National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has described the late Chief Solomon Lar as one of Nigeria's greatest nationalists, who laid the foundation of the party.
In a condolence letter to the wife of the late statesman, made available to The Nation, Tukur said: "It is with shock that I received the shattering news of the passage of one of Nigeria's greatest nationalists, Chief, Dr Solomon Lar."
He described Lar as "a close friend and an associate, to me politically for a long time now," adding, "he was open minded, fearless, dogged and a resolute fighter for the right of the oppressed and the less privileged."
According to Tukur, Lar "was one of those who challenged certain policies of the military regime at that time despite the dangers to their lives and property which such divergent views posed.
" Lar stood to be counted among other nationalists and brave statesmen who refused to keep quiet while the nation was getting close the precipice.
It was his group which midwived the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Lar was one of the founding fathers of PDP and our pioneer Chairman.
"He also led the PDP to electoral victories in 1999. In a sense, Lar laid the foundation for the strong resilient and vibrant political party which the PDP is today."
