Plateau gov: My late commissioner liked jogging

Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau state, has revealed that Samuel Galadima, the commissioner, who died while jogging on Wednesday, enjoyed the exercise.

Speaking when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased on Thursday, Lalong said Galadima was instrumental to re-introducing the bi-monthly exercise for executive council members.

He said the exercise was first introduced at the onset of his administration, but was later stopped.

“We started the exercise when we came in, and usually undertook it every first and third Wednesday of every month, but later stopped,” he said.

“Galadima was not happy when we stopped it and kept reminding me to re-introduce it.

“He kept reminding us, at executive council meetings, that such exercises will keep the executive council members physically fit and mentally alert.

“We eventually agreed with him and re-introduced the exercise, but little did we know that the good intention will lead to his death.”

He said Galadima was his closest confidante, saying that his exit was a personal loss to him.

“I am the chief mourner; we were very close and spent lots of time together either playing golf or just discussing the best way to move Plateau forward,” he said.

He described Galadima’s exit as “very devastating”, but said the answer to what happened could only be found in the scriptures.

Lalong assured members of the family that government would take care of those left behind, and prayed God to comfort the immediate family and Plateau state.

Born May 2, 1958, Galadima, who hailed from the Gwash community in Jos east local government area of Plateau, attended LEA Primary School Tilden Fulani, near Jos, after which he went to Kings College, Lagos from 1971 to 1975.

He later attended the North-East College of Arts and Science, Maiduguri for his ‘A’ levels, after which he went to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained bachelors and master’s degrees in architecture.

The deceased later worked as a resident architect at University of Calabar, before returning to Jos where he became a consultant Architect for Zamani Consultants, from 1983 to 1985.

In 1985, he was recruited by the Bauchi state government and posted to the ministry of works and transport, where worked as a principal architect.

In 1989, he was appointed assistant chief architect at the National Commission of Museums and Monuments, but later moved to a building firm, Golden Construction Company, as its director, in 1995.

He was appointed Plateau commissioner of works, housing and transport in 1997, and served in that capacity till 1999, when he returned to his private business.

In 2007, he contested the Plateau governorship seat on the platform of the DPP, but lost to Jonah Jang.

Galadima returned to his former turf, the ministry of housing and urban development, as commissioner, in 2015, and was there till he died on Wednesday