Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has warned that Nigeria is tip toing through a minfield with a call for ‘war’ by the former Defence minister, retired Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma against the background of how President Muhammadu Buhari understands the message.
In a short statement on his Facebook page today, Saunday, Senator Sani wrote: “YOU can’t claim to know Buhari more than Danjuma does.”
“YOU can’t claim to know Danjuma more than Buhari does.”
“YOU can’t lecture Buhari and Danjuma about WAR and PEACE.”
“Buhari has heard Danjuma’s Radio message.And I believe he has decode the message.”
“THE NATION is tip toeing through a minefield;The two Generals are experienced to know better that its fate lies in every step.”
General T. Y Danjuma, had, yesterday, Saturday at the first convocation of Taraba State University, asked Nigerians to defend themselves against the herdsmen arms bandits, warning that any Ngerian who depended on the military to defend them would die as their would be no such protection. [myad]
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Barrister Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Sports who represents Plateau in the Federal Executive Council are at each other’s throat.
They remind me of a similar previous squabble betweentwo prominent citizens of the state at the beginning of our democratic journey in 1999. In that year, Joshua Dariye emerged as an elected Governor of Plateau while Damishi Sango was appointed a Minister of Sports by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Somehow, the two big citizens of the state never agreed.
My understanding of government protocol in our system is that an elected governor comes top of an appointed Minister. Damishi Sango did not see it that way. In our skewed federal system which gives much powers to the central government, he saw his office as superior to that of the governor. On one particular bright day, the two powerful men decided to demonstrate their power in the open in full view of the public.
The motorcade of Damishi Sango was driving into Jos on a single lane road while that of Joshua Dariye was driving out of town on the same road. Both were moving at a suicidal speed for which public convoys in Nigeria are known for. In line with the contest for power between the two men, none of the convoys would make way for the other. A headlong collusion seemed inevitable and infact it soon took place. One or two unfortunate lowly officials on the entourage of the big men died instantly as a result of the avoidable accident. Many more were gravely injured. The amazing thing about it all was that the two powerful men, who escaped unhurt continued their journey, driving away with fury as they both went their ways.
That is the ridiculous level to which people intoxicated with power in Nigeria and it seems more so on the Plateau can go.
Dariye and Sango were members of the same party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. In a similar fashion, Lalong and Dalung are all members of the same party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. Somehow, the PDP looked the other way while this show of shame was taking place by its ranking members in full glare of the people who gave the party the mandate both in the state and at the federal level. Similarly, the APC which was given the mandate in Plateau and at the federal level seems helpless in the simmering fight betweenLalong and Dalung. Under President Obasanjo, a former military dictator who was elected President, the fight on the Plateau continued long after the public show of shame on a Jos road which resulted in some deaths, until there was a cabinet shakeup and Sango was dropped. Under President Buhari, another military dictator now an elected President, we appear to be waiting for another loss of lives in a bizarre collusion of motorcades before sanity prevails.
Lalong and Dalung have come a long way. Both politicians are from the same Senatorial Zone – Plateau South. The nomination of Dalung as Minister was something of a surprise to power brokers on the Plateau because given its multi ethnic structure, it was expected that a Minister and Governor should not come from the same zone. Additionally, Dalung failed rather woefully to deliver his Local Government and even his ward to APC in the election of 2015. Amazingly, President Buhari insisted on having Dalung as Minister.
Since they came into office in 2015, the two powerful men on the Plateau have been playing a game of cloak and dagger mixed with hide and seek. But with the recent visit of President Buhari to Plateau, the bubble suddenly bust.Immediately Buhari returned to Abuja, the minister took to Facebook to lambast the governor’s handling of the state visit. He said as the Minister representing the state, he was not initially involved in the planning of the visit until at a late stage.
He also alleged that the Presidents meeting with stakeholders in the state was a “guided town hall meeting where screened speakers were tutored to sing praises of the Governor. Members of the state traditional council were not recognized despite their presence. Former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, Former Military Governor of Plateau, S.B Atukum and former Deputy Governor, Dame Pauline Tallen were on the high table but they were never recognized or allowed to say a word at the town hall meeting. No other person was allowed to speak except chairman PYC, President NCWS, CAN Chairman, Chairman, JNI and Chief Jethro Akun, who spoke for the elders. Sen. Dariye spoke for the National Assembly but his reckless praises of Lalong, while dismissing the seriousness of the occasion was another mockery. All these speakers only sang praises of Governor Lalong. They also created the impression to Mr President that all is well with Plateau because Governor Lalong has brought durable peace on the Plateau and paid salaries and pensions up to date.”
