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The Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lanlong, earlier today was at the Aso Villa with the suspended Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, David Paradang, to beg President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Plateau state born Paradang was suspended from office on Friday, August 21,  for embarking on illegal recruitment exercise for the Nigerian Immigration Service. Though, a school of thought is of the opinion that the real reason behind his sack has to do with the issue of the ISIS terrorist that caught with Nigerian Visa sometimes last week in Lebanon by the security agents in that country. This report had however been denied by the government, insisting that the sack had to with the poorly organized immigration recruitment exercise. The terrorist in question was also said to have obtained a fake Nigerian Visa, which couldn't have been issued by the Nigerian Immigration Services or the Nigerian Embassy in Lebanon. 

It was learnt that the governor arrived the Presidential Villa with Paradang but did not meet the President with him. While Lanlong made his way to the President’s office to meet Buhari, the suspended NIS boss who wore a blue kaftan waited patiently at the waiting room that is located just opposite the Council Chambers.

Paradang however decided to join the governor as he stepped out of the president’s office but when he noticed that the governor wanted to address journalists, he quickly stepped aside. He also denied photojournalists from taking his photograph alongside the governor. Lanlong later told State House correspondents that Paradang’s issue was one of the matters he discussed with Buhari.

He said, “I came to see the President on some issues affecting my state. I feel comfortable with the response I got and that is why I am smiling. “I told him (the President) what we are doing on insecurity in our state. “Also, we discussed the prevailing issue of the suspension of the Comptroller-General of Immigration who incidentally is from my state. “When you have issues like this in a political period, you must find ways of looking for reasons. If anything affects any part of your body, you must show concern.”

Talking about the outcome of his discussion with the President on Paradang’s suspension, the governor said the case was still under investigation.

“Paradang’s case is still under investigation. A man was suspended and he is from Plateau State, it is my concern because I am the governor of the state. “For every appointment, we must show concern no matter how small. The President is handling it. At the end of the day, whatever is the outcome, I will agree with it, but I also need to get some explanation as the governor of the state,” he said

“We still have cases of cattle rustling and farm destruction going on in the southern part, but in the last one week, we have taken very good measures and security agencies are working very well in terms of arrest,” he added.

Meanwhile, there is currently a verbal feud begun between a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and El-Rufai, over the controversial sale of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL).