By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Plateau State Governor, Solomon Lalong, has said that he did not receive a message from the Head of Catholic Church in the world, Pope Francis, to reject the post of Director General of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), a body set up to work for the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the 2023 presidential election.
Lalong made the clarification on Wednesday, against the backdrop of rumours that the Vatican and the Catholic Pontiff, has joined in piling up pressure to get him abandon the job of the Director General of the Tinubu-Shettima campaign, owing to the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement presented by the APC ticket.
The Governor who briefed State House Correspondents after a closed doors meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at Presidential Villa, Abuja, disclosed that he met with Buhari to thank him for approving the University of Jos as a National Cancer Centre.
Speaking on his appointment as the D-G of APC campaign he argued that he did not lobby to run as Vice Presidential candidate of the party, adding that he did not also lobby for the new post given to him.
Lalong said being an ardent member of the Catholic faith, the Pope could not be angry with his decision to accept the job, after a group under the aegis of Concerned Christians on the Plateau (CCP) called on him to reject the offer, threatening Plateau Christians wouldnot support him in “the suspicious engagement or assignment.”
The Governor who maintained he respected his faith as a Christian, noted that he was elected Governor for people of all faiths and non-believers, adding since politics was about interest, he remained a member of the APC and would not engage in anti-party activities.
He said when he returned to Jos upon his appointment as the DG recently, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), welcomed him, adding that he was not sure where those who claimed to be Christians were opposing his appointment as against their faith were coming from.
