JOS: THE forum of PDP chairmen of Local Governments in Plateau State has threatened to sanction members of the party supporting the extension of emergency rule in the state describing such members as renegades.
The threat came just as a group known as Plateau Youth Forum on Unity and Democratic Movement said the issue of insecurity which led to the declaration of the emergency and the alleged financial misdeeds of the suspended Governor, Chief Joshua Dariye were separate issues which should not be used as an excuse to extend the emergency. In a communique at the end of a meeting last weekend, the chairmen of PDP local government chapters said it was regrettable that some party members were voicing support for an extension when it was clear that the party was worst hit by the imposition of state of emergency. The communique signed by chairman of the forum, Mr.Akaso Adudu asks why members of a party which controlled the executive and legislative arms of government suspended as a result of the emergency, would be working for an extension vowing that such people would be brought to book for working against the party’s interest.
It noted the allegations of financial transactions of the governor but said details of such should be forwarded to the House of Assembly which is the one empowered by the constitution to investigate such and other allegations against the governor and take appropriate actions.
It therefore appealed to President Olusegun Obasanjo to handle the Plateau matter in accordance with the constitution which he has always sworn to uphold and defend.The forum thanked elder statesmen like, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; former civilian governor of the state, Chief Solomon Lar; Lt. Gen Theophilus Danjuma; PDP Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbe and a host of others for taking a principled stand on the emergency rule in Plateau State.
Adudu called on the President to resolve the impasse in Plateau State constitutionally since any aberration would portend some dangers for the country’s burgeoning democracy.In a related development, spokesman of the Plateau Youth Forum on Unity and Democratic Movement, Mr. Solomon Wuyep said the group is watching with dismay the "gimmicks of some enemies of democracy operating under various names portraying themselves as democrats but whose comments have the tendency of causing confusion in the state." The group insisted that contrary to the picture being painted by those who want to get the emergency rule extended on the ground that some of the displaced persons were yet to return, relative normalcy had returned."It is very surprising that some of these individuals and groups have been giving flimsy excuses to justify their calls for the extension of the emergency rule. One of these is that total peace has not been restored. But peace and reconciliation to our understanding is a gradual process which can be achieved over a period of time", it argued.
