Youths chide Dariye over phoney constituency project

The Plateau Youth Council (PYC) in Kanam Local Government Area, yesterday, described as ‘a scam’ the claim by Senator Joshua Dariye (PDP, Plateau Central) that he built an ICT centre for them.

Senator Dariye, a two time governor and senator representing Mangu, Bokkos, Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam local government areas, had last week, distributed bags of fertiliser, motorcycles, sewing machines and other items to his constituents at the Nefur arena in Pankshin.

The event titled: ‘Empowerment Programme of Senator Joshua Dariye’ had listed and captured a picture of a building tagged ‘ICT Centre, Dengi’ on page 30 which the senator allegedly provided.

However, the Kanam chapter of the PYC said the alleged ICT centre was a scam, as no such project existed in any part of the local government.

They said the alleged ICT centre projected by Dariye was an apartment owned by one Uzairu Muhammad in Dengi.

A statement signed by the PYC Chairman, Barr. Adamu Nuhu, also accused the former governor of distributing “20 second hand motorcycles” to the people of Kanam instead of new ones as he earlier promised.

“We want to put it categorically clear that the era of impunity and smokescreen projects is over in Kanam. By this, we therefore, want to remind the senator that he still owes us an ICT centre in Kanam,” the statement said.

However, Dariye’s aide in Dengi, Tasiu Yakubu, could not be reached but another aide of the senator, who did not wish to be named, said the appearance of the building on the programme was a mistake.