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Tag: Darius Ishaku

  • My re-election is to heal the wounds in Taraba, says Ishaku

    Taraba state Governor, Darius Ishaku has said that he sees his second coming as an opportunity for him to heal all the ethnic, socio-political and religious wounds in the state.

    He dedicated the election to Taraba people who, he said, turned out in numbers to decide in his favour.

    Ishaku, who spoke to journalists on his victory, condemned the “hooliganism” used by politicians during the polls.

    He said: “The campaigns for the elections, in a way, have shaken the foundation of our unity as a people. Peace that we all labored collectively to achieve was gravely threatened on the altar of sentiments that we need not promote.

    “We all owe ourselves, particularly the generation of young Tarabans, the duty to downplay such divisive tendencies and work together assiduously for the unity and progress of our dear state.

    “To members of other political parties who contested the election with us, I commend your courage and efforts. In politics, as in all games involving contestants, there is always a loser and there is always a winner.

    Read Also: Ishaku re-elected as Taraba governor

    “My reelection is to heal the wounds of divisions in Taraba state. Therefore, I extend the olive branch across political borderlines to build a relationship that will enable all of us serve our people creditably.

    “Service to the people is the ultimate goal of politics and governance. Nothing must be done to undermine that concept of our roles and duties as leaders of our people.”

    The governor revealed he was happier winning a second term, because “it shows I have served the people well and they want me to continue. It is better to serve than to be served.”

    Ishaku, an architect, revealed that his second coming was to “consolidate” on the gains of what his administration did in the first four years.

    “The first term was a foundation laying stage. Now, we are going to erect the building and provide the roof to complete the structure,” he said.

  • Ishaku sure of victory, calls for peaceful guber polls

    Governor Darius Ishaku has expressed confidence he will be re-elected in free, fair, peaceful and credible ballots in Taraba state.

    He spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, urging the people to go out in numbers on Saturday, March 9 and vote.

    Ishaku who is flying the flag of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), advised his supporters to conduct themselves peacefully during voting.

    He alleged that his main challenger and the All Progressives Congress (APC), knowing they will lose in a serene atmosphere, were plotting violence for the polls to postpone.

    Read Also: Ishaku gets PDP flag, ready for 2019 poll

    “I am aware of all their plans -they don’t want the election to hold. But my concept is that peace should always reign in whatever we do. Peace is a prerequisite of the development Nigerians are yearning for.

    “You are a journalist, it is your job to educate the electorate about their civic responsibility, by telling them to go out and vote on the election day. They should vote peacefully; they shouldn’t fight; they shouldn’t quarrel,” he said.

    Speaking on what he expect to be the outcome of the gubernatorial poll in Taraba come Saturday, Ishaku said he expects an easy ride, given his performance, which he said has earned him several awards.

    He noted that the election is one of the principal features of democracy, and democracy is about the people, of which the people are the government.

    Ishaku said a win for him means consolidating the gains of the “Rescue Agenda” of his administration in the first four years, which he described as a “foundation laying stage.”

  • Ishaku: My first term was foundation laying stage

    Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, has described his first term in office as “a foundation laying stage,” saying he needs a second term to complete all that he started.
    After a successful campaign tour of Southern Taraba -his political district, Ishaku stated at the weekend that he was confident of sweeping the gubernatorial poll on March 2.
    The tour in southern Taraba took him to Ussa, Ibi, Wukari and Donga local government areas. He rounded up in Takum -his country home, where he told supporters he was thanking them ahead of the Election Day.
    He said he knows the people would re-elect him, because anywhere he stopped over to campaign, the people gave him the assurance that he was their choice.
    The rallies were done in open fields and in town-halls -in the form of meetings -to brainstorm on a strategy that would bring victory at the poll. Ishaku’s campaign team has adopted a strategy called: “Operation Win Your Polling Unit (OWYPU)” by all his influential stakeholders.
    During the campaigns, the people expressed appreciations for the numerous projects the Ishaku administration has provided, drawing the governor’s attention to what they expect him to do during his second term, if he wins.
    It was also an opportunity for the governor to talk about his achievements -the reason, he said, should be considered for him to return.
    Ishaku told the people his “Rescue Mission” has been a success story that has put Taraba state on a path to sustainable development.”
    “My rescue programme in education has raised WAEC performance of students in the state from below 20 percent in 2015 to 67.3 percent in 2017 and 75.3 percent in 2018.
    “My water projects, which include the Jalingo Primary Water Source, was designed to meet the needs of the city till 2035.
    “I sank 250 boreholes in 250 communities; I took safe drinking water to virtually all the communities in the state.”
    Ishaku added that the construction of numerous township roads and highways  and the completion of the Jalingo Airport and launch of commercial flight have eased movement in and out of the state and as well encouraged the coming of investors.
    “The main plank of the Rescue Mission in the health sector was the reconstruction and re-equipping of three general hospitals in Wukari, Gembu and Bambur with state of the art facilities. The Wukari hospital has been commissioned while the other two are soon to be completed.
    “We created more than 10,000 jobs through the skills acquisition programme executed separately by me and my wife, under her Hope Afresh Foundation.
    “We employed 3,000 teachers under the rescue teachers programme, revived seven government owned companies which when I took over, were in comatose.
    “I urge you to see these achievements as just the foundation-laying stage of the services I intended to deliver to Taraba state.
    “Reelect me so that the job I already started would be completed,” he said.

