‘The pillar of my life is gone’ - Beni Lar

Honourable Beni Lar has described the death of her father, Chief Solomon Lar, as a great loss.

Beni, a daughter of the pioneer chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja on Wednesday said  that “the pillar of my life is gone”.

Beni, who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Human Rights, said that she shared a lot of memorable moments with the late Lar, who was the first executive governor of Plateau.

“My father taught me that there is no difference between a male and a female (child). He taught me to be hard-working; so, I trained as a lawyer just like him.

“He wanted me to succeed him in his career; he taught me the value of love for people, not only for those related to us by blood, but for everyone.

“My father said that I should strive to leave indelible footprints on the sand of time and that I should aim for the highest position in life,” she added.

The late Chief Solomon Lar, who was born in Pagna, Langtan Local Government Area of Plateau, in April 1933, was a nationalist politician who has held various offices at the national level for over 50 years. He was a member of the first national parliament when Nigeria gained independence in 1960.

Lar, who was elected governor of Plateau on the platform of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) during the Second Republic, was in office from October 1979 until the Dec. 31, 1983 military coup which brought Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to power.

During the Third Republic, Lar was a chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was later appointed Minister of Police Affairs by the government of Gen. Sani Abacha but he resigned from the post due to his reservations about the sincerity of the Abacha-administration in plans to restore democratic rule.

Lar became the first National Chairman of the PDP in 1998 and held the position until 2002 when he handed over to Chief Barnabas Gemade.

In February 2004, he resigned as the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, handing over to Chief Tony Anenih.

Lar, 80, died in a U.S. hospital on Oct. 9, after a protracted illness.

He is survived by his wife, Prof. Mary Lar, and children.

Glowing tributes have been pouring in for the late politician, as eminent personalities, including politicians, business moguls and diplomats visited his residence at No. 13 Bobo Street in Maitama District in Abuja.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochepe, on Monday night conveyed the intention of President Goodluck Jonathan to come and condole with the widow, Prof. Mary Lar, whenever she returned from the U.S. where she had been staying since her husband’s hospitalisation. (NAN)