Dariye Preaches Forgiveness At Fmr. Deputy, Botmang’s Funeral

FROM LEFT: FORMER NIGERIA'S AMBASSADOR TO SWITZERLAND, AMB. YAHAYA KWANDE; FORMER DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, SEN. IBRAHIM MANTU AND FORMER GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU, MR FIDELIS TAPGUN, DURING THE REQUIEM MASS FOR A FORMER GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU, MR MICHEAL BOT-MANG IN JOS ON THURSDAY 30/1/2014
FROM LEFT: FORMER NIGERIA’S AMBASSADOR TO SWITZERLAND, AMB. YAHAYA KWANDE; FORMER DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, SEN. IBRAHIM MANTU AND FORMER GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU, MR FIDELIS TAPGUN, DURING THE REQUIEM MASS FOR A FORMER GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU, MR MICHEAL BOT-MANG IN JOS ON THURSDAY 30/1/2014

The remains of the former deputy Governor of Plateau State, Michael Botmang, was committed to mother earth yesterday with his former boss, Joshua Dariye preaching forgiveness at the funeral.

Botmang, 76, died on January 18 at his residence in Zawan after a protracted kidney disease.

At the funeral mass for the deceased, the Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama, advised politicians in the country not to keep malice with one another as life on earth was short and temporary.

“Do not mortgage your salvation with politics”, Mr. Kaigama urged.

Kaigama noted that late Mr. Botmang impacted the lives of the less privileged in a positive way and called on serving politicians to emulate the political life style of the former deputy governor.

The deputy Governor of Plateau State, Ignatius Longjan, said the late Botmang was an asset not just to his immediate community, but the entire state.

Mr. Longjan acknowledged Mr. Botmang’s contributions to the development of the state.

“He will be greatly missed by all of us who knows him as a sound and soft minded person. He contributed his quota to the development of our dear state, his impact will remain fresh in our minds”, Mr. Longjan said.

In a parley with journalists shortly after the church service, a former governor of the state now Senator, Joshua Dariye, under whom Mr. Botmang served as deputy for two terms, described the deceased as a humble man.

Dariye also said that he had buried the hatchet with his former deputy before the latter’s passing away.

“If you cannot forgive yourself, then, you cannot forgive any one; we have forgiven ourselves long ago. That is why I always tell people I come across each day not to hold people in mind; we should learn to forgive ourselves no matter the issues. The life we are living today is temporary; none of us will be buried with his or her wealth, title and positions. The political offices we have held and some of us are currently occupying here on earth are a mere privilege”, Mr. Dariye said.

While acknowledging the presence of sympathizers at the funeral, Mr. Botmang’s widow, Lydia, said her husband was a God-fearing person who accorded respect to all humanity. She affirmed that her late husband made peace with all his perceived political enemies before his death.

Some of the guests at the funeral included Plateau State Deputy Governor, Ignatius Longjan, Kennedy Waku, Joshua Dariye, Gyang Pwajok, Fedelis Tapgun, Ibrahim Mantu, Yahaya Kwande, Pauline Tallen, Jeremiah Useni, Shardrack Best, Bitrus Atukum, members of the state executive council, national and state assembly members, as well as traditional rulers.