  • Ishaku: My first term was foundation laying stage

    Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, has described his first term in office as “a foundation laying stage,” saying he needs a second term to complete all that he started.

    After a successful campaign tour of Southern Taraba -his political district, Ishaku stated at the weekend that he was confident of sweeping the gubernatorial poll on March 2.

    The tour in southern Taraba took him to Ussa, Ibi, Wukari and Donga local government areas. He rounded up in Takum -his country home, where he told supporters he was thanking them ahead of the Election Day.

    He said he knows the people would re-elect him, because anywhere he stopped over to campaign, the people gave him the assurance that he was their choice.

    The rallies were done in open fields and in town-halls -in the form of meetings -to brainstorm on a strategy that would bring victory at the poll. Ishaku’s campaign team has adopted a strategy called: “Operation Win Your Polling Unit (OWYPU)” by all his influential stakeholders.

    During the campaigns, the people expressed appreciations for the numerous projects the Ishaku administration has provided, drawing the governor’s attention to what they expect him to do during his second term, if he wins.

    It was also an opportunity for the governor to talk about his achievements -the reason, he said, should be considered for him to return.

    Ishaku told the people his “Rescue Mission” has been a success story that has put Taraba state on a path to sustainable development.”

    “My rescue programme in education has raised WAEC performance of students in the state from below 20 percent in 2015 to 67.3 percent in 2017 and 75.3 percent in 2018.

    “My water projects, which include the Jalingo Primary Water Source, was designed to meet the needs of the city till 2035.

    “I sank 250 boreholes in 250 communities; I took safe drinking water to virtually all the communities in the state.”

    Ishaku added that the construction of numerous township roads and highways  and the completion of the Jalingo Airport and launch of commercial flight have eased movement in and out of the state and as well encouraged the coming of investors.

    “The main plank of the Rescue Mission in the health sector was the reconstruction and re-equipping of three general hospitals in Wukari, Gembu and Bambur with state of the art facilities. The Wukari hospital has been commissioned while the other two are soon to be completed.

    “We created more than 10,000 jobs through the skills acquisition programme executed separately by me and my wife, under her Hope Afresh Foundation.

    “We employed 3,000 teachers under the rescue teachers programme, revived seven government owned companies which when I took over, were in comatose.

    “I urge you to see these achievements as just the foundation-laying stage of the services I intended to deliver to Taraba state.

    “Reelect me so that the job I already started would be completed,” he said.

  • Ishaku presents N146.73b appropriation bill for 2019

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, on Monday presented to the State House of Assembly an appropriation bill of N146.73 billion for the 2019 fiscal year.

    Ishaku told the lawmakers that the budget estimate, tagged “Budget of Consolidation,” was to consolidate on his achievements in the past years.

    The budget has a capital expenditure of N72.8billion, representing 49.86 per cent and a recurrent expenditure of N73.24billion, representing 50.14 per cent.

    Of the total budget sum of 146, 737,268,82.50 Billion Naira, the ministry of Works and Housing has the lion share of 18.2 Billion Naira, representing 12.52%, while that of Environment has the least with N944million.

    Education has a total allocation of N8.11bn, representing 5.48%, Health N7.5bn, representing 5.17% , and Agriculture has an allocation of N6.5bn which represents 4.5% of the sum.

