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Alleged Libel: Mantu Gets 7 Days to Apologise
From Funmi Peter-Omale in Jos, 12.05.2004
Plateau
Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Plateau State council has given Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, seven days to apologise to the body or face court action for libel and defamation of character. This follows a press statement credited to Mantu to the effect that members of the chapel were given N100,000 each and a promise of N50,000 per month by Governor Joshua Dariye. But rising from an extraordinary meeting at the weekend, members of the chapel described as unfortunate that a personality like the deputy senate president could descend so low and get carried away by ill-informed elements that would want to drag the chapel into the war of words and power between them and the state governor. According to a statement signed by Isaac Shobayo and Yusuf Aminu, Chairman and Ag Secretary respectively, 'we cannot take this allegation lying low. We are giving him seven days to retracct the allegation and apologise to journalists or face the consequences of his actions." While noting that the deputy senate president should not drag the chapel into the wrangling between the politicians in the state, members of the chapel affirmed their resolve and determination to uphold the highest form of ethical standard in the discharge of their duties. "Our meeting with the governor was scheduled as part of his consultations with stakeholders in the sttae, not for any reason of financial gratification. For the avoidance of doubt, most of us were not on the governor's trip to the southern zone.
Even when we got wind of what happened, we learnt it had to do with religion." According to them, journalists in the state had been accused severally of fanning the embers of discord and unity. "We felt that as part of our social responsibility as journalists, we should not inflame passions, especially as the sttae is just coming out of an eergency rule period." Mantu is embattled in his home state as his constituents have threatened to recall him for consistently failing to heed to constitutional provisions to frequently brief the people he represents at the National with the restoration of democracy in November 18th, it had been expected that all politicians in the state would close ranks and form a united front to discourage any break down of law and order again in the state. Unfortunately, the opposite has been the case as it is increasingly becoming obvious everyday that the main two factors contesting for the soul of Plateau could conveniently be group under pro-dariye and pro Mantu groups. Though the media have been awashed with s5tories orf reconciliation between the two groups, there does not appear to be an end in sight as malicious and inciting publications are being traded around in the state. Since the May 18th state of emergency declaration by President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mantu has neither been to his local government Mangu, Plateau central nor to his village Gindiri because somehow, he is perceived to be behind the six month travails of the state. To the citizens of the state, his "rising profile" have not benefitted anybody in the state, hence the call for him to come home to explain his role before, during and after the sttae of emergency.
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