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Recall Threat: I'm Ready for War - Mantu
From Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja, 11.22.2004
Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu yesterday said if the group loyal to Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye, wants to declare war on him for his role in the declaration of emergency rule in the state last July, they will meet him battle ready at the war front. Mantu was reacting to threats attributed to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Simeon Lalong, that he would be recalled from the Senate for working for the imposition of emergency rule and scheming for the extension of the proclamation after six months. "I'm prepared for peace, to co-operate with them to consolidate on the gains of the peace achieved so far but if they are looking for war, I'm also equally prepared for war and I'm armed to the teeth," he said. He further described as the "ranting of an ant" the alleged plot to recall him over his roles in the declaration of emergency rule. He declared that he has no regrets for whatever role he played in ensuring that peace returned to the state. Mantu, who was reacting for the first time since emergency rule was lifted, told newsmen in his office yesterday night that he did not want to respond to the publication on his recall credited to Lanlong, "in order not to give undue importance to the claim of recall." According to him, "it is a misplaced appeal for the Speaker to say that he is canvassing for my recall because he is neither from my senatorial district, Plateau Central, nor is he from my constituency. He is being rude to have said that and it's the ranting of an ant. "I believe that I've done so much more for my senatorial district, more than anybody dead or alive to warrant my recall. But above all, I noticed that (Plateau State governor, Chief Joshua) Dariye has taken up on a good note by asking for forgiveness with a promise to do better than before and that the period of suspension was for sober reflection. "If what he (Dariye) said can be followed with action, the emergency period has served a useful purpose because conviction over crime is not just punitive but reformatory, to make a better person and if that had happened, then emergency rule has served its purpose. "I've no regrets about my roles in the declaration of emergency rule. In fact, I thank God that he gave me the opportunity to be part of it and given the same chance I would do that again. "I was worried when it was first declared but the outcome has restored peace, law and order. It stopped killings because if not for the timely intervention of the imposition of state of emergency, only God knows the number of lives that would have been lost in Kano, Owerri, Umuahia and other parts of the country that reprisal killings were spreading," he stated. Mantu said: "I'm very happy that I'm a party to it (emergency rule). Apart from the restoration of law and order, Dariye has appeared born-again and we would see that over time." Asked if the governor ever contacted him for assistance in the course of the emergency rule, Mantu explained that "from the beginning, he needed assistance and he contacted me. When he needed to travel for medical reasons, I took him to Mr. President (Chief Olusegun Obasanjo) to enable him travel and treat himself" adding that "if he (Dariye) said his arrest was planned from here, I'm not a security operative and he couldn't have been referring to me. I don't also work with the British Police that everybody knows can't be influenced by anybody. "So, I don't know those who planned his arrest but if he had avoided committing those offences planning against him would not have worked. They are just leaving the substance and chasing the shadow," he said. Prodded on whether he sought extension of the emergency rule at the expiration of the six-month on the first instance, Mantu revealed that "five people took the decision on whether to extend the emergency rule or not. These are the President (Obasanjo), the Speaker (of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari), Deputy Speaker (Hon. Austin Opara), the President of the Senate (Chief Adolphus Wabara) and myself. "At the meeting, I canvassed for the lifting of emergency rule. If I was against that, I would have canvassed among my colleagues that have the majority so that even if the President wants to lift the emergency we would have opposed it and I would have succeeded in achieving that because I enjoy the support of my colleagues. "We had decided much earlier that it (emergency rule) should only last for six months. We had even wanted to terminate it after three months, that was why I discussed with the state legislators that they should terminate their court matter to enable Mr. President take a decision but they felt otherwise. "Dariye is my friend before the emergency and after. He has been in touch indirectly because he has sent people to me," was his response to a question on whether the returnee-governor had contacted him since the expiration of the state of emergency. Asked when he would be visiting Plateau State, he replied, "Plateau is my home state and I can visit the place anytime I want." When informed that moves by certain forces to reconcile him and Dariye generated discontent among the governor's supporters, he asked "if you say that such gestures created murmurings among his supporters what about my supporters?"
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