[allAfrica.com]  [Africa_2004]


Plateau: Emergency Rule or a Dance of Death?

Vanguard (Lagos)
OPINION
August 22, 2004
Posted to the web August 23, 2004

By Stan Goni

Your detailed analysis on the state of emergency in Plateau State in last
week's Sunday Vanguard made a very interesting reading. One cannot, but commend
your thoughtfulness in keeping Nigerians abreast of the situation in the state.
But there are other developments which I feel Nigerians should know about,
hence this piece.
What has been happening in Plateau State since a State of Emergency was
declared reminds one of Wole Soyinka's play - Death and the King's Horseman in
which the king's, horseman much against his wish, is forced into a dance of
death to join his ancestors. Like the Elesin Oba in Soyinka's play, Plateau
State is now in a similar weird dance of death as what started as a simmering
back-street fight has now reached a crescendo threatening to rubbish the
polity.
Watchers of events in the state must have begun to realize that the declaration
of a state of emergency in the state supposedly over the violence in Yelwa --
Shendam had more to it. Democratic structures were suspended and a Sole
Administrator with absolute powers was appointed to solve the problem, but is
it now becoming dear that politics is behind it all and that we may end of
being worse than where we started on the long run? Rather than pursue peace and
reconciliation, political gangsters and gladiators are now stampeding the arena
trying to gain cheap political advantage from the emergency rule through the
back door.
Strange bed fellows of diametrically opposed moulds have suddenly found it
expedient to co-operate and dislodge suspended Governor Joshua Dariye from the
political control of the state and they have been experimenting with various
plots to achieve their aim. But it is becoming clear that all their schemes
have nothing to do with the ordinary Plateau men and women, but for selfish
personal agenda. To these people, Dariye is a common enemy in whose head they
will bury the hatchet of their previous disagreements and bickerings.
Some posers may help to understand the scenario better: First, is it true that
the wooing of some people back into the party is aimed at dislodging the
Vwarji--led state exco of the PDP in preparation for 2005 PDP convention? Is it
also true that there are plans to get the Speaker of the state House of
Assembly, Barrister Simon Lalong who is seen as a die--hard Dariye loyalist out
of the way by trumping up charges against him and placing him under house
arrest? Was this why he was declared wanted by the police when he traveled
abroad for medical check up recently, even when he duely informed the state
government?
What is the role of Major-General Chris Alli (rtd), the Administrator in the
whole saga? What about the rumour that some members of the suspended House of
Assembly have been recruited to divide the ranks of members and force a
withdrawal of the suit challenging their suspension and pave way for other
plots such as the impeachment of Dariye?
How far is it true that a five million naira carrot has been promised any of
them who plays ball as a renegade or black leg? Should one also dismiss the
rumour that Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu and some cohorts who
had an axe to grind with Dariye are behind all these? Should the boasts of some
of them that Dariye would not be returned as governor and that democratic
structures would not be restored without a commitment from members of the house
to impeach him not be taken seriously?
There are even more frightening speculations: these include one that if the
Plan A (i.e. Impeachment) fails, other plans to get Dariye abducted and
poisoned or forced to resign (Ref. Ngige Saga) or better still get a marksman
to shoot him down or arrange a car crash or an accident -- anyhow may be
considered. Could all these be true? If we believe in the adage that there is
no smoke without fire, moreso that some of the rumours are already being
actualized, is it not apposite to ask what all these have got to do with the
crisis in Yelwa?
Whatever is the case, I call on my fellow brothers and sisters of Plateau state
to take solace in the immortal statement by Late Dele Giwa which says "No evil
deed will remain unpunished. Any evil done by man to man will be redressed; if
not now, then certainly later; If not by man then by God; for the victory of
evil over good can only be temporary or momentary". Also bear in mind another
statement by the late American rights crusader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr.
which says, "Truth crushed to earth will rise again. No lie can live forever".
The truth about the situation in Plateau will surely rise again.
Dr. Stan Goni lives in Anwan Rukuba, Jos.

   

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