Solomon Dalung : Thank You Mr President - Maiwada Dammallam

Barr Solomon Dalung, Ministerial nominee

Regardless of what may happen in the Senate during the upcoming clearing of ministerial nominees, one thing that's now clear is the existing affinity, brotherhood and trust between President Buhari and Barr. Dalung. With the excellent "round peg in round hole" nomination of Dalung into his cabinet, it's obvious the President is walking his talk and matching his words with action. He said only those with no skeleton in their cupboards, those spotlessly clean who could answer their names in the arena of integrity should aspire to join his cabinet. This is for the simple reason that, to build a new Nigeria one need a whole new moral disposition, a new "practice what you preach" idea to be shepherded by a new set of morally sound and physically energetic leaders. The President's plan to inject new ideas into the system is in line with the truism that you only get different result with a change of style and attitude. For this, a new set of leaders including Dalung are about to be unleashed on the Nigerian system. 

Yesterday I received a call from Dalung, a man I consider the most qualified to be addressed as "HONOURABLE" for the privilege of occupying a public office. Barr. Solomon Dalung aka Garkuwan Talaka, Igbarman Otarok (thunder of Tarok), addressed fondly as "the man with the green roof" (for introducing it to Plateau State in his days as LG Chairman. 

His voice still as thunderous as it's caring and inspiring, not that I expect anything less. A thunder will forever remain a thunder. His first words: "Maiwada, na kirakane don in baka sako a wajen y'an uwana mutanen Katsina. Ance mu y'an Katsina kunyane muna dashi ba dai tsoroba. To kace masu kunya daman yana tafiya tare da mutunci da karimci ne kuma duk sun gwada suna da su. Kuma wannan d'an nasu da suka Maigirma President Buhari aro don ya tayashi daukan am anan da suka aza mashi, to in Allah Ya yarda bazai basu kunyaba". He went ahead to call names too numerous to mention and ask for me to deliver his message of gratitude for the love and support they showed him each step in his struggle for a better Nigeria. I was amazed at the way he recalled tiny issues about individuals that one could expect to escape the memory of a busy "offline/online" activist and an "international politician" of repute. 

In his usual penchant for proverbs, he remarked that "Yanzu ne shugabanni da suka bata mana lokaci, suka sace mana kudi zasu san bakin rijiya ba wurin wasan yaro bane don mulki ba abin wasa bane. Zamuyi jagoranci wanda kowa zai gani kuma Ya yarda cewa munayi don talaka ne ba don mu gyara aljihunmu ba". Needless to say, all his words were as convincing as the stinging rays of a hot summer sun. My trust and and conviction in the reality of the new Nigeria I'm experiencing was enhanced. That's Hon. Minister, Barr. Dalung for you. His simple mien even at this time when his phone is permanently ringing from well wishers and fortune hunters exposed me to the reason why he's hit any day  in any forum be it on the print, social or electronic media. He's one name that I'm yet to hear somebody disagree with on President Buhari's list. 

Like I said before, a man could easily be judged by the kind of company he keeps. For long, relationship between Barr. Dalung and President Buhari have been close and strong because they have a common ideology that bonded them together, a better Nigeria. Their brotherhood is such that on each return of the birthday of the human right activist, the first call he will receive was always from President Buhari and the message was always that of encouragement and support to remain on the path of helping the weak and the down trodden. 

Nobody could meet Barr. Dalung in close proximity and resist the aura of honesty and patriotism he permanently exudes. He is one man that could easily be said to be always panting, always running while being chased by easy wealth. One day in the gone days of "gratification and inducement" of the PDP, I called him to refill my wisdom tank, he asked I excuse him for few minutes as he had some "important guests". I thought it was the usual "important guests" he deal with round the clock every time he's at home but, I was wrong. This time the guest were from the villa with a gift from the "chop-I-chop" President. When he was done with them he called. From his voice, I knew he was angry because it's now a real " thunder". "Maiwada, what do these people take people for"? He went on to narrate that they just brought an Abuja land allocation for him. Which, of course he rejected. 

His anger was more to the absurdity that some of the entourage were so convinced he will collect and appreciate the Greek gift and probably offer them "tukuici". They were so ingenious and used to this method of subduing anybody considered a threat to the established order of corruption that they came along with a buyer complete with the evaluation of the land which, according to the improvised buyer will fetch some hundreds of millions. They were shocked and embarrassed when he politely told them that his lifestyle, they could see from his modest house does not require hundreds of millions to maintain. If anything such huge amount will only complicate his easy, comfortable and decent lifestyle. 

They left for their next destination as the "gift" was for 3 people in Plateau as the emissaries told him in their effort to convince him to accept their gift.  What transpired he didn't know but he later told me that the rest also did not collect for fear he may blow the whistle on them and strip them naked of their political investment. That's BARRISTER SOLOMON DALUNG for you. Now, tell me President Buhari did not make a good choice.  

Barr. Dalung had created a name for himself that without a million to his name, Kings bow to him. He is the youngest member of Northern Elders Forum having washed his hands in the bowl of honour early enough for the elders to see a mate in him. His commitment to the welfare of the downtrodden is such that he will drive his aged car from Jos to Katsina to honour the invitation of an NGO "Muryar Talaka" from there proceed to Gombe on the invitation of the Governor for him to see projects executed by the Government and certify the Governor "fit for human consumption". Such is the quality of Dalung that his approval could swiftly change negative perceptions and his disapproval could terminate a political empire running on bogus credentials. Plateau's lost is now Nigeria's gain. 

I'm sure Plateau State will see in multi color what it was denied in the gubernatorial ambition of Solomon Dalung. However, now that he's in the big league and no longer a push over, my focus is on 2019 and my prayer is, may Plateau State be blessed with a "GOVERNOR SOLOMON DALUNG" for the State to explore its potentials to the fullest and for peace to be returned permanently to the State. Being a reliable bridge between the Christians and Muslims of the State on one hand and the haves and haves not on the other, there couldn't be a better choice for the project of restoring the lost peaceful glory of Plateau State than this man of peace. 

Congratulations once again sir, and may you be guided in the task ahead.