Solomon Lar Dies in America
The First Civilian Governor of Plateau state and pioneer chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Solomon Lar has died in an American hospital early Wednesday after a serious illness.
Plateau state Governor,Jonah Jang announced his death to the media at the Government House in Jishe after receiving the new speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Titus Alams.
Governor Jang described the late politician who died in a hospital in Maryland while receiving treatment, as “not only an illustrious son of Plateau and Nigeria but the 
African continent for his immense contribution during the colonial days as well as his role during the military regime and pioneering the political party that ushered democracy after a prolonged military regime”.
Chief Lar was born in Pongaa, Langtang local government area,Plateau state in April 1933. He was 80 years old at the time of his death.
He attended Sudan United Mission Primary School in Langtang,and Gindiri Teachers College.
He was councillor to the Langtang Natives Authority in 1959 and served as councillor to the Federal Parliament from 1959 to 1966 on the platform of Untied Middle Belt Congress ((UMBC). He was Parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister ABubakar Tafawa Balewa.He was also a Junior Minister in the Federal Ministry of establishments
Lar was a co-founder of the Nigerian People’s Party in the 2nd Republic. He was nominated as the party’s presidential candidate in 1978 and won the governorship election in Plateau State as the first Executive Governor on 1 October 1979.
He was sentenced to 88 years in prison,among other former governors by a military tribunal set up by General Muhammed Buhari, and later released by the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
He was appointed Minister of Police Affairs by the government of General Sani Abacha but resigned because Abacha was not serious about restoring democracy.
He became first National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in 1998, and held the position till 2002.In February 2004 he resigned as chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees and handed over to Chief Tony Anenih.
Lar supported former Vice President Atiku Abubakar after he fell out with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In April 2006,he welcomed the decision of former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida to compete for President in the 2007 elections. He then later supported Atiku’s bid for the Presidency in 2007.