointed administrators for the then 14 local governments, he left out Langtang, claiming that as a governor he had represented them.

Nimsel said that was the reason Langtang did not have the presence of any higher institution of learning till date.

He said that at the time Lar, as governor, gave other parts of the state institutions of higher learning, Langtang had no commissioner to represent it and so did not benefit alongside with others.

“He kept telling us to be patient, while he was pleasing others; he only left us with a legacy of patience,” he said.

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Gov. Jonah Jang, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Shedrack Best, described Lar’s death as a loss to the state.

On Friday, Chief Solomon Lar was finally laid to rest in his home town Langtang amid mixed feelings of sadness and joy by family members, friends and political associates.

Lar was committed to mother earth at about 6.20 p.m. of Friday, in a Mausoleum built at the cost of N28 million, in the presence of family members, friends, political associates and members of the Church.

Rev. Soja Bewarang, the immediate past President of the Church Of Christ In Nigeria (COCIN), in his sermon at the funeral rites, described Lar as a God fearing and peace loving man who lived a fulfilled life.

He said “Lar’s heart was as white as the handkerchief he was fond of using and I wish that is how everybody’s heart is, as white as handkerchief.

“It is a fact that there is a day to be born and a day to die, but we should be mindful of that to walk right with God so that when death comes calling, we can rise with Christ.”

Bewarang, who read from Psalm 23, expressed the wish to see the day money politics would be outdated in Nigeria.

The past COCIN president said “Lar was pushed into politics by the Church in Langtang to represent his people and not through money or giving out wrappers or salt or any material thing.’’

He commended and thanked the widow of the late first executive governor of Plateau for standing by him all his life and for what he achieved on earth.

Ms Chalya Lar, the daughter of the deceased, in her vote of thanks, expressed gratitude to the people of Langtang, friends, political associates, federal and Plateau state governments for the love and concern displayed to the family.

She said “you people have indeed strengthened us in our moment of grieve by the support granted to us.

“It goes to show and tell us that our father was loved by all and we pray to God to take you back to your respective places safely and reward you handsomely.’’

Those who graced the internment include Gov. Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Plateau Deputy Governor, Mr Ignatius Longjan, Sen. Nasir Mantu, Sen. Joshua Dariye and Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro.

Others are former Plateau Deputy Governor, Mrs Pauline Tallen, Plateau House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Titus Alams,

APC North Central Zone National Deputy Chairman, Mr Jimmy Cito, as well as clergymen from COCIN and other denominations.

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