But the Minister was not done yet. He wrote: “Another disaster of the President’s visit was the renaming of Yakubu Gowon way to Muhammadu Buhari way. To say the least, it is embarrassing. Gowon was the President’s boss. How can he be stripped of a 40- year privilege and honour in his home state? This is the worst thing that can happen to a man like the elder statesman. I believe that General Gowon is feeling betrayed and abandoned by his own people. Also Mr. President was misled to believe that all the road networks in Jos metropolis were constructed by Governor Alert. It was morally wrong for Lalong to fail to acknowledge that it was Governor Jang’s legacies. I was an ardent critic of Governor Jang’s administration but I will not fail to credit his legacies because of differences. The only projects Lalong did are the road to his house and 40 tractors.”
Many reactions from the Governors camp have trailed Dalungsfacebook tirade against Lalong. But I find the one by the Plateau State chairman of the APC, LatepDabang most revealing. “For Dalung to make such nonsensical remarks, it shows that he is just like a mad man on the street. As far as we are concerned, governance is about continuity not about personality. President Buhari came to the Plateau to commission projects that have and will better the lives of ordinary citizens. He did not simply come to commission only projects initiated by Governor Lalong alone.
“Is Dalung suggesting that because we commissioned some projects that Jonah Jang initiated, that we bring back Jonah Jang to commission them? That’s just silly. So, for a minister in the capacity of Dalung’s standing to ridicule himself by making such ridiculous remarks –and by countering what his boss (the president) has said is frankly, very pathetic. It shows that Dalung is a man who is not well, he is sick in the head,” thundered Dabang.
When the state Chairman of a party starts saying in public that the man who represents his state in the Federal Executive Council is sick in the head and needs medical help, there must be something really wrong somewhere. [myad]
The leadership of Miyetti Allah, a socio-cultural cultural binding all the Fulanis in the country, led by the National President, Muhammed Kirowa, has opened up, accusing some governors and political leaders of fueling the herdsmen/farmers clashes and killings in some parts of the country.
He told the Northern States Governors’ Forum at a meeting with the national leadership and state chapters of the Miyetti Allah cattle Breeders Association as part of efforts to find lasting solutions to the continued clashes, that the approach to conflict resolution adopted by political leaders in some states is not helpful in finding lasting peace.
According to him, political leaders, especially Governors, should approach issues of peace in neutral perspective, not as biased party.
He said that their members have lived in many of these conflict-prone communities for centuries without conflict, but wondered why the situation is getting out of hand now.
The meeting, which held in Sokoto, had in attendance NSGF chairman and Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima, host Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and their counterparts from Kano (Abdullahi Ganduje), and Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai. Governor Nasiru El-Rufai joined the meeting after it started.
Though no formal communique was issued at the end of the meeting, reports indicate that the gathering discussed genesis of the crisis, efforts to contain it and how to entrench permanent solution.
Governor Shettima has said that the 19 northern states are worried by the rising cases of insecurity involving herder and farmers, and expressed optimism that their intervention will help in finding lasting solution to the conflicts.
He said they are intervening in order to complement efforts of the federal government, and said they hope to adopt local-conflict resolution mechanism to bring back trust and understanding among all the people of the region.
“We have seen enough crisis in the North East with Boko Haram. We cannot afford to let any other conflict linger without a solution. We hope to hear from all sides and finally come up with a workable plan that will restore confidence and entrench lasting peace in our region.” [myad]
A socio-political group, Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG), has fingered the former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt General Theophilus Danjuma and the Taraba State governor, Diarus Ishaku in the lingering armed conflicts between herdsmen and farmers inTaraba State and its environ.
The group made the allegation on Sunday in Abuja at a Press conference addressed by its national President, Prince Raymond Enero in response to the reported call by T. Y Danjuma on citizens of Taraba State to defend themselves against armed bandits.
