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By Ahmed Idris
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state has emerged as chairman of Northern States Governors Forum to replace outgoing Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state.
Lalong, who was elected at the Forum’s meeting at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, on Friday promised not to betray the trust reposed on him by his colleagues.
He pledged to work hard to improve on the situation of the region and its people.
The outgoing Chairman, while reading the communique issued at the meeting, said they have set up a committee under Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina state, which would meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on his return from Saudi Arabia, on the security situation of the region.
The forum also set up a committee to revive its commercial concern, New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) under the leadership of Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa state with Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state as chairman and Governor-elect of Nasarawa state, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, Engr. Ibrahim Ali and Bello Maccido as members.
The Forum also appointed Malam Tanimu Yakubu as Chairman of NNDC, while the management committee is to continue in acting capacity.
While the Capital Property, a subsidiary of NNDC, was appointed to sell New Nigerian Newspapers assets to settle liabilities of the company.
“I’m indebted to Northern States Governors Forum for the honour of electing me as the new chairman. I’m hopeful that with the caliber of people here, experienced colleagues and those coming in, the sky would be our limit. I thank them for the trust they have in me and I hope not to betray the trust,” Lalong said in reaction to his emergence as chairman of the forum.
