P.M. News (Lagos)
20 May 2004
The declaration of a state of emergency in Plateau State by the federal government has further polarised the people of Kaduna State along ethnic and religious lines.
President Olusegun Obasanjo had on Tuesday in a nationwide broadcast proclaimed a state of emergency in Plateau State to halt the apparent breakdown of law and order in parts of the country.
Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna who sought the opinion of people on the matter observed that while most Muslims saluted the president over the decision, their Christian counterparts opposed it.
NAN also observed that even working journalists in the state were sharply divided, as their reactions appeared influenced by emotion and primordial sentiments.
The Taliban Bauchi and one time Minister of Communications during Alhaji Shehu Shagari's administration, Dr Ibrahim Tahir, commended the president for declaring a state of emergency in Plateau State.
He expressed optimism that the declaration would restore peace and harmony among the people of Kaduna State.
He accused the deputy governor of Plateau State, Chief Michael Botmang, of misleading the suspended governor of the state, Chief Joshua Dariye.
On his part, the Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria, Northern chapter, Mr Sa'idu Dogo, condemned the measure, saying that the decision would further worsen the Plateau crisis rather than solving them.
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