The group described the comments made by the former Army chief as unfortunate and unbecoming of a supposedly elder statesman who should commit to peace and unity of the nation rather than using his experience to fuel communal and ethnic crisis.
“Prior to the issuance of Danjuma’s poisonous directive, the Taraba state governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku has been fingered in the escalation of the crisis between the farming and pastoral communities in Taraba state, especially on the Mambila Plateau.
“The governor reportedly armed ethnic militias to carry out attacks on other ethnic groups, which consequently fueled reprisals in other states of the Middle-Belt and beyond. A couple of other states copied the Taraba example and armed militias with the same consequence of endless reprisals that have seen the circle of violence enter a continuous loop and spiraling across the country”, the group stated.
It further alleged that the former Army Chief was using his international connections in collaboration with some governors in the region to import weapons and arm local militia that have been perpetrating mayhem in the region.
“TY Danjuma has revealed himself as the godfather of the militias and the governors are merely field commanders. The godfather has the international connections to procure black market weapons, the limitless resources to procure the arms and the incentive to distribute them.”
” His call is just an attempt to project an argument for the weapons to get on our streets”, the group maintained.
The group while insisting that the unity and peace of the country should not be sacrificed for whatever reason called on the military to ensure that weapons are taken off the hands of militia and ensure that peace thrives in the land.
It further expressed dissatisfaction that more than 24 hours after TY Danjuma made such heinous remarks, he has not yielded to reason to retrace his steps adding that he will be dragged before the competent legal authorities – domestic and international – for any life lost because of his declaration of war.
“Danjuma’s call for people to “defend yourselves” is in no way to be taken lightly. He made that call only because he has the arsenal to deploy by way of providing weapons to his ethnic group to kill others. It has happened before during the Jukun/Tiv clashes. There is no guarantee that the geo-political zone can survive another round of crisis fueled by TY Danjuma supplied weapons.
“The call made to the people to defend themselves is apparently out of frustration because the governors he uses as his field commanders have been stumped with the launch of Operation Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) by the Nigerian Army. The operation had led to the uncovering of the militias that were armed under different and different names but all aimed at perpetrating genocide”, the group alleges. [myad]
Minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has revealed that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has long embarked on cessation-of-hostility talks with Boko Haram insurgents across the Northeast.
“Unknown to many, we have been in wider cessation-of-hostility talks with the insurgents for some time now. The talks helped to secure the release of the police officers’ wives and the University of Maiduguri lecturers recently. And the talks did not stop thereafter.
“Therefore, we were able to leverage on the wider talks when the Dapchi girls were abducted. As I said earlier, the insurgents decided to return the girls to where they picked them from as a goodwill gesture. All they demanded was a ceasefire that will grant them a safe corridor to drop the girls. This is not new. Even in larger war situations, safe corridors are usually created for humanitarian and other purposes. Consequently, a week-long ceasefire was declared, starting from Monday, 19 March. That is why the insurgents were able to drop the girls. This counters.”
Lai Mohammed, who was reacting to insinuations that the Buhari government paid some ransom to Boko Haram before the release of Dapchi school girls, said:”as I have said at many fora, we neither paid ransom nor swapped any Boko Haram member to secure the release of the girls, This is a fact, irrespective of how a section of the press has tried to spin the story.”
He accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of spreading falsehood through the proliferation of fake and hyperpartisan news that has flooded into Nigeria’s laptops and living rooms.
“Nigerians should prepare to see more avalanches of disinformation and fake news. But they should not lend any credibility to such reports. They belong to the trash can!
“The insurgents brought the Dapchi girls back to the location of the kidnapping themselves as an apparent gesture of goodwill, following relentless efforts by the Government to find long-lasting solutions to the conflict.
Lai Mohammed wrote off the conspiracy theories being propounded in some quarters concerning why it was so easy for the insurgents to drop off the girls without being attacked by the military.”
“The PDP and its co-travelers do not understand that terrorism is a global problem. A terror attack on any country is an attack on all countries. The UN was among the first international organizations to condemn the abduction of the Dapchi girls and also among the first to welcome their release.
“We appeal to the media to be more discerning in disseminating materials that serve no other purpose than to sabotage the ongoing efforts to end the insurgency and secure the release of the remaining Chibok and Dapchi girls. Obviously, the naysayers are growing more desperate and will stop at nothing, including disinformation and fake news, to muddle the waters.
