… Plateau govt reacts

By Taye Obateru

Jos — Old political foes in Plateau State, yesterday, came together under one umbrella as former Governor, Joshua Dariye, whose suspension was recently lifted by the national secretariat of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) joined forces with the PDP group opposed to that controlled by Governor Jonah Jang.

But in a swift reaction the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Gregory Yenlong, at a briefing, described the gathering as “an unstable amalgamation of renegades” saying they do not mean well for the state.

Dariye formally declared for the Emmanuel Mangni-led faction of the PDP which parades his old political foes like former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, former Minister Damishi Sango, Senator Venmark Dangin and many others.

He joined the PDP with his teeming supporters who were hitherto in the Action Congress (AC) to align with many of those who fought him while in office.

Speaking on the occasion, the former governor described the event as a sober moment expressing joy that those who disagreed with him while in office “have now seen the light”.

He said politics was about disagreeing to agree so long as the interest of the state was placed above parochial interest, adding that there should be continuity in governance from one administration to the other.

Dariye said he chose to join the Mangni-led PDP because it is playing “inclusive” and not “exclusive” politics stressing, “We cannot continue to fight the Federal Government. We should team up to support President Yar’Ardua to take the country to higher heights.”

Chairman of the group, Chief Mangni, described Dariye’s decision to join the group as significant considering the teeming supporters that are joining with him.

“Chief Dariye, we must point out, is a politician you can only ignore at your peril. With the assembly of personalities at this arena today (yesterday), we can say, without any iota of contradiction, that Plateau PDP has spoken loudly and the direction is clear for all to see,” he stated.

He explained that the emergence of the group was a protest against the manner the PDP in the state was being run to the exclusion of many of the members.

“The circumstances that led to the emergence of the PDP government in Plateau State, we had thought, was enough to unite the party’s family ever than before. Alas, this was not to be. As soon as the government was formed, a deliberate exclusion of key stakeholders and members of the party was embarked on. This left in its trail disenchantment, regrets and despair,” he said.