    Read Also: Ishaku to military: no illegal security training in Taraba

    Next year’s budget estimate of N146.73bn is 12.73 per cent higher than the 2018 budget of N129billion, including a N25 billion supplementary budget later passed by the Assembly.

    The governor lamented that the “2018 has been a turbulent year and a period of pain for the state, occasioned by incessant attacks by armed militia that left many of our people homeless and several others dead”.

    He commended the House of Assembly members for their support and the cordial working relationship they nurtured with the executive arm in the state.

    He pledged “accountability and sustainability” in the implementation of the budget for the good of the state.

    The Taraba State House of Assembly Speaker, Peter Abel Diah, commended the governor for the “achievements so far recorded in areas of agriculture, health, power, water supply, education and infrastructure.”

    “He (Ishaku) has brought governance closer to the people by appointing second class and third class chiefs. This has helped in addressing the security challenges facing the state.

    The Speaker also spoke on the forthcoming general election, calling on politicians to play the game according to the rules, by eschewing violence, mindful of their utterances during the campaigns so as to have peaceful elections.

     

     

     

  • Ishaku gets PDP flag, ready for 2019 poll

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has received the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to fly it at the 2019 governorship election.

    The governor, who clinched the ticket in landslide, was given the flag by the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Ishaku, who is seeking a second term, on Thursday showed the flag to the party stalwarts and supporters in Jalingo when he landed at the Danbaba Suntai Airport in the State capital.

    Read Also: Ishaku declares self only PDP governorship aspirant in Taraba

    He was accompanied in the Overland aircraft by senators Emmanuel Bwacha (representing southern zone) and Shuaibu Isa Lau (representing northern Taraba) among other dignitaries

    On arrival, the governor handed the flag to the PDP State chairman, Victor Bala, who together with the Deputy Governor, Haruna Manu, Speaker Abel Peter Diah, the governor’s wife, Anna Ishaku, and other government officials, received him.

    Ishaku is now ready for the 2019 governorship poll. His return with the PDP flag in the State capital heralded wide jubilation by the PDP supporters.

     

     

  • 264 persons died in Mambilla Plateau crisis, says Ishaku

    Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku yesterday said 264 persons were confirmed dead and property estimated at billions of naira destroyed in the 2017/2018 crisis on the Mambilla Plateau in Sadauna Local Government Area.

    Ishaku, who regretted the casualty figure, said: “The Assessment Committee, which visited 53 communities in the area, discovered that 264 people were killed and not the over 1,000 reported in the media.”

    The governor said 209 residents were displaced, while 19,464 cattle, 6,071 sheep killed.

    He added that “a tea processing plant, among other valuable property, were burnt”.

    Ishaku donated N310 million to the victims.

    The governor presented cheques yesterday to the beneficiaries.

    Materials were also donated to reduce their suffering.

    The materials were given at Gembu, the headquarters of Sadauna Local government Area, through the Crisis Victims Support Scheme Phase I, which the governor initiated.

    Ishaku said: “I am not here to compensate the victims of the crisis that occurred here on Mambila Plateau. Government does not have enough to compensate you on how much you lost, left alone the number of human beings that were killed.

    “I am here to support you so that you can start living relatively better; to also encourage you to co-exist in harmony.”

    The governor warned Mambilla and Taraba residents to “exercise restraint”.

    He urged all to be law-abiding and to always consult traditional rulers in case of a crisis.

    Ishaku noted that the creation of chiefdoms in the area was a deliberate policy to reduce tension.

    The governor advised the residents to reciprocate the good gesture Cameroonians offered them when they hosted them during their difficulties by accommodating them now that they (Cameroonians) are seeking refuge in Nigeria.

    He also hailed the President of Dangote Group of Industries, Alhaji Alike Dangote, for donating N50 million to the victims.

    Ishaku promised to use the funds to build a health centre in the crisis-hit area.

  • 264 persons died in Mambilla Plateau crisis – Ishaku

    Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku, on Wednesday disclosed that 264 persons were confirmed to have been killed and property worth billions of naira destroyed during the 2017/2018 crisises on the Mambilla Plateau, Sadauna local government area of the State.

