Senator Ignatius Longjan, representing Plateau South in the National Assembly, and a former deputy governor of Plateau State is dead.
According to his former Press Secretary Mr Wulimen Goyit,
the Senator died in the early hours of Monday at the Turkish Hospital in Abuja
after a brief illness.
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Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong, has expressed
shock over the death of Senator Ignatius Longjan who died after a protracted
illness.
Governor Lalong in a statement signed by his Director of
Media and Public Affairs, Dr Simon Makut Machan, described as devastating the
death of the Senator who represented Plateau South Senatorial District at the
National Assembly.
Lalong said the death of the elder statesman is a huge loss
to not only his family, the people of Plateau South Senatorial District, but
the entire state because of his immense contributions to the development of the
state and the nation.
He said “we have lost a man of honour and candour who in all his affairs always put the interests of Plateau State first.
“His humility, humanity and wealth of wisdom were always at
display when he weighed on any issue that concerns people. We will surely miss
him”.
The Governor also recalled how the former Deputy Governor
served Plateau State steadfastly and loyally from 2007 to 2015, and also played
a significant role in ensuring political stability in the State all through the
period of various security challenges that the State passed through.
He equally recognised the enormous contributions of the
deceased on the floor of the Senate where he represented his people with so
much passion and projected the interests of Plateau State and the nation in all
his contributions.
Governor Lalong while sympathizing with his immediate
family, urged the people of Plateau State to accept the sad event as the will
of God and pray for the repose of his soul.
A retired career diplomat, the late Senator Longjan was a
chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Party in Plateau State and Deputy
Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism. He was also former Chief of
Staff to the former Governor of Plateau State Jonah Jang.
In his reaction the former
Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang described Longjan’s death as
shocking considering his contributions to the development of plateau state and
Nigeria.
Jang who spoke through his Media Consultant, Clinton Garuba,
said he has not just lost a political soul mate but a friend at a time when his
wealth of experience and contributions are most needed by the state and its
people.
He condoled with the family, government and people of the state over the loss and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest with the Lord.