Posted by From MARIAM ALESHINLOYE AGBOOLA, Jos on
Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State says he is unruffled by the impeachment threat from the state House of Assembly as he is more concerned about the labour unrest and how the over four billion naira excess crude oil windfall was managed by the Chief Bot- Mang administration.
Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State says he is unruffled by the impeachment threat from the state House of Assembly as he is more concerned about the labour unrest and how the over four billion naira excess crude oil windfall was managed by the Chief Bot- Mang administration.
The governor, who was said to have been served with the impeachment notice, said as at Wednesday, he was yet to receive it but there are more pressing problems he needs to solve before he hands over to the incoming administration in the state rather than bother about impeachment.
But in spite of his ‘I am not bothered posture,' Daily Sun learnt that Governor Dariye is trying to exploit the crack in the House to get some members to impeach the Speaker Michael Dapialong.
Chief Dariye, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Alexander Molwus, however, said he is not considering that option because of the time factor but would prefer to touch the lives of the citizens with the limited time he has.
According to him, Chief Bot-Mang, on taking over the mantle of leadership had promised to pay workers every 25th day of the month but had never honored that pledge; leading to the present strike by workers.
"Since January, he has not paid workers in the state owned tertiary institutions who are also not working. Yet he had collected four billion naira excess crude oil windfall which has not been accounted for.'
Chief Molwus said the governor is not at all afraid of the EFCC, stressing that: "If EFCC must come to Plateau, it has to go for Chief Bot- Mang and his deputy." He pointed out that the governor has it on record that just within five months of Chief Bot-Mang's administration, his deputy, Chief Jethro Akun had collected 40 million naira for overseas trip with his wife, among other expenses.
When reminded that Chief Bot-Mang could not pay staff salaries because a bank seized the state's allocation for April due to backlog of loans collected by Chief Joshua Dariye's administration, he said the loan cannot be the one collected by the governor but by Chief Bot-Mang himself.
He said even if it was true, the windfall from the excess crude oil would have taken care of the salaries and allowances, if the administration was so committed.
Chief Molwus pointed out that rather than think of the impeachment, the governor would want to ensure that staff salaries are paid and put the state university which was hurriedly commissioned on sound footing before handing over to the next administration.
He pointed out that if the governor was afraid of impeachment or the EFCC, he would not have come back but he did because he meant well for the state.
Speaking further on the impeachment, he explained that with the technicalities put in place in the constitution, it may not be concluded before 29th of May when the government must hand over.
After the governor must have been personally served the notice, he needs a mandatory two weeks to reply the House. And if the House is not satisfied with the reply, it requires, two third of its members to get the Chief Judge to set up an impeachment committee which would also give him time to prepare his defense.
Meanwhile, Chief Joshua Dariye has relieved the acting Chief Judge of the state , Justice Lazarus Dakyen of his appointment and replaced him with his immediate predecessor in office, the former Chief Judge of the state, Justice Sambo Atsi.
The removed Justice Dakyen was the judge who received and acted on the notice of impeachment from six members of the Plateau State House of Assembly which paved the way for the impeachment of Dariye from office last year November.
Chief Dariye said he was returning the judge to office as they have agreed to settle out of court in the suit instituted by the judge in 2004 against him (the governor) for relieving him of his job.