Governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong has expressed displeasure over the stastics of victims of June 24 attacks in Barkinladi local government given to President Muhammadu Buhari by COCIN President Rev Dr. Dachollom Datiri recently, during his visit to presidency.
He said, “It is on record that of recent, statistics of the IDPs given to the presidency does not tally with what we have as a government simply due to none collaboration with the relevant government Agency.”
It will be recalled that the COCIN President had told President Buhari recently in Abuja, that the true story about Plateau civil unrest was hidden to him by the Plateau state government, stressing that even on the day of the President’s two day visit in Jos in March, 2018, scores were killed.
Governor Lalong expressed government feelings Wednesday, at COCIN headquarters in Jos, during a session in an address to the church, at the ongoing annual general church council meeting, GCC.
The governor further lamented that the statistics of death and those of property allegedly destroyed during the unrest as presented to President Buhari by COCIN President was not correct, and capable of creating another round of unrest.
“Such distorted information has far reaching implications of not only sending wrong signals of alienating some bona-fide citizens but will shortchange our dear state in the area of funding and handling of the resettlement and rehabilitation of our IDPs.”
The governor said leadership of COCIN was not working in synergy with government policies and programmes, he beg COCIN members to support government policies.
“I implore the church to work in synergy with our Government which is your Government, to clarify issues and records before presenting them beyond the the boundaries of Plateau; so that we will give adequate and proper statistics of events unfolding in our State to the outside world.”
Lalong disabuse the minds of the public over the death toll, the COCIN President told President Buhari.
“It is on record that of recent, statistics of the IDPs given to the presidency does not tally with what we have as a government simply due to none collaboration with the relevant government Agency. I have to say this, as the statistics given out is far less than what we have in our records.”
Responding to the allegations, the COCIN President Rev Dr. Dachollom Datiri refuted the allegations of the governor, insisted that the church is not working in disharmony with government.
The Christian cleric said it stands for the truth, and do not belong to any political party, nor was playing partisan politics, therefore, shall say what represent the truth, whoever it might affect.
“We do not belong to any political party, but we will not fail to tell the truth anywhere, even if it affect government policies.”
According to the Christian cleric, the church will not support any government which has anti people policies.
The general church council meeting (GCC) of the COCIN church ends this Friday, a communiqué to address national issues and those of the denormination is been expected at the end of the four day meeting on going in Jos.