    Ishaku, who regretted the casualty figure, however, said: “The Assessment Committee which visited 53 communities in the area, discovered that 264 people were killed and not the over 1000 as reported by the media.”

    He added that “209 residents were displaced, 19,464 cattle, 6071 sheep killed while a tea processing plant, among other valuable properties were burnt.”

    The governor gave the sum of N310 million to the victims. He presented Cheques to beneficiaries Wednesday. Relief materials were also donated to alleviate their sufferings.

    The reliefs were given in Gembu -the headquarters of Sadauna, through the Crisis Victims Support Scheme phase one, which was introduced by the governor.

    “I am not here to compensate the victims of the crisis that occurred here on Mambila Plateau. Government does not have enough to compensate you on how much you lost, left alone the number of human beings that were killed.

    Read Also: Ishaku to military: no illegal security training in Taraba

    “I am here to support you so that you can start living relatively better; to also encourage you to co-exist in harmony.”

    The governor warned the people of Mambilla and Tarabans to “exercise restraint”, as he urged all to be law abiding and to always consult traditional rulers when there is confusion.

    He also stated that the creation of chiefdoms in the area was a deliberate policy aimed at reducing tension.

    Ishaku also called on people of the area to reciprocate the good gesture offered to them by people of Cameroon when they hosted them during their difficulties, by accommodating them now that they (Cameroon citizens) are seeking refuge in Nigeria.

    He also hailed Alike Dangote for donating N50 million relief funds for the victims and promised to use the funds to build a Health Centre in the crisis area.

    Taraba state deputy governor, Haruna Manu, who led a committee to Cameroon to look into the issue of refugees, commended his principal for his efforts at solving the crises in the area.

    He regretted the fact that while his committee was trying to reconcile the warring communities, another crisis erupted in March.

    Taraba State House of Assembly Speaker, Abel Peter Diah, who is also Chairman of Sardauna Stakeholders Forum, warned that “much as we will not stop those from Cameroon from entering Nigeria, they must have respect for the laws of Nigeria.

  • Police teargas Saraki, Dogara, Tambuwal, Lamido, others

    As PDP stages protest over Osun election

     

    The police on Friday in Abuja tear-gassed seven of the 12 presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during a protest over the party’s loss of the September 22 governorship election in Osun State.
    Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, defeated the candidate of the PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke in the election.
    The presidential aspirants tear-gassed by the police included the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
    Other aspirants at the protest were former Special Duties Minister, Tanimu Turaki; a former senator, Dr. Datti Baba Ahmed; Gombe Stats Governor, Ibrahim Dankwabo; and former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.
    Also tear-gassed during the protest were the Ekiti State Governors, Ayo Fayose; Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Sencondus and other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
    The protesters were tear-gassed at the main entrance to the Force Headquarters, following attempts by controversial senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye to rail-road the protesters through security barricade.
    The protesters, led by Saraki and joined by a number of key party stakeholders, had earlier stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    The party chieftains, riding in four open trucks and a convoy of cars, took off from the PDP campaign office, Legacy House, located in the Maitama District.
    Taking turns to speak at the INEC headquarters, the party chieftains demanded the declaration of Adeleke as winner of the Osun governorship election.
    Addressing INEC National Commissioner in charge of legal matters, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu who received them at the premises of the commission, they also restated the party’s rejection of the inconclusive verdict passed on the Osun election by the commission.
    They warned that the PDP would not accept what they described as rigging and manipulation of the electoral process, which they said, characterized the recent Ekiti and Osun States governorship election.
    Addressing the INEC commissioner, Saraki said, “We are here representing millions of Nigerians to speak to you, that INEC has a responsibility by law, by the constitution to do what is right to all Nigerians.
    “Enough is enough of election that are not credible. Enough is enough of impunity. Enough is enough of harassment. INEC, you met a standard, don’t take us back.
    “Nigeria has raised the standard of electoral processes, take us forward, don’t take us backward. The last two elections have been said all over villages, towns, Africa, other continents that it was a sham. INEC, enough is enough.
    “Just last night, the Senate and Congress in the United States issued a statement saying enough is enough. We must have credible elections in Nigeria. You are not a department, or a division of the APC. You represent the entire Nigeria and Nigerians are saying give us free and credible elections.
    “Be courageous and bold to stand for the truth because tomorrow history will judge you. We stand here to say we don’t want favours, just give us free and fair elections.

