State of Emergency Declared in Nigerian State
Tuesday, May 18, 2004; 6:45 AM
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Nigeria's civilian president declared a state of emergency Tuesday in the violence-ravaged central state of Plateau, replacing the state's elected governor with a former military general and dissolving its legislature.
The declaration gives President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration sweeping powers to rule by decree in the state where hundreds have been killed in recent weeks in fighting pitting Christian and Muslim ethnic groups.
In an address on state radio, Obasanjo said he was suspending Gov. Joshua Dariye and other elected state officials who he said had "wittingly and unwittingly encouraged acts that have subverted peace and tranquility."
Replacing Dariye is retired Maj. Gen. Chris Ali, a state resident who served in the Nigerian army under previous junta rulers.