No fewer than seven former governors failed to show up at the handing over ceremonies in their respective states yesterday, while four were suspected to have fled the country for fear of being arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The four are ex-governors Joshua Dariye of Plateau state, Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa) and Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu).
Three others, who were believed to still be in the country but stayed away from the handover ceremonies, apparently for political reasons were ex-Governors Peter Obi of Anambra state, Chief Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo) and Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa of Sokoto state.
In Plateau, former Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye, who had assured his people that he would personally hand over to his successor, Air Commodore Jonah David Jang, did not keep to his word as he had fled Jos the previous night, leaving his estranged deputy, Michael Bot-Mang, who had hibernated after Dariye’s reinstatement, to perform the rite.
Dariye, who fled with his family on Monday night was said to have disguised himself as a traditional chief to avoid being arrested by EFCC operatives and men of the London Metropolitan Police who had come to lay siege on him.
Sources close to the embattled ex-governor said he (Dariye) had �got a wind that men of the EFCC had arrived Jos to arrest him as soon as he hands over. So he had to flee through the desert out of the country.�
In what appeared a dart at his former boss, Botmang who performed the ceremony with the chief Judge of the State, Lazarus Dakyen said he was happy that he could still freely move around in the state without fears.
In his inauguration speech, Jang, who would prefer that he rather be addressed as the “Governor of Plateau state” against the usual “His Excellency”, thanked the people of the state for their collective determination towards building a new Plateau state, assuring of equal determination to faithfully serve in line with the oath of office he and his deputy, Mrs Paulin Tallen had taken.
Jang also noted that the inauguration was not a time for euphoria of victory, but rather a time of reflection and rededication to the ideals of the state, resolving to do all that would enhance the welfare and improve on the standard of living of the Plateau people.
Assuring of an end to corruption, incompetence, and wasteful spending, Jang promised to run the affairs of the state with high sense of responsibility, honesty, and patriotism, conscious of the fact that each period of history had its special challenges.
“Today offers another opportunity to collectively resolve to make life better for our people under the rule of law, whereby the fundamental rights of every Nigerian will be respected, the era of politicking is over, it is time for good governance,” he assured.
He stated that his administration will turn down the unnecessary and destructive barrier of religion, ethnic and political persuasions and replace them with a united and prosperous Plateau state where every citizen will feel a sense of belonging and of being a stakeholder, and to enable the people regain their collective pride as citizens of a united Plateau, irrespective of creed, tribe, social status and political group.
In Adamawa, the swearing in ceremony of the new Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), took place without the outgoing Governor, Mr. Boni Haruna, as he was speculated to have fled to the Republic of Benin on Sunday May 27, 2007.
The former governor, who allegedly left Yola, the state capital, in a chartered flight on Sunday afternoon after a thanksgiving mass at the EYN Church, Jimeta-Yola, in his honour, ostensibly to attend the national valedictory and investiture dinner in Abuja never showed up at the nation’s capital. Instead, he allegedly escaped through Cotonou, the Beninoise capital taking the famous �NADECO route.�
The former Governor, who has been on the EFCC list for a long time, was alleged to have fled the country to avoid his imminent arrest by operatives of the anti-graft commission.
Indeed, the EFCC had frozen the account of the state in the last three months after the botched impeachment proceedings against the former Governor in November 2006.
But the press secretary to the former Governor, Alhaji Abdulrazak Namdas, who confirmed the absence of his boss from the handing over process in the state on Tuesday could neither explain his whereabouts nor confirm that he was on the run.
He contended that Haruna chose to be absent because he felt that the last electoral process was flawed and that his presence at the handing over process might serve to legitimize the process. He argued that Haruna probably kept away in order to play safe and avoid undue harassment.
In the meantime, Nyako, took his oath of office yesterday.
The event was witnessed by an unprecedented crowd. At exactly 11.35 am, amidst fireworks, after his deputy, Hon. Bala Ngilari, was sworn in, Nyako took his oath of office pledging to fulfill the social contract.
The former deputy chief of defence staff, pledged to work conscientiously to alleviate the suffering of the people of Adamawa state by addressing issues objectively.
He stated that he would focus on certain critical issues affecting the generality of the citizenry of Adamawa State, such as creation of jobs.