“Finally, let me use this opportunity to react to the fake news making the rounds concerning a supposed Sergeant in the Nigerian Army, named David Bako, who said he was part of an alleged conspiracy by the Government to abduct the Dapchi girls.
“This is a classic example of what I have just said: Disinformation and fake news! I can tell you categorically that this David Bako is fake. There is no such soldier in the Nigerian Army. There was no conspiracy anywhere. The intention of those behind the disinformation and fake news is to cause disaffection between Christians and Muslims, and between Southerners and Northerners.” [myad]
The Nigerian Army has alerted members of the Nigerian public to beware of the information warfare which social media had since embarked on to smear the integrity and reputation of some individuals and public institutions.
´It is imperative to know that these baseless and inane allegations are not new in the cyber space, knowing the fact that we are in the age of information warfare.”
Reacting to a news report in social media that one deserted Sergeant David Bako leakd how Dapchi Girls abduction was planned in the villa and executed with N80 million, the Nigerian Army said that it has crosschecked its records and cannot find any one call Sergeant David Bako who neither serves in the Army, deserted nor dismissed. It said that an Intelligence source reveals that the website, Dailyglobewatch.eu with country code top-level domain (ccTLD) .eu used in publishing the said story, is obviously fake and therefore not correct.
“Based on our findings, the website was registered on the 14 of April 2017 and the last updated was on the same date and will expire on the 14th April 2018. We are very familiar with reports of this nature and will advice the general public to disregard such claim and desist from sharing such information on the New Media as this is against the Nigerian Cybercrime Act 2015. “The Nigerian Army therefore disassociates itself with such fictitious report and request the public to disregard the confession made by the so call Sergeant David Bako who has not been in the Army at all.” In a statement today, by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, the Nigerian Army expressed worry over the level at which some people could condescend so low to fabricate facetious allegation against the Nigerian Army and the military at large for cheap political gains or simply an act of pure wickedness, thus the public should disregard such facetious allegation. “The Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate its commitment to remain apolitical and non-partisan in the discharge of its constitutional roles. We would also like to reaffirm our unconditional support and obedience to civil authority as well as reassuring Nigerians that these Fifth columnists will not succeed in their mischief as they will be fished out and dealt with accordingly.” [myad]
Former Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, has chosen to contest the 2019 governorship seat in Nasarawa state on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His choice of the APC platform followed a resolution by stakeholders from the three senatorial zones of the state.
The stakeholders, under the aegis of the Coalition for Good Governance and Civil Participation from the southern zone, Nasarawa Youth Mobilisation for Good Governance from the northern zone and Nasarawa West Zone Coalition for Credible Leadership, had last month called on him to enter the governorship race to offer service to the people.
Maikasuwa had accepted the call and had, in addition, tasked the stakeholders to choose a political party platform on which to answer the call.
The stakeholders, in three separate letters signed by Ubandoma Abdullahi and Haruna Muhammed for Coalition for Good Governance and Civil Participation; Donald Gwado Moshi and Secretary, Muktar Ahmed Keffi for Nasarawa Youth Mobilisation for Good Governance; and Mustapha Mahmood Usman Nasarawa West Zone Coalition for Credible Leadership, had resolved on the APC platform.
The consensus by the stakeholders in their letters to Maikasuwa dated March 13, 2018 is that the APC platform in Nasarawa state is the most popular and acceptable to the people of the state.
In his reply, also dated March 13, 2018, Maikasuwa said he had accepted their choice of the APC platform, declaring that “accordingly, it is now my singular honour and cherished privilege to present myself as a 2019 governorship candidate in Nasarawa state on the platform of the most popular, most reliable and most accommodating political party, the APC.”
Maikasuwa, an alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) and currently a lecturer in the Department of Public Administration, Nasarawa State University, retired as Clerk to the National Assembly in August 2016.
The stakeholders decide to tap him for the position in order to ensure, according to them, continuation and consolidation of the development projects and programmes of the outgoing Tanko Al-Makura administration.
Al-Makura had also benefitted from the statewide support of the stakeholders in 2011 when, against the run of play as candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), he defeated the incumbent, Governor Aliyu Akwei Doma of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who died last month.
