Anenih Wants Lar immortalized

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Chief Tony Anenih, has called on the Federal Government to do the best it
can to immortalize the first national chairman of the party, Chief Solomon
Lar, who died in October this year.
Speaking at the Night of Tributes in honour of Lar on Monday, Anenih
described the late politician as an exemplary man who lived for others.
According to him, “Lar demonstrated commitment and discipline in
leadership; he led the way while his loyalists steadfastly followed him.
“In all the moments of tension and crises that manifested in our Party,
Lar did not jump ship; rather he played important roles in resolving them.
He did not waver in the face of challenges. He remained a father figure
to all.”
Anenih stated further: “Lar deserves the best we can do to immortalize
him; his family members deserve the best we can do to assist them.   I
like to take advantage of this opportunity to advise that the Federal
Government should try to recognize prominent Nigerians who have
contributed to the development of this nation in their chosen fields of
endeavour, especially while they are alive.
“The families of such prominent citizens should not be abandoned after
their death.  The family of Lar should therefore not be abandoned.  We owe
his family an unfailing love as a Government and as a Party.”
Anenih, who thanked guests at the event for their presence, said he agreed
with them on the true portrait of Lar that they painted in their tributes.
He said, “You have all painted the true portrait of Lar in your tributes;
and, I concur with your accolades: Lar was a political titan, an iconic
democrat, a consistent pacifist, a solid bridge builder and a unique
emancipator, who committed his life and times to the promotion of peace
and stability in our polity as state governor, minister, party chairman,
member and chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees at different times in the
past.
“He was, indeed, a loyal party man; and, as the first national chairman of
the PDP, he spared no effort to work for the upliftment of our Party in
which he played a frontline role in its formation.  It was under his
chairmanship that our Party produced Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as President
in the 1999 presidential election.
“In the same general elections, our Party, under Lar’s watch, produced 21
state governors; 67 members of the Senate; 215 members of the House of
Representatives; 464 Local Government Chairmen and 4840 Councilors.
“These were, indeed, no mean feats.  They were the building blocks upon
which our Party’s successes in the subsequent elections, so far, were
erected.”
Anenih rounded off his remarks: “I join all of you, who have paid tributes
to Chief Lar, in celebrating his worthy life of solid political legacy;
and, my epitaph for him as he goes home in a blaze of glory is: “Here
goeth Solomon Daushep Lar; when cometh another?”   May the soul of this
great compatriot rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord! Amen.”