Posted by By BEN OKEZIE, Jos on
The Plateau State House of Assembly and the CBN road leading to it in Jos were yesterday swarming with fierce-looking anti-riot policemen who codorned off the area with an armoured personnel carrier.
• As Speaker denounces coup in the state
The Plateau State House of Assembly and the CBN road leading to it in Jos were yesterday swarming with fierce-looking anti-riot policemen who codorned off the area with an armoured personnel carrier.
The security measure is said to be in preparation for a special sitting by six of the 24 members of the state legislative House towards the impeachment of the state Governor, Joshua Dariye.
The policemen, numbering about 200 had barricaded the road at about 6.00a. m, disallowing motorists and pedestrians passage, while awaiting the lawmakers, being expected from Abuja.
Movement of people which was curtailed was, however, allowed later when word came from 'above" that they should relax security in the area.
But the development and the planned impeachment of the governor were, however, denounced by the speaker, Chief Simeon Lalong, as a coup being perpetrated by the Federal Government, in its bid to take-over the state.
Lalong in an exclusive interview at his hide out told Daily Sun: 'I am with the mace and whatever anyone is doing is unconstitutional."
He said that all is for the liberation of the state. The Federal Government, he accused, is perpetrating coup in the state in place of democracy.
The he was fightinh for was liberation of the state from the Federal Government which, he accused, was perpetrating coup in the state while claiming to be practising democracy.
Chief Lalong who was in a jeans and a T-shirt told Daily Sun: 'A coup is going on in the state and we are resisting it and as far as I am concerned I am still the speaker.
'I have seen that they have moved from the unconstitutional procedure in Oyo State by not fulfilling 2/3 to now adopting 1/3 even when the members did not agree."
He observed that the government want to use the Oyo incidence as yardstick to perpetrate unconstitutional act in Plateau noting that if it succeed this will be a point of reference for the National Assembly to emulate to extend the failed third term agenda.
'I am calling on all citizens of Plateau State to be watchful and stand firm and be prayerful," Lalong said.
In his own reaction, Mr D. S. Uzoma, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 4 told Daily Sun that he had to move his office to Jos to be in charge of the situation.
He said that his presence can be likened to an Igbo proverb that says: ' A frog is not seen in the day without a reason."
The AIG said that the presence of the armored vehicle at the House of Assembly was to fight armed robbers and ensure safety of lives and property in the state.