Posted by From MARIAM ALESHINLOYE AGBOOLA, JOS on
Ex-Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye, has said his visit to EFCC was largely informed by the need to go and make some clarifications, saying he had to go because he has his reputation to protect and not because he had any deal with anybody as it was being speculated. In a telephone interview with journalists in Jos, Wednesday, Dariye said: 'Truthfully, I have no deal with anybody.
Ex-Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye, has said his visit to EFCC was largely informed by the need to go and make some clarifications, saying he had to go because he has his reputation to protect and not because he had any deal with anybody as it was being speculated. In a telephone interview with journalists in Jos, Wednesday, Dariye said: 'Truthfully, I have no deal with anybody.
'I have a reputation to protect. I was not compelled, and it was not part of any deal as it's being speculated."
According to him, as a respectable citizen, he sees no wrong in assisting a government agency in doing its assignments.
He explained that the many problems that besieged him while in office were borne out of sheer selfishness on the part of some elders and politicians in the state.
"There were those that profited from all the bickering, and I need to say that to a large extent a fundamental problem on the Plateau is that of rumour mongering in government circles."
Speaking on what happened in London, he said it was only aimed at ridiculing him into submission.
'But here am I today, in the next ten years or even before, I wondered where the people would be. Already, I see the scandals following them."
Dariye lamented the extent of squandering that characterised the six months administration of his deputy, Chief Michael Botmang, explaining, 'I want to say I have nothing against Botmang. In fact, for a better part of our eight years together in government, I saw him largely as a father. But in a sense, I felt betrayed."
He, however, said he could imagine the amount of pressure put on him by those who were bent on perpetuating the illegalities of his impeachment.
Dariye said further: "With a sense of history, I have regrets, but certainly I can say that I came, saw, and conquered. I gave Plateau my best in the circumstances. I left landmarks and achievements that generations can look to with a sense of pride, and that cannot be erased."
He denied ever manhandling any EFCC operatives, saying, "I recall that at the height of harassment from the commission, I granted an interview during which I said if they continued, we on the Plateau would eat them as dogs.
At that time, the state was under a siege. But my alleged beating up of anyone was just a creative imagination of someone. I Joshua did not beat up anyone."