Former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye has called for calm over the removal of Dr Julius Dabilang as the Senior District Head of Mushere in Bokkos Local Government Area.
Dariye spoke after an expanded Mushere chiefdom stakeholders meeting held on Saturday in Jos.
The state government had earlier appointed Dabilang as the Senior District Head of Mushere.
However, some individuals petitioned the appointment, citing Dabilang’s conviction by a Nasarawa High Court in 2023.
The removal triggered protests by women in the community, who marched naked through the streets.
The petitioners, relying on the court judgement, compelled government to depose Dabilang from office.
Noting that the removal followed due process, Dariye urged Mushere residents to remain calm and law-abiding.
He noted that the meeting included district heads and title holders across the chiefdom.
He lamented that the removal had caused deep division, prompting intervention by traditional leaders and key stakeholders.
“At the time of selection, many selectors were unaware that he had been convicted of a criminal case.
“They did not know. But the law is the law; he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
“We must move forward and unite. We cannot remain divided, while our women protest naked.
“We have faced killings before, yet our women never protested naked. Nudity is alien to Mushere; it is strange to our land,” he said.
Dariye, who is also a former Plateau Central Senator, commended government for the removal, but criticised poor communication.
He said the authorities should have barred Dabilang from the community, warning that his presence is fuelling tension.
He urged the swift appointment of an acting district head pending a substantive replacement.
Lending his voice, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr Gideon Kuttu said government acted within the law, noting that the petitioners also acted lawfully, backed by evidence of Dabilang’s conviction.
He said the deposed district head breached the law by concealing his conviction while seeking the position.
“Once convicted, you should not contest such positions; the truth will eventually emerge.
“Those who petitioned the ttorney-general acted within the law, armed with evidence of his conviction,” he said.
Kuttu urged Dabilang to stop inflaming tensions and advised residents to examine the facts carefully.
Also speaking, the President of Mushere Youth Movement, Kopmut Shadrach pledged to calm the aggrieved youths.
“Our women acted in ignorance; now we know the truth and will sensitise our people.
“Our youths planned protests, but with the facts clear, we will not allow it to happen,” he said.