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Tag: Bala Dan Abu

  • Breaking: Five killed, Gov’s convoy attacked at Buhari’s rally

    Five persons were on Thursday feared killed and many injured in Taraba during President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in the northeastern state.

    Two were said to be in critical state.

    Governor Ishaku’s convoy was also attacked on its way out of the Danbaba Suntai Airport where he, his deputy Haruna Manu and other officials of the government went to see off the president at the end of his rally.

    All of the governor’s posters and billboards and those of Atiku Abubakar in the State capital, Jalingo, were mutilated.

    Bala Dan Abu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Darius Ishaku, who confirmed the incident, condemned the “unfortunate bloodletting” and faulted security agents of negligence of duty.

    Abu, who briefed reporters in Government House said: “The deputy governor’s car and several other cars in the convoy, including that of the commissioner of police and a special Adviser to the governor, were damaged.

    “The thugs, most of whom were imported from neighbouring states to create the false impression that APC enjoys a large following in the state, came heavily armed.

    Read Also: Photos from Buhari’s campaign in Taraba, Nasarawa

    “They carried guns, cutlasses and sticks, which they displayed openly and in the full glare of security agents who merely looked the other way,” Abu said.

    The governor’s media chief also accused the “APC thugs” of going round Jalingo metropolis and destroying PDP posters and billboards.

    “They were given cover by the security agencies who fired gunshots to scare away those who may dare to confront them.

    “What happened today is a big contrast to the PDP presidential flag-off of February 5 in Jalingo, which attracted a large crowd but recorded no incidence of crisis and deaths.

    “Residents of Wukari are still leaking the wounds of the APC violent visitation of January 29, during which PDP posters and bill boards were torn and a member of the PDP killed.

    “The Taraba State government will no longer fold its arms while innocent people are being killed and maimed,” Abu said.

  • Peace remains most critical need – Ishaku

    Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku on Tuesday reminded Muslims that peace remains the most critical need in Nigeria especially in Taraba State where many residents have died and thousands displaced from their ancestral homes to crisis.

    He spoke in a statement while rejoicing with Muslims on the Eid-el-Kabir. “I wish all Muslims a happy, peaceful and delightful Eid-el-Kabir celebration,” the statement said.

    The governor’s Sallah felicitation message was delivered by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu.

    “I rejoice with the Muslim Ummah in Taraba State as they join their counterparts in Nigeria and all over the world to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

    Read Also: Ortom, Ishaku call for restructuring

    “Peace remains the most critical need of the state and this can only be achieved and sustained if the people remain united against the agents of destabilisation; against those who are bent on causing breakdown of law and order in the land,” the governor said.

    Ishaku prayed for “Allah’s abundant blessings and benevolence upon Nigerians.” He thanked God for the gift of life, and reminded Sallah celebrants of the need for them to continue to work very hard for peace in Taraba and the country.

    The governor re-assured them of government’s commitment to his “rescue agenda” which he noted, has already impacted positively in job creation and skills acquisition and also led to unprecedented improvements in WAEC scores by Taraba students.

    “The provision of water to more than 250 communities, renovation and re-equipment of major hospitals in the state and construction of major roads in the three senatorial zone etc, are only a few of the numerous achievements my administration has put in place.

    “In the years ahead, a lot more will be done in terms of service delivery and in support of the welfare of the people. Let me urge all indigenes and non-indigenes of the state to continue to support this administration.”

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Peace remains most critical need – Ishaku

    Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku on Tuesday reminded Muslims that peace remains the most critical need in Nigeria especially in Taraba State where many residents have died and thousands displaced from their ancestral homes to crisis.

    He spoke in a statement while rejoicing with Muslims on the Eid-el-Kabir. “I wish all Muslims a happy, peaceful and delightful Eid-el-Kabir celebration,” the statement said.

    The governor’s Sallah felicitation message was delivered by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu.

