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Emergency rule: Govs meet on Dariye
INEM AKPAN-NSOH, Uyo and MOSES
EZULIKE, Jos
WITH
controversy kicked up on the desirability or otherwise of the return of
suspended Gov. Joshua Dariye of Plateau State when the curtain is drawn on
emergency rule in the area on November 18 this year, the 35 state governors are
to meet mid-next month to take a position on the matter.
The disclosure came amid reports that
former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon had requested the Federal Government to
lift emergency rule in Plateau, his home state, as a 70th birthday present to
him.
Several prominent Nigerians attended a
church service in Jos, Pleateu State capital, to mark Gowon’s birthday.
Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Victor
Attah of Akwa Ibom State, told reporters in Uyo, the capital, on Saturday
evening that after the meeting, he and his colleagues would convey their stand
on Gov. Dariye to President Olusegun Obasanjo whose constitutional right it is
to lift emergency rule after six months, depending on the situation on the
ground.
Speaking to reporters at the Hilltop
Mansion, Uyo, Gov. Attah remarked that since Dariye’s suspension following the
imposition of emergency rule on May 18, the governors had not met to discuss the
matter.
Sectarian killings and ethno-religious
disturbances in Plateau State triggered the imposition of the state of
emergency.
"We will soon meet and the meeting of the
forum is being called for the second week of November. By then we will be very
close and we will send our position to Mr President, he said.
"Don’t forget that the right to declare a
state of emergency strictly is that of the president and it is for him to
determine that the circumstances that caused that declaration have been removed
so that he can lift the emergency, but we can contribute our own views on the
matter to him and we intend to do so after our meeting," he added.
On the excess crude funds, Gov. Attah
explained that what Nigerians should know is that the money is not meant for the
federal government, but accrues to the federation account.
"In other words, every month as the money
accrues, it should be shared," he said.
"But in consultation with the governors it
was agreed that some of this money be saved. Our point of disagreement are on
how it should be saved and how to distribute the amount that is not saved," he
added.
According to the governor, as at now The
Presidency wants to share the unsaved portion of the money on a month-by-month
basis, saying the position of the governors on such arrangement is different.
"Since this money has already accumulated,
it should be shared to states in a lump sum, so that people can actually use the
money for something substantial," he said.
Citing his state which has to sink about
$50 million for the Okobo airport project to begin, Gov. Attah stressed that
some of his colleagues have a very strong position for asking that the money be
shared even in two installments.
Dwelling on the airport, the governor said
because of the magnitude of the project, it requires a large portion of land.
"The team will be coming around November
to look at the site. We have done the full survey, fully contoured, which we are
sending to them electronically so that they can begin to look at the
possibilities, and what the entire airport will cost depends entirely on the
facilities that are put in the airport and how elaborate they are," he said.
Gen. Gowon, who was giving a vote of
thanks to guests who througed the banguest hall of the Hill Station Hotel Jos
venue of the reception, declared that "it is only in Plateau State that you will
not find a democratic government in the whole 36 States of Nigeria. But I can
say with all sense of responsibility that we too want democracy in our state."
Gen. Gowon, whose speech intermittently
attracted thunderous applause from the audience, regretted that he was making
the request in the absence of President Obasanjo, who had earlier left with his
entrourage after the church service.
He, however, pleaded with the State
Administrator, Maj. General Chris Alli (rtd), to pass the message to the
president, saying "I will want Alli who has done tremendously well in the state,
besides his earlier records have as the military administrator of the state, to
extend this message to our president."
"He (Alli) has done so well, but he should
now recommend the lifting of the emergency rule to him; that’s my request and
that will be an excellent 70th birthday gift to me. But if you don’t, I will
come back to ask questions," he added.
Gen. Gowon, whose pet project, "Nigeria
Prays," has been organising prayer sessions across the country, believed that
President Olusegun Obasanjo will accede to his request.
According to him, every part of Nigeria is
his home, disclosing that inspite of the tragedy of the civil war, he had one of
his best rests in East after the civil war, when he visited the place.
He was full of gratitude to friends and
well wishers who came to honour him, saying that IGI had spearheaded the 70th
birthday celebrations which started with a public lecture in Abuja.
Earlier, the St Piram Anglican Church
attended by the former Head of State, Gen. Babangida and Earnest Shonekan, along
with former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, President Obasanjo had described
Gowon as a special gift to Nigeria who emerged when Nigeria needed a stabiliser.
According to him, Gowon had made a lasting
impression in his life.
In his own sermon earlier, Bishop
Nathaniel Yigah warned Nigerian leaders to be careful while presiding over the
affairs of their people and counselled then against behaving like Kings Herod
and Nebuchadnezzar of Biblical times.
Director General of the National Agency
for Food Drugs and Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Dora Akunyili, in her
tribute at the reception, described the celebrant as a peaceful man of God who
did so much for Nigeria.
The Plateau State council of traditional
rulers had earlier conferred on Gowon the traditional title of Sarkin Yaki
(chief warrior) of Plateau State.
Other prominent Nigerians at the event
were former military governor of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Mobolaji Johnson (rtd),
presidential aide on Inter-Party Relations, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
There were also Governors Abdullahi Adamu
and Ahmed Muazu of Nasarawa and Bauchi States.
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