Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Dariye joins PDP factions, govt kicks
From Isa Abdulsalami, Jos

A CIVIC reception organised in honour of the immediate past governor of the state, Joshua Dariye, who formally declared for Emmanuel Mangni's faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday upset the Plateau State government, which described it as a celebration of criminality.

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At a crowded rally, which took place at the PDP II Secretariat on No. 139, Yakubu Gowon Way, Jos, Dariye clad in light blue flowing "Babanriga," described the occasion as a sober moment. He said before he decided to join the faction of the party, he had consulted widely.

He recalled how he was suspended from the party in September 2005 because he stood for progress and democracy, adding that he was happy that those who disagreed with him that time have since seen the light and have come together to salvage the great state that is drifting.

Those present at the occasion included Senator Venmak Dangin, former Minister Damishi Sango, erstwhile governorship aspirant, Toma Garba, Alhaji Yakubu Husseni, Alhaji Sale Bayari, Yakubu Dati, Sylvanus Namang and the former Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) Chairman, Letep Dabang.

Others were former Speaker Simon Lalong and his deputy, Alhaji Usman Zumunta Musa, erstwhile governorship aspirant, Jimmy Chetto, former Action Congress (AC) state chairman, Maichibi Vwarji, Honourable Lumumba Dah Adeh, Sam Parah, Senator Timothy Adudu, Emmanuel Agatti, Bishop Musa Wuyep, Alexander Molwus, among others.

Chief Solomon Lar, Senator John Shagaya, former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, former Governor Fidelis Tapgun were said to have sent goodwill messages, assuring the gathering that their spirits were with them.

Addressing a press conference yesterday shortly after the rally, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Gregory Yenlong, described what happened as a collective conspiracy against the government of Jonah Jang, adding that the government was worried because the whole scenario at the event was a celebration of criminality and attempt to cause pain in the state.

Yenlong said the government's concern was that "those who participated in impeaching Dariye for corruption are the ones celebrating him today. What a shame? Dariye is supposed to be in prison by now. It is sad. It is sad that the same elders who crucified Dariye in those days are the ones celebrating him today".

The commissioner said that Jang's crime is that he was not ready to share money.

He said Lar and Tapgun can never be party to Dariye's politicking because they are given two cars each every four years while they collect N700,000 each monthly.