There are indications that some influential political leaders in government across the state are working quietly to actualize Maikasuwa’s governorship in 2019 because he is believed to have demonstrated capacity for public administration.
He is also said to be enjoying “enthusiastic” support from the state civil service against the backdrop of the history of his effective administration and the team leadership model that he brought to bear on administration and workers’ welfare as the Head of Service in the bureaucracy of the Federal Legislature. [myad]
The Taraba State chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Rev. Peter Gambo has narrated how truck crushed to death, Rev. Ben Ubeh, who is the Taraba State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), along the Zing-Yola road today, Sunday.
Rev Gambo, who was traveling in the same car with the CAN chairman, said that the incident happened when they parked to buy some drugs, as he (Gambo) was not feeling well. It was at Zing town, on their way to Yola, Adamawa State capital.
“We parked to buy drugs and the CAN chairman came out and stood at the back of the vehicle (a Toyota Hilux van) we were traveling in when, suddenly, a truck came from behind and crushed him.
“I am still in shock over the incident; but I have come to terms with the fact that God knows best.”
Rev Gambo said that the state governor, Darius Ishaku, immediately sent a delegation to Zing to evacuate the corpse to Jalingo; and it has since been deposited in the morgue of the state specialist hospital.
Rev. Ubeh was elected CAN chairman for Taraba State in 2016 and is the General Overseer of Army of God Glorious Ministries.
The name Dino Melaye, or simply called, Dino, gained unparalleled and national attention when the man was in the House of Representatives. It is a name that became associated with brigandage, rascality and unimaginable notoriety.
Indeed, mischief could be said to be another word you could never dismiss each time the name is mentioned.
Of course, those who were with him in the Ahmed Bello University (ABU), Zaria where he was mainly regarded and treated as a “hired thug” knew the heights the man could go to achieve his objective. But most of his fellow students in the university thought they had seen the worst of the “hired thug” then.
It was therefore a great surprise to see their ex-student in the House of Representatives displaying the same pranks for which he was very notorious in the university. Their surprise knew no bounds when they further discovered that there was no letting up in his capacity for mischief. It was not difficult to spot Dino in a crowd, let alone in the House of Representatives. If he was not raising frivolous “point of order,” he was quarrelling with a colleague, or he was engaging in fisticuffs in the legislative chamber. And he had no scruples descending into the arena once things are not going in his way. He was a poster boy without shame!
No one gave him a chance to return to the House let alone being elevated to the upper legislative chamber. But, he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) which gave him ticket to run for the Senate. And he ‘won’ against all odds. Perhaps, it was the APC bandwagon effect that enabled him to win.
Interestingly, Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial District, has not changed his trademark spots. Instead, he has continued to grow in leaps and bounds, making him the “jester in chief” of the upper legislative chamber, with a predilection towards mischief of all sorts. His DNA remains constant as the Northern star.
Undoubtedly, President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the leadership of the Senate have found him very useful each time there is a proxy war to be fought. They simply deploy Dino as a hired goon to take on anyone, including Senators seeking to undermine principal officers of the upper chamber.
Our man could be said to have assumed a larger than life stature. Little did he know his nemesis was lurking in the corner.
Of course, there was no way Dino could have predicted or imagined that he would find his match in Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Governor of Kogi State. Neither could he have thought that anyone, let alone a man he campaigned for and was the master of ceremonies at his inauguration, would end to be his albatross. But, Governor Bello has repeatedly outwitted the Kogi West Senator as far as supremacy battle is concerned. In fact, the relatively young Chief Executive may well preside over the political demise of our dear Dino unless reason prevails and the latter retraces his steps.
It is true that Senator Dino Melaye was one of those who backed Yahaya Bello after the sudden death of Alhaji Abubakar Audu for the governorship ticket of the APC in Kogi State. This support has interestingly made Dino to consider himself a benefactor of the governor. Unfortunately, the governor has rightly refused to submit to the leadership of the Senator, giving that the former is actually the leader of APC in Kogi apart from being the Chief Security Officer of the state. This has led to a game of wits between the two.
Although the governor has refused to admit his role in the recent travails of the Senator, it is obvious that he is the puppeteer behind the attempt to finally rubbish Dino’s political career. And there seems to be no end to the unfolding quagmire confronting our man, Dino.