He also pledged the provision of good portable water, adequate health facilities, cheap and affordable education and clean environment as some of the priorities of his administration.
Nyako sought the cooperation and loyalty of every segment of the society in the state, to enable him perform what he called a Herculean task, to embark on a rapid, efficient and rational �turn round� of the fortunes of the state, which he said had been devastated in the last eight years, stressing that now it is time to change Adamawa for the better.”
The estranged former deputy Governor, Alhaji Bello Tukur, who performed the handing over process, inspected a guard of honour mounted by men and officers of the Nigerian police force.
He stated that the day guaranteed a new freedom, a more productive and united Adamawa state, adding that the state, once again has the chance for renewal and regeneration of hope, that would help guarantee its integrity.
In Jigawa, speculations that the former Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki may be one of the governors that have fled the country to avoid EFCC arrest were fueled by his absence at the swearing in of Governor Sule Lamido at the Police Parade grounds in Dutse.
Turaki had started several months� accumulated leave early February. Then, he had handed over the reins of government to the Secretary to the state Government (SSG), Alhaji Lawan Ya�u Roni.
The leave had generated some controversy then as some people interpreted it as part of the Governor�s plans to avoid arrest by the EFCC. Then, analysts had envisaged that he would be far away from the state when his immunity would expire on the 29th of May.
His aides had dismissed the suggestions as character assassination engineered by his political enemies. In the words of one of them, �Turaki cannot abandon his people.�
The former Governor also gave credence to the belief that he would not run away when he resumed from his leave immediately after the general election.
Many had believed that he would attend the inauguration to personally hand over to the new Governor and shame his detractors by showing them that he was not hiding from anybody. The programme was also prepared with the expectation that he would be part of the ceremony.
The programme specifically assigned arrival time to the former Governor. He was to arrive with the new Governor.
He however failed to show up at the inauguration. Instead, his SSG who had acted as Governor in his absence attended the ceremony on his behalf. But there was no word as to the reasons for his absence.
THISDAY checks also confirmed that none of his aides know his actual whereabouts or the reasons for his absence.
In the absence of any explanations, rumours spread through the state capital that the former Governor may be on the run.
A source told THISDAY that the Governor may have decided to lie low until he is sure of his status with the EFCC.
The source claimed that Turaki had negotiated with the anti-corruption agency and had allegedly refunded about N17 billion to the coffers of the state government.
�He needs to get the green light from the commission before coming out from hiding�, the source concluded.
Many are now wondering if he would show up, clear his name and take up his position as a Senator of the Federal Republic in the National Assembly next week.
Meanwhile, the new Gov-ernor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido has announced a monthly survival allowance of N7000 for all physically challenged indigenes of Jigawa state as a prelude to the total eradication of begging in the state.
The Governor made the announcement in his post inauguration speech in Dutse shortly after he was sworn in as the third civilian Governor of the state.
He said the programme would be part of a seven point social welfare package for the weak explaining that the weak would be given equal treatment under the new dispensation.
And, to give the new arrangement legal bite, he declared that a bill to that effect would be forwarded to the State House of Assembly within the first week of his administration adding that government would commence the census of those who fall within this social category immediately.
According to him, �It is expected that after one year there will be no beggars in Jigawa state. The essence is to make the state a model of the prospects and possibilities of the theory and practice of fairness and the re-positioning of poor people in such a way that they can be self reliant in the society.�
The new Governor also announced free education up to tertiary level for the girl child in the state.
According to Lamido, �the government of Jigawa is to provide free and automatic education for all girls of school age in the state at all levels of education, and it is anticipated to commence the implementation by next October�.
He then made a personal pledge to the people of Jigawa. He said �I would strive every day as long as I am the chief executive of the state to be the chief advocate, agitator and defender of the weakest groups in the social chain here, as we have equally designed a scorecard by which the government would be told the truth unsullied by protocol and bureaucratic red-tapism.�
The Governor�s swearing-in was witnessed by estactic thousands of citizens of the state who chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) as he was sworn in by the state Chief Judge, Justice Tijjani Abubakar at the Kam Salem Parade Ground in the state capital.
In Enugu, the new State Governor, Barrister Sullivan Chime yesterday assured the people of the state that he will not fail in pursuing his four-point agenda for development in the state.
