By Tongnaan Dada Bawa, Jos
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has describe the conduct of last Saturday Local Government elections held throughout the State as peaceful and great achievement in the consolidation of peace in the state.
Governor Lalong disclosed this on Tuesday at the Government house Rayfield, Jos, when he received a delegation from the British High Commission Abuja on Governance and Stability led by Mrs Sophie Stevens said the elections are the most peaceful in the State in recent times going by the fact that most Local Government elections in the past have resulted to crises.
In a statement signed by Dr. Makut Macham, his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Lalong said what transpired is a result of consistent work by the Peace Building Agency and other stakeholders which have laid the foundation for dialogue, engagement, early warning, and proactive crises management.
According to him, the State will need more support from the British Government in consolidating the gains so far as well as relocating displaced persons to their ancestral lands in order to address some of the issues that have remained outstanding in the peace and security of the State.
He also appreciated the British for their investments in Plateau through education, health, Missions and business which have continued to grow and yield results.
He assured them that the Government will work closely with the team on areas that are very critical to the peace and security of the State and the economic progress of the Plateau.
High powered delegation are here to felicitate and to engage the state to seek relationship on priorities.
Earlier, leader of the delegation Mrs. Sophie appreciated the Governor for receiving them and said the relationship of Plateau State with UK is a long and fruitful one going by the historical antecedents of Plateau as a strategic State in the North Central.
She said they have recognised the role of the Governor as a peace builder both as Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and the Nigeria Governors Forum at large.
She sympathised with the State over the recent attacks describing it as a setback which the Government has been able to address swiftly leading to the restoration of normalcy that led to the conduct of the elections.