My Father Stood For Nigeria’s Unity — Lar’s Daughter

Mrs. Ben Lar, daughter of the first National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, late Chief Solomon Lar, has said that the peace and unity of Nigeria was of great concern to her father until his death.

Ben, a member of the House of Representative, spoke in Abuja on Friday,  when the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, paid a condolence visit to the Lar`s family in Abuja.

Apart from Tukur, members of the National Working Committee of the party were also on the entourage.

The daughter of the former governor of Plateau State described Lar as a great father and a politician with great repute and ideology.

She said, “Daddy’s concern is that Nigerians live in unity and peace.Though we all grief today, we pray God to raise many more leaders that will have the kind of philosophy he had for Nigeria.

“He stood for the unity of the country. In fact, that was his greatest concern. He was not after riches. He wanted the best for his nation. We lost him when we needed him most.”

Also speaking during the visit, a Special Assistant to the late politician, Mr. Danladi Wuyep, prayed that his death would bring lasting peace to the PDP and Nigeria generally.

He described him as a detribalised politician who always preached peace, unity and godliness, adding that on his sick bed, Lar was worried about the current crisis rocking the PDP and had always prayed that enduring peace and unity was enthroned in the party.

He added that though he was a great politician who was always in the corridors of power; Lar lived in a rented apartment in Abuja until his death.

“Many of you may not know that Lar did not have a property in Abuja. He lived in a rented apartment until his death,” he added.

In his tribute, which he read at the occasion, Tukur said that the late Lar was a great politician and an emancipator of the down trodden.

He wrote on the condolence register at the Lars’ resident that “the nation has lost a great leader and an emancipator of the trodden masses.  He was the light in the firmament of politics.’’

Tukur said that Lar was a close friend and a political associate and one among those who openly challenged the military during the military era.

He further said that the late Lar was among those who formed the PDP, adding that his activities and that of others led the party to victory in 1999.

A former Depute Senate President Senator Ibrahim Mantu, in the condolence register wrote that “death has snatched (from) the political class the greatest leader of our time. He was a committed democrat and exemplary leader.’’

Lar died in a US hospital after a protracted illness at the age of 80 on October 9, 2013.