One of the predicaments that Dino has to contend with is the attempt by the people of Kogi West Senatorial District, his constituents, to have him recalled from the National Assembly. Despite efforts by Dino to stop Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from triggering the recall process, he has not been able to do so.
In fact, the Court of Appeal has given the nod to INEC to commence the recall. Then there is the arraignment of Melaye for unlawful possession of arms and alleged kidnapping based on a ‘confession’ by suspects claimed to be members of his gang.
As political as the charges seem, it is difficult to see how the man can entirely be absolved for the said crimes especially with the unresolved case of the murder of one Mr. Victor Obafaiye, a principal witness for the Action Congress in the Kogi State Election Tribunal who was said to be in possession of documents that might have shown that Melaye tampered with election results but was murdered before he could appear in court to testify, according to a report.
By and large, it is obvious that Governor Bello has a bag of wits with which he has effectively curtailed Senator Dino Melaye’s machinations, especially as it concerns Kogi State.
Despite outright denials and sometimes mute response from the governor, it is clear that he is ahead of the plot to finally retire the loquacious Senator, unless party elders intervene early. Undoubtedly, Dino has finally met his match.
No one knows who will triumph in the end. But for now, the governor has the head start. It is almost impossible to see how the Senator could turn the tables around.
The cookie is on a roller coaster for Dino and no one seems interested to help.
*Shaibu, a Public Communication Consultant wrote from Abuja. [myad]
The Nigeria Police Force has threatened to declare the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye and Alhaji Mohammed Audu wanted if they refuse to comply with court order.
Senator Melaye and Audu are expected to appear before the Federal High Court, Lokoja, on March 28 to answer criminal charges against them.
Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood in a statement said that the duo’s refusal to appear in court would force it to obtain warrant of arrest or declare them wanted throughout the country and on INTERPOL platform.
A political thug, Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama, had confessed last week that Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two pump action guns and the sum of N430,000.00 for him to share with his boys.
Moshood said that the indictment of both politicians has led the Force to invite them for questioning.
“Working on actionable intelligence, the Kogi State Police Command personnel and operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed and arrested two suspects – Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama, 31, From Dekina local government area of Kogi State but based in Anyagba (Leader of the gang) and Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small, 25, (a member of the gang), after a gun battle with the police team that lasted for some hours on the 19th January, 2018 at Ogojueje in Dekina LGA.
“During investigation, they confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of several kidnappings and armed robbery, murder and other violent crimes in different parts of Kogi State for which they have been on the wanted list of the police for more than two years now.
“The gang leader Kabiru Saidu revealed that he and his gang had been working as a political thug for one Alhaji Mohammed Audu, a politician in the state and that Alhaji Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport Road, Abuja, inside the Senator Dino Melaye’s Car in December 2017.
“Saidu further confessed to the police investigative team that Senator Dino Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the sum of N430,000.00 to share with his boys.
“The police conducted investigation into the criminal indictments against Melaye and Mohammed Audu and discovered that the two of them have case to answer.” [myad]
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Lalong Vs Dalung, By Emmanuel Yawe
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Barrister Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Sports who represents Plateau in the Federal Executive Council are at each other’s throat.
They remind me of a similar previous squabble betweentwo prominent citizens of the state at the beginning of our democratic journey in 1999. In that year, Joshua Dariye emerged as an elected Governor of Plateau while Damishi Sango was appointed a Minister of Sports by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Somehow, the two big citizens of the state never agreed.
My understanding of government protocol in our system is that an elected governor comes top of an appointed Minister. Damishi Sango did not see it that way. In our skewed federal system which gives much powers to the central government, he saw his office as superior to that of the governor. On one particular bright day, the two powerful men decided to demonstrate their power in the open in full view of the public.
The motorcade of Damishi Sango was driving into Jos on a single lane road while that of Joshua Dariye was driving out of town on the same road. Both were moving at a suicidal speed for which public convoys in Nigeria are known for. In line with the contest for power between the two men, none of the convoys would make way for the other. A headlong collusion seemed inevitable and infact it soon took place. One or two unfortunate lowly officials on the entourage of the big men died instantly as a result of the avoidable accident. Many more were gravely injured. The amazing thing about it all was that the two powerful men, who escaped unhurt continued their journey, driving away with fury as they both went their ways.
