Pope has not told me to reject Tinubu campaign DG appointment – Lalong

Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, on Wednesday came hard on Christians opposing his acceptance to serve as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organization, saying that Pope Francis has not told him that the decision is wrong.

The Governor met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and fielded questions thereafter.

He said, as a Nigerian Catholic with the highest Papal award of Knight of Saint Gregory, he remains a staunch Catholic despite his new responsibility to sell a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket to voters.

Governor Lalong also denied that he, allegedly, lobbied to become the running mate of the APC presidential candidate, in the 2023 elections, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The governor, who met behind closed doors with the President in the State House, Abuja, told newsmen that the Plateau State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Jos welcome him at the airport after his appointment as the APC presidential campaign DG.

Arguing that he respects his faith as a Christian, Lalong noted, however, that he was elected governor for the entire people irrespective of their faith, adding that since politics was about interest, he is a bonafide member of the APC and will therefore not engage in anti-party activities.

He said he also wonders where all those who claimed to be Christians and are opposed to his appointment as DG against their faith are coming from.

The Governor said that he was at the Presidential Villa to thank the President for approving a number of infrastructural projects and for granting presidential pardon to the former governor of the state, Senator Joshua Dariye as well of a former governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame who were convicted for corruption charges.