There are growing concerns regarding the status of Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, who has not presented himself to be sworn in as the senator representing Plateau South after receiving his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) more than a month ago.
The concerns have been mostly because others whose election petition for senate were upheld or validated have been sworn in.
However, Lalong has said he is confused in choosing between moving to the Senate or retaining his position in President Bola Tinubu’s government.
In a video posted on an online television station, the immediate past Plateau State governor was seen admitting his chaotic state of mind while addressing a crowd of supporters.
“Each time I am with him (a comrade), he will remind me that, please don’t go to Senate. Please, remain with us at the Ministry of Labour. Maybe that is not what my constituency will say because as I am now, I am a very confused man, about whether to go to the left or go to the right but pray for me to take the best decision.
“If I remain with you, I will remain as a comrade but if I go there, things will change. I told Comrade Oshiomhole, I said they mentioned you to go and speak on behalf of the Labour. I said no, Comrade Aremu should speak. They said ‘Why?’
“I said as a Senator, I think you have partly committed class suicide. You may be shifting a little bit, but until we see you after four years, we will not confirm that you are intact. So, it is only that time that we will know whether you have committed class suicide, or you are still within as a comrade,” Lalong added.
A source from the PDP national secretariat told THISDAY that Lalong must either relinquish his office as minister and make up his mind on whether he will go to the senate or not.
“He can’t hold on the senate seat as well be being a minister. The people of Plateau south must have a voice in the senate,” the source said.
National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, told THISDAY that the party was not bothered as Lalong could not hold on to the two offices.
“He must resign as a minister. He cannot hold the two offices at the same time. We wait till he is sworn in or decides to stay as a minister, certainly, not the two offices,” he said.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
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