Plateau Assembly Now Backs Emergency Rule
Says it has restored peace
From Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja
The 24 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly currently on suspension yesterday paid a courtesy visit on the Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Nasir Mantu, and acknowledged that, "within the period of emergency rule, peace is being restored to our state."
"We are cooperating with the State Administrator, Maj. Gen. Chris Alli, in that respect and we appreciate National Assembly efforts in the process so far. We have also come to assure you of our co-operation," the Speaker, Hon. Simeon Lanlong, said.
Responding, Mantu expres-sed disappointment with the members of the State Assembly over their reaction to the imposition of state of emergency by President Olusegun Obasanjo. He recalled that, "when you came because of the state of emergency, I said we should first meet the President.
"We all went there and Obasanjo catalogued the offen-ces of (suspended Governor Joshua) Dariye before all of you. Obasanjo also said that he can't agree with us not to declare a state of emergency.
"But at the end, you now granted a press conference saying I facilitated the state of emergency. I've read so many articles in the papers castigating me. I'm keeping quiet not because I don't know what to say but I want peace.
"I don't lack the words against those blackmail but two wrongs would not make a right. If I'm responsible for the state of emergency and it has now brought peace, then I'm happy.
"If within five weeks, we have been able to achieve peace, then it means that all those offences which Obasanjo catalogued are genuine because we have been able to achieve peace without firing gunshots and if a soldier can do this, then politicians ought to have performed better," Mantu said.
According to him, "we have learnt a lesson from our failure both the legislature and the executive and you must be ready to assist the executive in achieving peace always because I don't gain anything from you being on suspension but I would not fold my arms and watch innocent people being killed.
"The primary objective of governance is to ensure security of lives and property and you fail to do this you are gradually reneging on your oaths of office. I'm not interested in temporary peace but a lasting peace and to achieve this we must purge ourselves and reconcile from the hearts.
"The suspension of Dariye is an act of God not an act of Obasanjo or Mantu. When people were suffering and being killed, they prayed to God and their prayers were answered. So, people should stop the campaign of calumny against me because neither myself nor Obasanjo did it but God.
"Therefore, go back to your people and ensure a lasting peace and true reconciliation from the heart. I share the pain of what has happened and I'm happy that we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. I can also see hope in the Plateau," Mantu said. He later met with the state legislators at a closed session.
A suit filed by members of the Plateau State House of Assembly challenging the proclamation of emergency rule in the state is still pending at the Supreme Court.
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