'We Didn't Recommend Dariye's Removal'
From Funmi Peter-Omale in Jos
As the Plateau Peace Conference rounds up its one month activities, the Chairman of the Conference, Chief (Mrs.) Elizabeth Pam, has dismissed speculation that the conference recommended the removal of the suspended governor of the state, Chief Joshua Dariye.
A national newspaper (not THISDAY) had reported yesterday that the conference which was inaugurated by President Olusegun Obasanjo on August 18 had recommended the removal of Dariye for peace to be fully restored in the state.
But in an interactive session with journalists in Jos yesterday, Pam said that the issues before the conference were neither about personalities or political figures nor about who should be blamed.
Her words, "I want to categorically state that the issues before the conference was not about the governor, who the governor is, whether he is coming back or not. We never discussed that. We are talking about issues about the crises, and how total peace would be restored. We did not talk about personalities."
She regretted that the whole essence of the Peace Conference has been misrepresented as it appeared some people were deliberately out to discredit the good intentions of the 150 strong peace stakeholders representing various ethnic groups, religious organizations and the civil society.
Mrs. Pam also expressed the optimism of members of the steering committee that the state administrator, Maj. Gen. Chris Alli (rtd), would implement the recommendations of the conference.
"The administrator has assured that he would not delay the report unnecessarily. We have confidence that the administrator is a man of his words and what he has said he would do he will do, he has said he wants everything to be fast without any delay. We want to allay fears of the citizens that the report will go the same way earlier ones had gone. He has assured he will take action except for those that will require strict legal adherence."
According to her, stakeholders have brainstormed on charting a way forward for the state, adding that very soon citizens would start feeling the effect of the conference.
A member of the committee and chairman sitting committee, Sir Anthony Hoomsuk, explained that the conference has served as useful forum for dialogue at a magnitude, scope and dimension that has never been before in the history of the state.
"It has facilitated the process of understanding and healing of wounds and I will say at a fast rate. The willingness of the people of the state to choose their representatives and their readiness of their delegates to work towards achieving their mission were instrumental to the success of the conference," he said.
Meanwhile, Vice President Atiku Abubakar is scheduled to officially declare the conference closed Tuesday next week.
Obasanjo had said at the inuaguration of the conference last August that its resolutions would determine the fate of Plateau in regards to the emergency rule he imposed on the state on May 18 this year following incessant ehtno-religious conflicts in the southern part of the state.
|