    “I rejoice with the Muslim Ummah in Taraba State as they join their counterparts in Nigeria and all over the world to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

    “Peace remains the most critical need of the state and this can only be achieved and sustained if the people remain united against the agents of destabilisation; against those who are bent on causing breakdown of law and order in the land,” the governor said.

    Ishaku prayed for “Allah’s abundant blessings and benevolence upon Nigerians.” He thank God for the gift of life, and reminded Sallah celebrants of the need for them to continue to work very hard for peace in Taraba and the country.

    Read Also: Eid-El-Kabir: Embrace peace, love – Lagos APC women leader

    The governor re-assured them of government’s commitment to his “rescue agenda” which he noted, has already impacted positively in job creation and skills acquisition and also led to an unprecedented improvements in WAEC scores by Taraba students.

    “The provision of water to more than 250 communities, renovation and re-equipment of major hospitals in the state and construction of major roads in the three senatorial zone etc, are only a few of the numerous achievements my administration has put in place.

    “In the years ahead, a lot more will be done in terms of service delivery and in support of the welfare of the people. Let me urge all indigenes and non-indigenes of the state to continue to support this administration.”

  • Ishaku: No basis to attack Sen. Alhassan during election

    Governor Darius Ishaku on Monday distanced himself from the attack on the minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jummai Alhassan.

    The governor, reacting through his media and publicity chief, Bala Dan Abu, said the attack on Mrs Alhassan was a “revolt by the rented crowd she hired from Gombe and Bauchi, knowing well she would be defeated in the election.”

    Alhassan, a former senator representing Taraba north, was on Saturday attacked in Rogo Ward of Takum when she went out to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in the House of Assembly bye-election.

    The bye-election followed the death of the former member, Hosea Ibi, who was kidnapped in December last year and killed in January.

    The SUV vehicles belonging to Alhassan and that of the State Chairman of APC, Abdulmumini Vaki, were shattered at the back.

    Alhassan who said she thank God that no life was lost, described thee attack as “alien,” because the attackers were not home people but hired thugs of the governor.

    “Rogo Ward is a strong hold of the APC, they wouldn’t have attacked me. The attack was from behind, and the attackers were sponsored by the PDP government of Governor Darius Ishaku; they came from Wukari, Bali and Jalingo.

    “The governor was not comfortable when he discover APC was winning the poll,” she said.

    Read Also: Ortom, Ishaku call for restructuring

    But the governor’s media assistant on Monday said: “There is no basis to attack the minister. Governor Darius Ishaku has no reason to attack Alhassan or anybody from the opposition in order to win an election.

    “You know he (Ishaku) is a homebody of Takum; as governor, he has done well, so, from the beginning it was known that PDP will win the election.

    “The attack was planned and manipulated by Alhassan to win public sympathy because she has lost out.

    “She mismanaged and failed to pay the people he brought from outside the State. So, she suffered a revolt from the rented crowd she couldn’t pay. Even the non payment could be deliberate for the revolt to take place so that she will achieve her desire.”

    In the bye-election, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) fielded Ajiya Garba while Atem Ansho is flew the banner of the APC.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the PDP candidate as winner of the State Assembly bye-election.

    According to the INEC’s returning officer, Dr. Ayuba Daniel, the PDP polled 10,725 votes to carry the day, while APC scored 3,266 votes. There were seven other political parties with paucity of votes.

    The APC candidate, Atem Ansho, has rejected the election result by INEC. He told The Nation he was holding talks with his legal counsel to challenge the legitimacy of the PDP victory in court.

    There were a total of 2126 valid votes of 2275 accredited voters, of which 149 were cancelled. Nine polling units were canceled.

    Governor Ishaku in a press conference in Takum said the PDP won because of the achievements he has done.

    Ishaku said: “From Baba Cucumber, they graduated me to be called The Waterman, because of my achievements in the water sector, which earned me an award.

    “In the southern Taraba, among other projects, I provided a state of the art hospital. And water is life, I decided to dig boreholes in Takum I, where Chachanji alone has five boreholes, which were commissioned before the election.”