Plateau politicians
strategise as Obasanjo
begins two-day visit today
Onoja Audu,
Special
Correspondent, Jos
Political tension is mounting in Plateau
State as political divergent groups prepare to go for each other’s
jugular during President Obasanjo’s two-day visit to the state scheduled
to begin today.
Already, as at Monday evening the
pro-Dariye camp led by Ambassador Yahaya Kwande and anti-Dariye camp led by the
former Governor of the state, Sir Fidelis Tapgun and Mrs. Paulen Tallen, former
Minister of State for Science and Technology were meeting at their various hide
outs in Jos to perfect their plans to out-do each other politically during the
President’s visit.
While the anti-Dariye forces were planning to stage peaceful
demonstrations in Yelwa, Wase, Kadarko the war-torn communities in Southern
Plateau to present to Obasanjo that Plateau people wanted a change in the
political leadership in the state, the pro-Dariye group whose meetings were
held at a former Ambassador to Switzerland’s home, Yahaya Kwande, were
perfecting plans to counter anti-Dariye forces by way of carrying placards to
call on the president to return Dariye back to office.
Meanwhile, as the tension and possible
collision of the political forces in the State became imminent, during
Obasanjo’s visit, the State Administrator, Gen. Chris Alli, on Monday
evening made a state-wide broadcast, urging the people of the state to keep
peace during Obasanjo’s visit. He said the president held the people of
Plateau State in high esteem.
Alli told the people that it was imperative
that they come out with one voice to accord President Obasanjo a tumultuous
welcome, saying this was the only way they could show their gratitude for
“the concern Mr. President has ably demonstrated for the people of the
state.”
The sole administrator said it was time for
Plateau people to show the world that they could make a difference by showing
their capacity to triumph in hard times.“Let us demonstrate our ability to turn a new leaf in our resolve
to create a new relationship based on the strength to forgive and embrace one
another,” he said.
He warned the people to realise that the
options were clear that they could either achieve all they wanted peacefully
through their actions or utterances or hit up the national apprehension
occasioned by the catastrophic events of the past three years.
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