Gov Lalong, Parradang At Aso Rock to Beg Buhari

Plateau State governor Simon Lalong yesterday took his kinsman and suspended comptroller-general of the Nigerian Immigration Service, David Parradang, to Aso Villa to plead with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Parradang, a native of Plateau State, was last Friday suspended from office indefinitely over allegations of illegal recruitment exercise and the porous state of the Immigration Service.

Governor Lalong, who came to the presidential villa alongside Parradang, proceeded straight to the president's office while the suspended NIS stayed behind.


Dressed in a blue kaftan, Parradang who waited at a reception room directly opposite the Council Chambers, tried as much as possible to keep his presence unnoticed.

As soon Governor Lalong stepped out of President Buhari's office, Parradang came out the waiting room and joined him, but retreated immediately he noticed that the governor was ready to grant audience to journalists.


Lalong, however, admitted that he discussed Parradang's suspension with the president.

He said, "I came to see the president on some issues affecting my state. I feel comfortable with the response I got and that is why I am smiling.


"I told him (Buhari) what we are doing on insecurity in our state. Also, we discussed the prevailing issue of the suspension of the comptroller-general of Immigration who incidentally is from my state. When you have issues like this in a political period, you must find ways of looking for reasons. If anything affects any part of your body, you must show concern."

Asked about the outcome of the discussion with the president on Parradang's suspension, Lalong said that the case was still under investigation and that they were ready to abide by whatever decision the president takes afterwards.


"Parradang's case is still under investigation. A man was suspended and he is from Plateau State; it is my concern because I am the governor of the state. For every appointment, we must show concern, no matter how small.

"The president is handling it. At the end of the day, whatever is the outcome, I will agree with it, but I also need to get some explanations as the governor of the state."

On the current situation of Plateau State in terms of security, Lalong acknowledged that there were still pockets of crisis in Jos between the Fulani and the Berom, but he noted that even as the 13-man committee he set up on the matter was still sitting, crisis erupted again in some parts of the area.

He said, "We still have cases of cattle rustling and farm destruction going on in the southern part, but in the last one week, we have taken very good measures, and security agencies are working very well in terms of arrests."