September 14, (THEWILL) – Hon. Yakubu Dati, the Plateau State’s Commissioner for Land and Survey, has described the killing of Baba Defwan Dariye, the father of Mr. Joshua Dariye, the former governor of the state as shocking.
Condemning the killing, Dati said, that the primary beneficiaries of Dariye’s projects and famed generosity could murder his 93-year old father in a callous and heartless manner, while he is serving a term at a correctional center however, comes as the height of ingratitude and insensitivity to good leadership.
This is as he said that investigation by the police, emanating from the confessional statements from the abductors and eventual killers of the nonagenarian indicated that the suspects were of diverse ethnic groups and faith like the Mushere, Fulani, Christians, Muslims, believers and non-believers, unlike ethnic coloration being painted in some quarters.
Dati in a statement to journalists at the weekend decried that Dariye’s father did not deserve the gruesome killing by his abductors, saying that the former governor who was presently in correctional centre did a lot to elevate the state during his time as the State Governor.
Dati said that Mr. Frank Mba, Police spokesman, in his address to journalists had mentioned the names of the suspects as Abubakar Mohammed, Titus Ezekiel, Sunday Ibrahim, Mangut Suwa, Jetro Ngusen, Dauda Isa and others, stressing that that all the eight suspects who played key roles in the crime were from the same village with Pa Dariye, Horop, in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.
”However, during the week, confessional statements from some suspected kidnappers who admitted to the abduction and gruesome murder of a 93 years old, left a sour taste in the mouth.
”The identities of the suspects and their confession to the role they played in carrying out the dastardly act, jolted the conscience of all and sundry due to its ‘cast of characters’.
”This is shocking owing to the fact that as governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye did a lot to develop rural communities as well as initiating projects hitherto unknown and unheard of in several ethnic groups in the state, including his Mushere ethnic group and brought them to national consciousness through his ‘Leaving Plateau better than we met it’ mantra.”
According to him, the then governor received massive support from the House of Assembly with Simon Lalong as the then Speaker of the State Assembly, which enabled him to pursue an all inclusive government that endeared him to the people, especially the grassroots.
The commissioner emphasized that the unification of criminal elements beyond the fault lines of religion and ethnicity has not only put a lie to claims of linear identity in crime, but also speaks to Gov Lalong’s known position of addressing issues of crime and criminality from a fair minded and broad perspective.
Dati further stated that the governor had over the years at different forums, called on the people to separate ethnic and religious divides in the bid to confront insecurity and expose the criminals for who they really are.
“In several fora, Gov Lalong captivates his audience with the story of the good Samaritan where an injured victim of robbery attack was abandoned by several passersby including a fellow Jew only to be rescued by a Samaritan, even though Samaritans and Jews despised each other”, he said.
Lalong the Commissioner added emphasizes the moral of the story being that citizens should put aside differences and help those who are in need of our help irrespective of religion or tribe.
The governor he explained, said similar admonitions exist in Islam where adherents are encouraged to show love.
”With this exposure, it is time to take a second look at Governor Lalong’s call to separate criminality from primordial sentiments while going all out to smoke out the criminals irrespective of their ethnic or religious identities.
”This also formed the nucleus of discourse when the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Dr. Samson Oyekunle and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar visited Jos, under the auspices of the Nigeria inter-religious Council (NIREC).”
“The two religious leaders, alongside state governors and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, were in Plateau State to preach and promote peaceful coexistence among the adherents of the two major religions in the state, Christianity and Islam,” he added.
He charged the public to always identify criminal elements masquerading under ethno-religious fault lines and report them to the appropriate bodies for immediate action, stressing that the practice of rushing to bail arrested criminals because of ethnic affiliation may consume all if care was not taken.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
