Former Governor of Plateau, Chief Joshua Dariye, on Monday reviewed his eight years as governor and regretted that he “trusted too many undeserving people” when he was in power.

“Looking back at my eight years as governor, and with the benefit of hindsight, there are so many things I would have done differently.

“But, one clear thing I regret is that I trusted many people that did not deserve to even come near me,” Dariye, who currently represents Plateau Central in the senate, told the News Agency of Nigeria, in Jos.

He said that his eyes “opened very widely” after he left office, which made him to regret associating with, and trusting so many people that turned out to be “green snakes in green grass”.

Former Governor of Plateau, Chief Joshua Dariye, on Monday reviewed his eight years as governor and regretted that he “trusted too many undeserving people” when he was in power.

“Looking back at my eight years as governor, and with the benefit of hindsight, there are so many things I would have done differently.

“But, one clear thing I regret is that I trusted many people that did not deserve to even come near me,” Dariye, who currently represents Plateau Central in the senate, told the News Agency of Nigeria, in Jos.

He said that his eyes “opened very widely” after he left office, which made him to regret associating with, and trusting so many people that turned out to be “green snakes in green grass”.

Dariye, however urged those in leadership positions to place the interest of the public far above their selfish desires, saying that such sacrifice was crucial for the progress of the country.

The former governor also advised current leaders to respect their predecessors, if they expected their successors to also respect them after their tenure.

“I think it is an unwritten law of nature; what goes round, must surely come round because history has a stubborn way of repeating itself,” he said.

Dariye advised leaders to discard ethno-religious and political differences and treat all segments of the population fairly.

On the 2015 elections, the former governor expressed optimism that the process would be peaceful, noting that Nigerians were fed up with crises.

“All Nigerians want a very democratic process; whoever emerges through such process can be assured of full support from all corners,” he said.

The senator cautioned the elite against manipulating the electoral process, and called for more enlightenment that would help the electorate to decide the best among contestants.

count | 12

Dariye: I was too trusting of everyone when I was Governor of Plateau