A political group, Genuine Plateau Coalition for APC (GPCA) has said that the former governor of Plateau State Joshua Dariye cannot be trusted.
The coalition said this in a statement on Saturday by Godfrey Miaphen Alexander.
The statement said, “Few days ago, we had it on good authority that a former governor of Plateau state, Sen. Joshua Dariye, has been going about, trying to use the opportunity of his closeness to leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national level, to solicit for funds, in the guise that he needs the resources to campaign and work for the success of the APC in the next general elections.
“We learnt from reliable sources, that Dariye has gone very far in that regard and is only waiting to cash in while posing as a committed and genuine party leader in Plateau who needs to be supported to sell the APC and its candidates across board.
“We however wish to let the leaders of our party and our supporters across the country know that succumbing to his wiles will be inimical to the chances of the party winning in the next general elections.
“While on the surface, it appears like Sen Dariye is working for the APC, the former governor is one of those working strenuously behind the scenes to cripple, dismantle and destroy the party and it’s candidates.
“Not only does the former governor not wish the APC and its candidates including our presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim well in the next general elections, he has set machinery in motion to ensure that other candidates of the party in Plateau State are not returned.
“It is an open secret to those of us who are the committed and genuine members of the APC in Plateau State that Dariye, who by the virtue of his position as a former governor should have been one of the leading lights of the party in the state, is also working in cahoots with candidates of other parties to bring down the APC.
“The evidences are also contained in both what he has said and what he has done publicly against the interest of the party.
“It is glaring that Dariye’s preferred candidate in the next presidential elections is Peter Obi of the Labour Party and not Asiwaju Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu, while his support for the next governor of Plateau State is the LP candidate, Dr. Patrick Dakum.
“It is on record that the former governor had addressed Christian clerics shortly after the primaries and had told them that voting for APC candidates at any level is not just reprehensible but akin to crucifying Jesus Christ a second time!
“As if that was not calumnious and damaging enough, the former governor in a recent public statement together with the LP governorship candidate in Plateau State also berated the Director General of the Tinubu/Shettima APC Presidential Campaign Council, Gov Simon Lalong and called him names for the efforts the governor is making in selling the APC presidential candidate and others in Plateau State.
“Driven by hatred to Gov Lalong who as a true democrat, yielded to the popular wish of the people for Prof Nentawe Yilwada to emerge the Plateau APC governorship candidate through a transparent primary, Dariye has taken it personal that the Governor did not use his office to subvert the wishes of the people so that his preferred candidate , Dr. Dakum would have his way.
“In total disregard to the human consideration of President Buhari’s efforts through Gov Lalong to secure his release from prison, Dariye is currently at the forefront exploiting the volatile sentiment of religion to instigate the people into viewing the APC presidential ticket as a Muslim/Muslim ticket just to demean the ticket and diminish the chances of the APC in the next elections.
“We have to alert our party leaders and supporters about this due to the fact that Dariye even boasted that he’ll use cunny ways to get funding from the APC presidential candidate and his running mate while pretending to be supporting them and on receipt of such funds, would move hastily to dislodge the APC in his base and deliver Plateau to Labour Party.
“Not only that, it has also been revealed that his further intention is to ensure that Gov Lalong not only fails to bring a successor from the APC but to make sure the Governor loses his Senatorial bid.
“Despite the conspiracy, we wish to state that the people of Plateau are confident that given the record performance of the APC in Nigeria, it shall win not only at the presidential elections but even majority governorship seats and seats at the National Assembly as well.
“The whole truth about the conspiracy going on on the Plateau will soon be revealed and we urge all our supporters to remain steadfast as victory is imminent.”
The former governor could not be reached for comment.
