Dariye returns, says arrest was planned
From Isa Abdulsalami, and Victor Onyeka-Ben, Jos
NEWLY reinstated Plateau State Governor, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye virtually turned a preacher yesterday amidst the celebrations that heralded his return to office.
However, Dariye, who quoted the Bible generously and urged forgiveness by all sides to the crisis that culminated in his suspension, did not forget to allege that his arrest in London was planned in Nigeria.
According to Dariye, he had been warned before he travelled that he would be arrested in London.
Dariye spoke while receiving a hand-over note yesterday at the Government House from the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. John Gobak.
The outgoing sole administrator, Maj. Gen. Chris Alli, had handed over to the SSG at a farewell dinner organised in Alli's honour at the Hill Station Hotel, Jos on Wednesday night.
Dariye took over the mantle of leadership from the SSG around 9.a.m yesterday. It was exactly six month since his government was suspended and a state of emergency declared in Plateau State following an orgy of violence
While receiving the hand-over note yesterday, the governor appealed to people of the state to unite and forgive one another so that the state could move forward. He also sought forgiveness from them if he had offended them.
"If I had wronged you, you should forgive me. Nobody is above mistake. I thank God for this great re-union. This is the work of God. God is the father of the fatherless.
"When all things fail, we should seek God first. God is standing before me. Even if I fall seven times, I will rise again. You should forgive one another so that Plateau State can forge ahead. Plateau State has suffered enough losses. We cannot continue in this direction," Dariye said in his address.
Thereafter he was driven in a convoy to the airport to be received by a mammoth crowd waiting to catch a glimpse of him.
At the airport, he climbed a dais in response to the cheering crowd, which surged forward to touch him.
Fresh and clean-shaven, Dariye in a joyous mood, waved in acknowledgement of the cheers.
While inside the lounge with few prominent people of the state, he thanked them for their support, saying that the beginning and end of every journey was in God's hand.
"Once you believe in God, you will never have cause to worry. Government comes, government goes but Plateau State remains," he said.
He urged the citizens to cherish the baby called Plateau State and nothing, he said, should be done to destroy it.
The present and future generations will benefit from it."
Responding on behalf of the people, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, said that despite Dariye's absence all sections of the state remained united.
Kwande said that despite the forces against the governor he still emerged victorious, pleading that the party would continue to give necessary advice to the government.
On leaving the airport, Dariye and his entourage drove straight to the residence of Chief Solomon Lar to thank him for all his support and steadfastness.
Lar extolled the virtues of Dariye, saying that despite his suspension, he was still respectful to the Federal Government.
He urged Dariye to forgive and forget and carry along everybody. Lar called on all to support Dariye's government and his deputy.
Welcoming members of the State House of Assembly yesterday, the Speaker, Mr. Simon Lalong, told them to regard the six-month break as an "act of God."
According to Lalong, six months was a period of learning and sober reflection, adding that the eyes of the members were wide open as they had learnt a lot politically, spiritually and administratively. He added that what was learnt would be put to use to move the state forward.
The Speaker commended the people of the state for their understanding and prayers for peace and called for their support, saying that what happened would make them better leaders.
In his remarks, Senator Silas Janfa, advised Dariye to drop the idea of vengeance, adding that as a good Christian, he should forgive and forget and carry everybody along.
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