That is the ridiculous level to which people intoxicated with power in Nigeria and it seems more so on the Plateau can go.
Dariye and Sango were members of the same party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. In a similar fashion, Lalong and Dalung are all members of the same party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. Somehow, the PDP looked the other way while this show of shame was taking place by its ranking members in full glare of the people who gave the party the mandate both in the state and at the federal level. Similarly, the APC which was given the mandate in Plateau and at the federal level seems helpless in the simmering fight betweenLalong and Dalung. Under President Obasanjo, a former military dictator who was elected President, the fight on the Plateau continued long after the public show of shame on a Jos road which resulted in some deaths, until there was a cabinet shakeup and Sango was dropped. Under President Buhari, another military dictator now an elected President, we appear to be waiting for another loss of lives in a bizarre collusion of motorcades before sanity prevails.
Lalong and Dalung have come a long way. Both politicians are from the same Senatorial Zone – Plateau South. The nomination of Dalung as Minister was something of a surprise to power brokers on the Plateau because given its multi ethnic structure, it was expected that a Minister and Governor should not come from the same zone. Additionally, Dalung failed rather woefully to deliver his Local Government and even his ward to APC in the election of 2015. Amazingly, President Buhari insisted on having Dalung as Minister.
Since they came into office in 2015, the two powerful men on the Plateau have been playing a game of cloak and dagger mixed with hide and seek. But with the recent visit of President Buhari to Plateau, the bubble suddenly bust.Immediately Buhari returned to Abuja, the minister took to Facebook to lambast the governor’s handling of the state visit. He said as the Minister representing the state, he was not initially involved in the planning of the visit until at a late stage.
He also alleged that the Presidents meeting with stakeholders in the state was a “guided town hall meeting where screened speakers were tutored to sing praises of the Governor. Members of the state traditional council were not recognized despite their presence. Former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, Former Military Governor of Plateau, S.B Atukum and former Deputy Governor, Dame Pauline Tallen were on the high table but they were never recognized or allowed to say a word at the town hall meeting. No other person was allowed to speak except chairman PYC, President NCWS, CAN Chairman, Chairman, JNI and Chief Jethro Akun, who spoke for the elders. Sen. Dariye spoke for the National Assembly but his reckless praises of Lalong, while dismissing the seriousness of the occasion was another mockery. All these speakers only sang praises of Governor Lalong. They also created the impression to Mr President that all is well with Plateau because Governor Lalong has brought durable peace on the Plateau and paid salaries and pensions up to date.”
But the Minister was not done yet. He wrote: “Another disaster of the President’s visit was the renaming of Yakubu Gowon way to Muhammadu Buhari way. To say the least, it is embarrassing. Gowon was the President’s boss. How can he be stripped of a 40- year privilege and honour in his home state? This is the worst thing that can happen to a man like the elder statesman. I believe that General Gowon is feeling betrayed and abandoned by his own people. Also Mr. President was misled to believe that all the road networks in Jos metropolis were constructed by Governor Alert. It was morally wrong for Lalong to fail to acknowledge that it was Governor Jang’s legacies. I was an ardent critic of Governor Jang’s administration but I will not fail to credit his legacies because of differences. The only projects Lalong did are the road to his house and 40 tractors.”
Many reactions from the Governors camp have trailed Dalungsfacebook tirade against Lalong. But I find the one by the Plateau State chairman of the APC, LatepDabang most revealing. “For Dalung to make such nonsensical remarks, it shows that he is just like a mad man on the street. As far as we are concerned, governance is about continuity not about personality. President Buhari came to the Plateau to commission projects that have and will better the lives of ordinary citizens. He did not simply come to commission only projects initiated by Governor Lalong alone.
“Is Dalung suggesting that because we commissioned some projects that Jonah Jang initiated, that we bring back Jonah Jang to commission them? That’s just silly. So, for a minister in the capacity of Dalung’s standing to ridicule himself by making such ridiculous remarks –and by countering what his boss (the president) has said is frankly, very pathetic. It shows that Dalung is a man who is not well, he is sick in the head,” thundered Dabang.
When the state Chairman of a party starts saying in public that the man who represents his state in the Federal Executive Council is sick in the head and needs medical help, there must be something really wrong somewhere. [myad]