ABUJA — All 24 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly yesterday literally ate their words, proclaiming that their suspension from office for the enforcement of emergency rule has led to the restoration of peace in the State.
The state legislators made the confession during a courtesy call on the deputy president of the Senate, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu who in response affirmed that the suspension of Governor Joshua Dariye from office was God’s response to the prayers of the state’s citizens.
The suspended Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly, Hon. Simon Lalong, who led the state legislators to the National Assembly office of the deputy Senate President, while appraising the development in the State had said: “These are the 24 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly currently on suspension (and) we are here to inform you that within the period of emergency rule peace is being restored.”
Noting the cooperation the suspended legislators were giving the Sole Administrator of the state, Maj-Gen. Chris Alli (rtd.), Hon. Lalong lauded the National Assembly for its role in the proclamation as he promised Senator Mantu their cooperation.
The declaration by the Plateau Speaker came against the background of recent agitations by the lawmakers against Senator Mantu who they accused of instigating the proclamation of emergency rule in the state last May.
The Speaker had at a recent press conference called for the suspension of federal lawmakers from the state, including Senator Mantu from the National Assembly on the premise that both federal and state legislators were elected from the same constituencies covered by emergency rule. Responding to the speaker yesterday, Senator Mantu while welcoming the return of peace to the state expressed his disappointment with the lawmakers for their public rebuke of his person.
“Today, I have read so many articles in papers castigating me (and) I have kept quiet, not because I don’t know what to say, but because I want peace. If I am responsible for state of emergency and it has now brought peace, then I am happy,” Senator Mantu said.
“If within five weeks we have been able to achieve peace, then it means that all those offences President Obasanjo catalogued are genuine. We have been able to achieve peace without firing gunshots,” he further asserted.
Noting that the suspension of the state governor and legislators was divine, he said: “The removal of Dariye is an act of God, not Obasanjo, not Mantu. When people are suffering and are being killed, they prayed to God and God answered.”
“So people should stop campaign of blackmail against me because neither myself nor Obasanjo did it, but God.”
