President Olusegun Obasanjo this morning wielded the big stick to stop the incessant commual and ethnic clashes in Plateau State, where more than 600 people have died in the last one month in religious clashes, by imposing a State of Emergency on the state.

By this measure, Governor Joshua Dariye and members of the state House of Assembly have lost their mandate to represent the people and are, therefore, suspended for six months.

In their place, President Obasanjo appointed a Sole Administrator Lt-Gen Mohammed Chris Alli (retd), former Chief of Army Staff to take charge of affairs in the troubled state.

Citing Part II Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, President Obasanjo said "The Nigerian Constitution of 1999 foresees the ultimate of emergency in any part of or all of Nigeria and provides for it as the last resort. Therefore, by virtue of Section 305 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) I hereby declare a State of Emergency in Plateau State. This declaration has been published in a Federal Gazette as of today".

President Obasanjo blamed the governor for the escalation of tension in the state, saying "what has become clear is that the constituted authority in Plateau State is incapable of maintaining law and order, giving confidence to the people, managing religious, ethnic and social pluralism, and protecting lives and property of all citizens or determinedly unwilling to do so." He accused Governor Dariye of lacking the capacity to promote reconciliation rehabilitation, forgiveness, peace, harmony and stability.

"If anything, some of his utterances, his lackadaisical attitude and seeming unevenhandedness over the salient and contending issues present him as not just part of the problem, but also an instigator and a threat to peace," he declared.

The President listed all the efforts he made to restore peace to the state, but regretted that his efforts were frustrated by political leaders in the state.

"I have done everything to bring lasting peace to Plateau State. If nothing else, the political leadership in the state has failed woefully to guarantee peace and security and in many instances, it has wittingly and unwittingly encouraged acts that have subverted peace and tranquility," he stated.

"The latest evidence of gross dereliction of duty, incompetence and insensitivity to the situation on ground in Plateau as well as disregard and disrespect for constituted authority was, when, contrary to my advise, that governors should inform me before they travel out of the country, so that I can deal with their deputies when they are away, as well as know where to find them, the Governor of Plateau State travelled out without notifying me. In this year alone the Governor of Plateau State has travelled out of the country more than four times without bothering to notify me," he stated.

Meanwhile, reaction to the declaration of state of emergency has been divergent, with two Lagos human rights activists, Mr. Femi Falana and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, describing the measure as illegal and unconstitutional.

Falana said the president has acted unconstitutionally by the measure, while Chief Fawehinmi in his reaction to the imposition of a state of emergency in Plateau State, described it as unconstitutional.

"It is wrong. Obasanjo has violated the constitution. It means that he has lost control of governance of the country. It means that he is no longer capable of maintaining law and order in the country. He should resign immediately. We're back to 1962," Chief Fawehinmi said.

Reports from Jos, the state capital, revealed this morning that tension pervaded the air as civil servants moved out of their offices. It was learnt that the Government House was also shut.

The suspended governor was also turned back from Aso Rock this morning.

It would be recalled that more than 640 people were recently killed in Yelwa, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State in clashes involving mainly Tarok Christians and Muslim Fulani herdsmen.

The Tarok accused the herdsmen of trampling on their farms with their cattle, while the Fulani herdsmen said the Tarok had converted all their grazing lands to farms.