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Dariye: A new ‘born again’ on
the Plateau
By Onoja Audu, Jos
To Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye of Plateau State,
November 18, 2004 remains a memorable day in his life, family and his
administration. It is a day he regained the seat of power he almost lost to his
opponents, courtesy of the declaration of state of emergency in Plateau State
and his suspension from power by the Federal Government following the break
down of law and order in the southern axis of the state.
Chief Dariye, a son of a village farmer from Mushere
district of Bokkos Local Government of Plateau State, in his first press
statement after his suspension from power on May 18,2004, did explain to his admirers that he was a man from
humble beginning and added that he had left his fate to God to decide his
future.
While the emergency rule lasted under the Kogi-born
Army General and one time military governor of Plateau State, Major General
Chris Ali (red), Jos Rayfield Government House had nothing to do with democracy
as Plateau politicians especially from the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau fled the state and
treated the Government House Jos
as a no go area.
When the battle for the soul of Rayfeild Government
House was fought and won on November18, 2004, after six- month battle between
pro-Dariye and anti-Dariye forces, the governor who was in ‘exile’
in London returned to the Government House in a grand style.
Dariye, who was handed over instrument of power by
the Secretary to the State
Government, Mr. John Gobak, at
8:30am as General Ali left
without waiting to hand over power to Dariye, started performing his executive
functions by storming General Yakubu Gowon Airport where thousands of his
admirers had gathered to receive him back home after six months of suspension..
Dariye, who was carried shoulder high by his admirers
afteralighting from his limousine Jeep at the airport, left the airport in a
long convoy of cars to pay homage to Chief Solomon Lar and Ambassador Yahaya
Kwande. He had received strong backing from the two elderstatesmen while on
suspension. Back at the Government House around 12 noon, Dariye who was
escorted to his office by the elders of the state amidst drumming and dancing
from dance groups that came from the 17 local governments of the state, later
addressed leaders of his party and supporters where he called for the
cooperation of all segments of the state to build a new Plateau State.
Dariye told his well-wishers that he was determined
more than before to commit himself to the service of the state. “You gave
me your mandate in 1999 and renewed same for me in 2003, let us forgive
ourselves, forget our past mistakes and forge a strong and solid foundation as
the only legacy we can bequeath to our next generation” Dariye said.
The governor in the last one week has begun
consultations with stakeholders in the state in a bid to carry all the people
along in his new administration which he termed a new dawn of a new beginning.
He met elders and leaders of thought before his
consultations with other stakeholders, pleading with the elders in the state to
help him put up a new cabinet that will protect the interest of all segments of
the state. Dariye also asked the elders/leaders to unite for the common interest of the state no matter the
differences that exist among them.
While meeting with labour leaders and women groups
alongside the state youth council, Dariye promised to pay salaries of the state
work force as at when due and assured them that he was going to prune down the
size of his cabinet.
In his meeting with local government chairmen in the
state and traditional rulers, the governor warned them to give security a
topmost priority and should report every unusual movements of persons in their
local government to security agents, saying his new government was not ready to
take excuses for failure of any local government chairman or traditional ruler
in the discharge of their functions. He threatened to depose any traditional
ruler found to be causing problems in his domain and also warned local
government chairmen that they will go on suspension if they fail to perform the
roles expected of them. “If I have gone on suspension for six months,
know that it is possible you too can be affected,” Dariye warned.
He has already made a state wide broadcast to his
people, waiving an olive branch to his opponents. Last Wednesday, he stormed
southern part of the state, visiting Wase, Lang tang North and South councils,
Mikang, Shendam, Quanpan, Yelwa and Kardarko where he appealed to the people to
embrace peace. He promised that his government would rehabilitate them. He also
appealed to them to live happily with one another.
In a spirit of solidarity, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of
Abia State, Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbe; Deputy
Governor of Anambra State, Chief Ugo Chukwu Nwankwo; and Jigawa State Governor
Saminu Turaki had visited Jos Rayfeild Government House in the last seven days
to assure Dariye of their support and prayers for him to build a new Plateau
where every segment of people in the state would be carried along.
Also, leaders of the Middle Belt holding their
national retreat in Jos at the weekend have intervened in the power tussle
between Dariye and Deputy Senate
President Ibrahim Mantu and their loyalties.. Dr Olusola Saraki, Chief Solomon
Lar and other leaders of Middle Belt were at the Government House in a
closed-door meeting with Dariye to find a way forward for the state.
As events kept on changing on the Plateau in the last
seven days since Dariye regained his seat, one song and sermon the governor has
continued to preach is “ I have learnt my lessons, let’s embrace
one another in peace and love to build a new Plateau of our dream”. That
is a new born again Governor Dariye for you.
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