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My London Arrest Arranged Here –Dariye
•Alli says Plateau now more peaceful From Funmi Peter-Omale in Jos, Ndubuisi Francis in Lagos and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja, 11.18.2004
Plateau state governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, who resumed duties yesterday after a six-month suspension broke his silence on money laundering allegations and said his arrest in London was arranged in Nigeria. He also stated that before the incident, he had been warned not to travel or else he would be arrested at his destination point. Dariye, while addressing his supporters and well wishers who had come to the Government House Jos, to welcome him back to office said despite all the harassment, intimidation and disgrace he was subjected to, he decided to resign his fate to God. He, however, refused to either disclose the person(s) who warned him not to travel or those behind his travails. "My arrest in London was arranged from here and I was warned that if I travel, I would be arrested. But I want to thank God for being on our side, if not Dariye would have been history by now. Since the declaration of the state of emergency, we had resigned our fate to God," he said. According to him, he decided to co-operate with the interim administrator, Maj. Gen. Chris Alli (rtd) because Plateau state is "far bigger than everybody or any interest." He commended Alli for all he was able to achieve in restoring peace and unity among the people, noting that he would also need co-operation from the people of the state to consolidate on the achievements of the administrator. Dariye said that all the people that may have been offended one way or the other in the past by his actions must now rally round, forgive one another and work together. "The most important thing every Plateau man must say today is "I am sorry." All of us must forgive ourselves unconditionally. Government comes and government goes but we should not destroy Plateau state because it is our baby. The state is greater than all of us," he added. He however lamented that the state has become a haven of rumour and hatred mongers but appealed to all citizens of the state irrespective of tribal, religious or political affiliations to allow the present nascent peace turn to a permanent feature of the state. The immediate chairman of the National Insurance Company of Nigeria (NICON), Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, in his remarks at the occasion stated that God used Dariye to test the people of the state. "Until now, I didn't know that the people of the state could be so unitted with one voice. All the elders, religious groups, civil society groups and all stakeholders in the state were all praying for Dariye and the House (of Assembly) to be restored," Kwande stated. While noting that the state was not yet out of the woods, he said that "we have to re-establish and stabilize ourselves to move forward." He noted that Dariye has learnt in a hard way even as a young man. The former ambassador to Switzerland advised the governor not to witch-hunt or try to listen to speculations on who was responsible for his travails or those that were supporting or against him while he was on suspension. "Leave vengeance to God. Treat everyone like they were all behind him while you were on trial. Leave vengeance to God," Kwande added. Earlier, at a brief handing over ceremony, Dariye had solicited the co-operation, assistance and understanding of civil servants and the people of the state in discharging his duties after his six-month suspension. Secretary to the State Government, John Gobak, performed the handing over ceremony. The handing over process which was very brief was witnessed by key government officials. Though it was expected that Gen. Alli should have been around to hand-over to the governor, the former administrator on Wednesday evening handed over to the SSG and departed the state on an Airforce plane early yesterday morning. Later, Dariye with all paraphernalia of office drove in a long convoy to the Yakubu Gowon airport to meet with party supporters and well wishers who had trooped to the airport to welcome him thinking that he was flying in. He was received by a tumultuous and jubilating crowd from all local government areas of the state. Important dignitaries sighted at the airport include Ambassador Kwande, Alhaji Yakubu Husseini, Ngo Hannatu Chollom, Senator D. B. Zang, commissioners, State executive committee members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), local government chairmen and many others. From the airport, he proceeded straight to the residence of Chief Solomon Lar for his blessings and to pay homage. Here, "father and son" went into a closed door meeting. Lar played a very important role in the reinstatement of Dariye. In an interview, Lar described the restoration of Dariye, the House of Assembly and other democratic structures as a victory for democracy and victory for the citizens of the state. He, however, advised Dariye to ensure he carries everyone along in the new dispensation. He said this will go a long way to consolidate, maintain and sustain existing peace and harmony. Meanwhile in Lagos, General Alli, said the state has now returned to the path of peace and prescribed dialogue as the best option to resolve crisis. Alli who spoke to airport correspondents during a brief stop over at the Presidential Lounge of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos said his role in administering the hitherto troubled state was very challenging. This, he said, was so because it amounted to translating people's fears into comfort. He added that it was an experiment that had demonstrated the capacity of Nigerians for accommodation. "It's better to dialogue than to fight. It's better to talk and discuss than to fight. Well, it was very challenging because it's like translating people's fears into their comfort and that is what the people of Plateau State have done for themselves and I am very proud to be part of that experience. "It has demonstrated Nigerians' capacity for conducting their affairs...It is an experiment that has demonstrated the capacity for accommodation and I am proud to be part of it", he said. Asked what magic wand he applied in restoring normalcy to the troubled state, the former sole administrator said the issue of magic wand did not arise. "I don't think there was any magic wand. It was a case of transforming fears into challenges rather than confrontation and also allowing people know that there are ways by which unrests and fears can be handled without violence. I have faith in Nigeria and Plateau is more peaceful now. There was no point I thought it was impossible," he said. However, Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Honourable Lumumba Adeh, has advised Dariye to immediately initiate reconciliation programmes aimed at bringing about development in the state. Adeh in a chat with newsmen in Abuja, said the issue at stake in the state bordered mainly on reconciliation. "The issue of state of emergency by some stroke of misfortune seriously polarised Plateau State along very serious divides and my view at the moment is to pursue genuine reconciliation and work towards rebuilding a new Plateau," he said. Adeh, a former member of the House of Representatives re-echoed Obasanjo's position on the matter that lasting peace rests with all the stakeholders in the state. He noted that the people of the state should put the past behind them and work for the progress of the state. On references made to him in some quarters as part of the forces working against Dariye, he said his position did not give room for partisanship. "I do not have a position because I am a public servant. I do not think that it is a true representation of my views to say that I belong to one section or the other. Afterall, I am from Plateau State and by serving at the national level it is my duty to ensure the progress of the state and the country," he said. Dariye was re-installed as governor after he and members of the state House of Assembly had been sent on six-month suspension based on the declaration of state of emergency in the state by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo had on May 18 invoked his powers under section 208 of the constitution when there was an orgy of killing and destruction of property in the southern part of the state, particularly Yelwa and Shendam. The crisis was already spreading to neighbouring Bauchi, Nasarawa and Kano states. Alli was appointed sole administrator vested with emergency powers confered by an act of the National Assembly.
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