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| Tension on the Plateau: Officials Off to Abuja |
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| Written by Prince Charles Dickson | |
| Monday, 16 January 2006 | |
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Following the impeachment of Gov. Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State, there is some palpable tension in Plateau State. Earlier, Elendureports.com had reported that the impeachment fever may be turning to the Plateau. Last week the Plateau State House of Assembly had invited the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, to appear before it on Wednesday, January 18th, to explain what they described as ‘grey areas’ in the allegations against Gov. Joshua Dariye. From all indications, the EFCC Chairman may not honor the invitation of the Plateau State House of Assembly. The State Commissioner for Information had indignantly announced that the State Government would not be pushed around. He was reacting to an interview granted by Ribadu where he said, “Dariye would be messed.” Earlier today a meeting was held by the Plateau State Government Executive Council. From all indications, the hand of Abuja influenced that meeting. After the State Executive meeting, the Commissioner for Information told Elendureports.com that about ten officials of the Plateau State Government would be leaving for Abuja immediately. According to the Information Commissioner, “To show that we have nothing to hide, all those invited by the EFCC in connection with allegations of money laundering against Gov. Dariye are to depart for Abuja immediately.” Among those traveling to Abuja to visit with the EFCC are Noel Dongjul, Commissioner of Works; Emmanuel Agati, Commissioner of Finance; Aminu Zang, Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Nuhu Madaki, Accountant-General; Shem Damisa, former Accountant-General; Alexander Mwlwus, Chief of Staff to the Governor; and, General Manager, Jos Metropolitan Development Board, Fantur, who was detained by the EFCC over the Christmas period. Among those not making the journey to Abuja, but who had been invited by the House of Assembly, include, Haruna and Daniel Dariye, brothers of Gov. Dariye, and Christabel Bentu, a close friend of the Governor, who has also been fingered as his front. The State Commissioner of Information would not give any reasons why these people are not making the journey to Abuja but would rather say, “Some of those not mentioned will be going to Abuja.” Almost everybody who is on the list of those going to Abuja is a member of Gov. Joshua Dariye’s kitchen cabinet. Some analysts posit that governance may come to a halt in Plateau State when these people make their journey to Abuja. Some of the people on that list are known to have been used as fronts by the Governor for questionable deals. In a related development, it seems that the peace move, brokered by President Olusegun Obasanjo between Gov. Joshua Dariye and Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, may be falling apart. As part of the deal, Mantu’s recall is supposed to have been halted while the EFCC is expected to stop its assault on Gov. Dariye and allow him to serve out his term in peace. But the President was said to have vowed that over his ‘dead body’ would Dariye escape the long arms of the law. Generally, people in Plateau State believe that the main reason the State Governor has yet to suffer the same fate as the impeached Bayelsa State Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha, is because of religious sensitivities. Given religious tensions in the State, the Presidency is thought to be in a quandary as to how to proceed against Dariye without inflaming the situation. Dariye is a Christian, while Senator Mantu is a Moslem; they are both from the same Senatorial zone. Any actions against Dariye will be viewed as a benefit to the Deputy Senate President. Elendureports.com also confronted the Plateau State Commissioner for Information with some information in our possession. Our investigations show that Gov. Joshua Dariye has continued to amass wealth, even after the lifting of the State of Emergency. We asked the Information Commissioner to confirm or deny the list of properties and new bank accounts acquired by the Governor after the State of Emergency was lifted. The Commissioner promised to get back with us. However, as at the time of going to press, he was yet to respond to us. It is safe to say that we have not seen the last act in the drama engulfing the Plateau. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 16 January 2006 ) |
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