Addressing the crowd who were at the Opkara Square, Enugu, to witness the swearing-in ceremony, Chime who was sworn-in by the Chief Justice of the State, Hon Justice Innocent Umezulike, said that he will not as governor forget the promise he made to them while soliciting for their votes.
The new governor identified physical infrastructure development, agricultural and industrial development, rural industrialization and social services as the main point of agenda that he will pursue in the state.
Under physical infrastructure development, he said his administration shall promote middle and low-income housing, pipe-borne water and electricity, while under agricultural and industrial development programme, the government shall build economic expansion, tourism and employment.
Similarly, under the rural industrialization and social services, Chime promised that his administration would engender other indices of development as well as form an anchor for basic social services such as education, health, security, law and order. Among others.
Commending the people of the state for the support given to him, the governor said, �as you can be sure you have heard me say it again, my desire and dedication are to serve my people with the fear of God � I therefore commend you to join in and put in whatever is possible to advance our society, Enugu State�.
He added, �right under the guide of the Almighty, who holds the infinite power, to erect a prosperous state, I urge your will to peace, good neighbourliness, co-habitation and selfless contributions to the advancement of our state�.
As part of his vision, the governor declared, �I see an Enugu State where government is open, accountable and responsive to the genuine yearnings of the people and takes action to improve the lives of the people.
“I see an Enugu State where healthcare, quality education, potable water, electricity, transportation, communication will become available to all our people no matter where they are in the state� a state where security of life and property will be a reality�.
Also sworn in yesterday was the Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi speculated to have been on the wanted list of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
Onyebuchi who has been out of scene for months now, even during the electioneering campaign, was said to have been first sworn in at about 8.02am in the Government House by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Umezulike, in what appeared as a tactics of stopping any moves by the operatives of the EFCC from arresting him.
He was again sworn-in at the Okpara Square in what was seen as simply ceremonial.
At the hand over ceremony, the moves by the outgoing Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dan Shere, to perform the role of the Governor having been assigned to represent former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani was stopped by the crowd who attended the occasion.
Shere had risen from his seat to go and review the inaugural parade while the now former Deputy Governor, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi was sitting by the side of Sullivan, a development which immediately attracted instant condemnation from the crowd and the former SSG could not go ahead with the review of the parade.
Shere could not also handover to the governor, Chime, at the Okpara Square, as contained in the programme of events, but may have done this at the Government House.
Nnamani’s absence from yesterday’s ceremony was not surprising as he has been reported as having fled the state over the allegations of massive corruption against him and the fear that he would be arrested by the EFCC with the expiration of the immunity he has been enjoying as governor.
Among those who attended yesterday�s ceremony were the former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, former governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Christian Onoh, heads of security operatives in the state including the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Charles Dawodu, Director of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Francis Sonaike, among others.
In Oyo, former governor Ladoja was conspicuously absent at the ceremony. Only Chief Kolapo Ishola, chairman of the Transition Committee was at the stadium among the former civilian chief executives of the state.
Akala, shortly after his inauguration told the joyous crowd that the journey to victory was tumultuous, “but rather than turn us into vampire with venoms, we are led to see the hands of God and through it all, we have learnt to trust in God who through the adversaries, have taught us to be the wheel to affect the lives of our people positively for an enduring legacy.”
The former governor in a valedictory comment curiously from his residence said his actions were sincere and informed by the need to move the state forward.
In Anambra, the swearing which took place at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, commenced at about 10.25am and was done in the absence of the former governor Mr. Peter Obi who was expected to hand over to the incoming administration.
In Sokoto, former Governor Bafarawa was conspicously absent at the inauguration ceremony of the new administration. He however pledged to offer any form of assistance to the new administration to ensure stability and progress in the state.
Bafarawa, who was represented by the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Chiso Abdullahi Dattijo expressed gratitude to the people for giving him the opportunity to serve, stressing that the new government should make efforts to prople the state forward.
He noted the enormous task in the activities of governance, adding that inspite of challenges in the last eight years, the administration has done its best in bringing economic transformation and progress in the state.
“I am certainly not infallible in discharging my responsibilities, I must have certainly stepped over the toes of some people, some decisions are very tough and were indeed taken in the best interest of the state.”
May302007