Date Published: 09/08/11
Jos Killings: Call for State of Emergency Reckless says Sen. Dantong, As Jang returns, keeps Mum
Sen. Gyang Dantong has
described as ``reckless’’, the call by Sen. Kabir Gaya, asking the Federal
Government to declare a state of emergency in troubled Plateau.
``I was surprised and disappointed by that statement, which I
considered unsenatorial,’’ Dantong, who represents Plateau North, told the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos.
Gaya had suggested a declaration of a state of emergency as the only way to
end the protracted violence that rocked the north central state over the
years.
This is coming on the heels of the arrival of Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau on Thursday from an overseas trip..
Jang, who arrived the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport,
Lagos, from a two-week overseas trip, barely responded to the greetings from
newsmen and refused to be interviewed.
The governor’s protocol officers pleaded with the journalists that the
governor was not willing to speak on any issue.
Jang, who looked worried, was later escorted by his security aides and
protocol officers to the waiting aircraft with Reg.No. M-NATH which took off to
Jos at noon.
He also promised to table the suggestion before the Senate when it
convened next week
But Dantong, who described the statement by his colleague as ``very
shocking’’, said it took him by surprise because the senator, whom, he said, was
a ``very close friend’’, had never discussed the matter with him.
He added that the call for a state of emergency and the dissolution of all
democratic structures in Plateau was unconstitutional.
The senator said that the Senate had discussed the matter in the past and
affirmed that it did not refer to removing anyone from office.
``What a state of emergency entails is the strengthening of the structures in
the affected areas so as to give more powers to the governor to effectively
tackle a serious situation.
``When a state of emergency is declared, the governor gets sweeping powers
and extra budgetary allocations to protect the people and tackle what is usually
considered a bad and abnormal situation.
``A state of emergency does not suggest the removal of anyone from office as
Gaya is suggesting; the constitution is clear on that. Anyone who ascends an
office outside election is treason, and that is what Gaya is suggesting.
``A state of emergency was once declared in Plateau, but the courts revoked
it and declared it null and void. It is an illegality which a senator should not
be proposing.''
Dantong advised his colleagues to see their role as that of elders who should
point the way forward at all times.
``When we (senators) speak, what we say must be national in outlook and that
is why we are called senators of the Federal Republic. We must not be
sectional.''
The senator wondered why Gaya never called for a state of emergency in Borno,
Bauchi, Kaduna or Kano State, all of which, he said, had recorded their share of
violence.
On Gaya’s promise to table the call before the Senate, Dantong said ``it
will only be thrown out as the Senators will not be dragged into such.
``Clearly, the worst is over in Plateau since the military Special task Force
(STF) is already giving way to the Plateau-owned ``Operation Rainbow’’, which
is expected to complete the peace process.
``There could be pockets of skirmishes here and there which is not surprising
for a state just emerging from some crises, but it is clear that the situation
is under control.’’
Dantong expressed confidence that the ``Operation Rainbow’’ outfit would
restore peace on the Plateau since it would be made up of the police that were
used to the terrain, who would also work with members of the localities to
protect the people.
(NAN) |
