Sacked LG chairman says “I’m only a scapegoat”

Mr Simon Angyol, Chairman, Bokkos Local Government in Plateau, who was sacked over the lingering violence in the area, has said that he was used as a scapegoat.

Lalong, in a letter to the Plateau House of Assembly on Tuesday, intimated them of Angyol’s sack which the lawmakers promptly approved.

The governor accused Angyol of negligence which, he said, was responsible for the escalation of the violence that lasted four days.

The Police Command in Plateau has confirmed that 30 people were killed and scores injured in the violence that hit 10 villages in Daffo District of the local government.

A government statement has also confirmed that more than 5,000 people had been displaced with many of them camped in worship centres, schools and residents of relations.

But Angyol, who expressed surprised at the governor’s action, said that it was not fair to blame him for the crisis that was not peculiar to Bokkos Local Government.

“Many parts of Plateau are facing similar disturbances; Bassa, Jos South, Riyom and Barkin-Ladi are equally affected.

“To the best of my knowledge, no local government chairman has been blamed for the violence in their areas. Why should my local government be singled out?

“I am only a victim of circumstances because no one has ever called me to find out what happened here, or even tell me where I went wrong to warrant my removal,” he said.

He also reacted to the allegations that he slapped Mr Sunday Maren, the member representing Bokkos constituency at the Plateau House of Assembly, over the crisis.

“It is true that we had a quarrel with the member, but I did not slap him.

“I had expected members of the House of Assembly to invite me so as to listen to my version, but they did not do that. That is why I feel that they were not fair to me.

“I am a Christian and will not tell lies over this issue. I cannot lie to God. I did not slap anybody,” he said.

The sacked chairman, however, said that he had no regret over the development.

“I did not do anything wrong, to the best of my knowledge. If I did, I would have run to the governor or to the lawmakers to beg and apologise. I am not desperate for that position. I leave everything to God.”