GOVERNOR Darius Ishaku has accused member representing Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency in National Assembly, Danjuma Shiddi, of instigating crisis in the state by using Samaila Yakubu (Young JP), described as “a notorious political thug”.
Danjuma Shiddi is running for Taraba South senatorial seat under APC alongside Darius Ishaku of PDP.
In a news conference in Jalingo, Commissioner for Information and National Orientation, Lois Emmanuel, made reference to a news conference by the lawmaker where he alleged democracy was collapsing in Taraba.
“Samaila, the director general of my campaign organisation, was whisked away in a commando-style operation on Monday by a security operatives.
‘’He was severely beaten up, with wounds all over his body, stripped naked before being whisked to detention where he still remained.
“The trumped-up charges cannot be farther from the truth as there were video recordings of the victim placating the people not to resort to violence…” Shiddi said.
But the commissioner blamed Yakubu who she claimed was sponsored by the lawmaker, for disrupting the peace in Takum.
She also accused Shiddi of being desperate for power and for accusing the governor for the arrest of Yakubu.
“In his failed attempt to give flesh and vent to his claim of a “collapsing democracy” in the state, he tried vainly to link the governor to the arrest of Samaila Yakubu (Young JP), a notorious political thug under his payroll.
“”Samaila was arrested by the Police in Takum for leading yet another round of violent on a day marking the foundation laying of a private university in the same town.’’ she said.
“This is even as the state governor, being the chief security officer of Taraba, and a host of other important dignitaries were around to grace the occasion. Young JP and his band of gangsters did not only harass innocent residents alone, their conducts on this particular day also involved burning of tyres and destruction of any movable properties like vehicles, motorbikes and campaign billboards of rival political parties outside the APC. The situation sent people panicking, most especially, the visiting guests,” Emmanuel stated.
According to her, when the the crisis was degenerating into chaos, “security operatives led by the police had to intervene in order to save the day”.
“So, for Honorable Danji to stand in the cozy prescient of the National Assembly press gallery and raised a false alarm over the arrest of a notorious political thug, who has constituted himself into an out-law and causing pains on the daily existence of the people of Takum and environs beats the imagination of any discerning mind. To have even attempted that path of infamy, by accusing His Excellency, Arc Darius Ishaku, of culpability shows clearly the desperate desire to shield a potentially dangerous criminal who is poised to re enact or even surpass the in glorious bloody regime of Late Terwase Akwaza (AKA GANA) within the Taraba – Benue axis in the recent past.
“For the records, Danji SS, as he enjoys being addressed, has by this singular action exposed his deep seated desperation for power. His disdain for the rule of law even as he always lay claim to some levels of security expertise has equally been laid bare,” she added.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the culprit has a pending court case before him but jumped bail and that he is being protected by the lawmaker.
“Samaila and co were then charged to court via case file No. TRST/8C/2021 in the matter of the State VS Samaila Yakubu and 11 others before justice D.N. Buba of High court 7 Jalingo on the 22/04/2021. They were arraigned on six count charges of Criminal Conspiracy, Mischief, Voluntarily Causing Hurt, Forgery, Inciting Disturbances and Assault.
“They were granted bail while Danji SS and his boss in Abuja facilitated their freedom.
“It is interesting to know that since they were taken on bail by Danji Shiddi, over one year ago, they have refused to re-appear in Court, thereby Jumping bail. All attempts by the court to serve them notices have been unsuccessful, because they deliberately decided to evade service. The court even went further to issue warrant of arrest, but the police also failed to produce them in court,” Emmanuel added.
She also stated that the governor was too busy with state matters and is not in any position to allow for unnecessary distractions like those coming from the lawmaker.
“For the avoidance of doubt, His Excellency will not subscribe to any act of blackmail from any quarters in his determined efforts to create conducive environment for peaceful conduct of elections in the state come 2023,” she concluded.