Jos/Abuja — President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's convoy was attacked by some angry youths in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State while on his way to pay a condolence visit in the palace of the late Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Victor Dung Pam, who died last Saturday at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

This is the second time Mr. president convoy is being attack in Jos after his campaign train was attacked in a similar circumstances at the same route, near the Jos Central Mosque in Jos in 2007.


An eyewitness account narrated to LEADERSHIP said that as soon as the president's convoy was sighted, some youths came out in their hundreds and started throwing stones, broken battles, sticks and other dangerous weapons at the convoy, destroying the windscreens of some of the vehicles of some people in the convoy.

Some security men who had been controlling movement before the arrival of the president sustained several degrees of injury on their heads while the president's backup Jeep was badly battered.

The windscreens of the cars of the former governor of the state and pioneer National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party, Chief Solomon Lar, the state Commissioner of Finance, Mrs. Clara Ghan, and the Commissioner of Environment, Mr. Nankin Bagudu, were smashed.

A driver of one of the of the damaged vehicles said the youths of the area took everyone unawares when they suddenly appeared on the road, throwing stones and other weapons on the presidential fleet, shouting, "Thief! Thief! Thief! Go away. We don't like you!"

The president, who appeared unperturbed when he was received at the Gbong Gwom's palace, described the death of the paramount ruler as a great loss not only to Plateau State but also the nation.

According to him, the late Gbong Gwom , Da Victor Dung Pam, had served the nation tirelessly as a police officer, reaching the top echelon of his profession before he retired to come and serve his people. He said the monarch would be greatly missed by the people of Plateau State and the country as a whole.

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State thanked Yar'Adua for coming on time to show solidarity with the Plateau people, acknowledging that his coming to commiserate with the people showed the love he had for the people and that he was a true father of the nation.

The governor assured the president of the support of the people of the state to his administration.

Jang described the death of the late Gbong Gwom as a great loss to the state and said the vacuum would not be easily filled, considering the monumental achievements he recorded while serving his people.

Speaking in the same vein, President of the Plateau State Traditional Council and the Long Goemai of Shendam, Miskoom Hulbert Shaldas, said the late Gbong Gwom was an epitome of peace and was a source of inspiration to the council.

In his reaction, former Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, said those who were said to have stoned Yar'Adua were not Muslims.

He said some sponsored thugs carried out the attack in order to give the Muslim community a bad name.

Nakande, who spoke on behalf of the Muslim community in Jos, said his people would soon pay a condolence visit to the palace of late Gbong Gwon.

Among those in the president's entourage were the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, the National Vice Chairman, North, National Secretary of the party and the Minister of State for Power.

Media Adviser to Governor Jang, Mr. Daniel Manjang, described the attack on the president as a "high sense of irresponsibility which the government would not condone."

In his words: "The government would make effort to fish out those perpertrators of this act and ensure that they are dealt with accordingly," he charged.

Meanwhile, Senators George Akume (Benue, PDP) and Satty Gogwim (Plateau, AC) have condoled Governor Jang over the death of the Gbong Gwom Jos, who died in the early morning of Saturday.

In separate letters of condolence signed by Mrs Becky Orpin for Akume, and Dalop Benshak for Gogwim, the two senators expressed shock over the demise of the traditional ruler who served for only five years on the throne.

"I received the news of the sudden death of his royal highness, Da Gbong Gwom, with pain and sadness. It is painful as it is coming at a time the monarch was working hard to restore peace in Jos following the recent crisis. As a man of peace, his contributions have been laudable in working together with the state government to bring a lasting peace to the state. I pray that the good Lord will grant the Plateau State government, the governor and the people the fortitude to bear the loss, and may his gentle soul rest in peace with the Lord', Akume said.

On his part, Gogwim said, "I could not believe the news that Da Gbong Gwom has gone to be with the Lord, especially at a time like this. I am pained by his death, and will remember him for what he stood for in the state. As the Chairman of the State Traditional Council, he discharged his responsibilities with utmost dignity, selflessness, love and the fear of God. He has carried his lieutenants along and has really helped to restore peace in the state. I sympathise with the governor, Da Jonah Jang, the Berom people and the entire Plateau State Traditional Council over this big loss, and may God grant his immediate family the fortitude to remain steadfast."

Gogwim said he personally knew the late traditional ruler since his days as a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, saying he was diligent in his work, having rose to the highest position in the force, with qualities that endeared his people to elect him to lead them as their traditional ruler. He called on the governor and the entire government to take heart.

Gbong Gwom, a retired AIG, was elected as traditional ruler in 2002 after the death of his predecessor, Da Dr Fom Bot, and since then, he had been enjoying the confidence and support of the other traditional rulers, who regarded him with high esteem. He brought the experience of policing to bear on his new responsibility, by encouraging both Christians and Muslims, especially in Jos north local government area.

His burial, which is yet to be done, will be performed in accordance with Berom traditional rites.


Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200903100339.html

Let just hope a revolution starts.