    Read Also: APC primary: Policemen at Airport Hotel, Lagos

    “Let me warn you INEC, Nigerians will not take elections that are not credible. Stand with Nigerians because you represent us. Stand and be impartial because you are an independent commission.
    “We are here to demand that you do the right thing, free and fair elections in 2019 for the unity and peace of this country”.
    Also speaking, Secondus said, “The country is sleeping on a keg of gun powder and you know it. If you feel that Nigerians are not aware of the activities of INEC and the police, you are deceiving yourselves.
    “You are pushing Nigerians to the wall and when you push them to the wall there would be resistance. We hope we will not get there, but this will serve as a notice.
    “Therefore we demand that INEC Chairman should resign, Amina  Zakari should resign. She is the manipulator of all elections. Let me address Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, you cannot continue to give instructions to security agents to carry out your agenda, instead of protecting Nigerians.
    “The hunger in the land is too much, the corruption in the country is too much. You are not fighting corruption, you are fighting your perceived enemies, you are fighting the masses.
    “Nigerians have left you. You cannot change the will of the people by force, take note and stop directing the security agencies and INEC to rig elections. You must come out clean. What we expect from you is to conduct a free and fair elections”.
    On his part, Fayose said, “We want to let INEC know a few things and remind them that the damage done to this country is enough. The damage done to our democracy and by extension the common man is enough.
    “If the people cannot choose their leaders anymore, then we are in trouble. In 2014, APC won election in Osun state by 114,000 votes. But this last election, with all the rigging, APC won by 400 votes, that is a statement enough to say APC is no more in the demand in Nigeria.
    “We are not asking for favours, this country and this INEC belong to Nigerians and Nigerians must be respected by allowing them to make a choice.
    “If Jonathan had behaved this way, we would not have a Buhari in power. We had a Buhari in power because somebody thought the rights of Nigerians must not be trampled upon by INEC and everybody received the present administration with open hands
    “I want to say again on behalf of PDP and the governors of PDP that rigging will not work in 2019. We say no to rigging. We are already contesting against police, security agencies, and the alibi of INEC always is that we are not in charge of security agencies. You cannot be a referee in the pitch, and be giving excuses while thugs took over the field
    “We are saying again to the security agencies that enough is enough. Don’t take away the rights of Nigerians. We want a Nigeria that belongs to Nigerians”.
    Tambuwal said the protest was meant to address the Chairman and members of INEC commission, on behalf of millions of Nigerians.
    He said, “Our demand is simple; we demand for free, fair and credible elections all throughout this country. I believe that the chairman of INEC before this temporary assignment, you have a history and you have a record.
    “Don’t allow anybody, no matter how highly placed, to use you to undermine the will of Nigerians. You cannot suppress us, you can not intimidate us. Elections in Nigeria must be held freely and fairly, and whoever wins should be given the mandate. That is what we want and we shall take nothing less”.
    Responding, the INEC Commissioner on Legal Matters, May Agbamuche- Mbu said, “I want to thank you, and inform you all that Professor Mahmood Yakubu (INEC chair) would have received you all.
    “The commission takes this demonstration very seriously. We are happy that the protest is peaceful and carried out in civilized manner.
    “INEC is up to this job, we are all here in INEC as professionals and not politicians. We are going to do our best come 2019. I must say we are a team and decisions are made by the commission and not by any individual. All your comments have been noted and it will be passed to the chairman and the entire commission”.
    The protest kicked off at 11.45, shortly after a meeting of the party leadership with the presidential aspirants. No communique was issued after the meeting, which was held behind closed doors.
    However, only six of the 12 presidential aspirants attended the meeting, with a former Sokoto State Governor and presidential aspirant, Attahiru Bafarawa leaving the venue shortly before the meeting ended.
    Five of the aspirants, Saraki, Tambuwal, Lamido, Turaki and Baba Ahmed reportedly signed an undertaking to accept the outcome of the convention in good faith.
    They were also reported to have made written commitments to work with the party in projecting the eventual winner as the presidential candidate throughout the electioneering campaign.

  • 2019 polls: I’m waiting to see my challenger, says Ishaku

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has picked his nomination form in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying he is waiting to see the candidate other political parties will throw up to challenge him in next year’s guber poll.

    Special Adviser on Political Matters, Abubakar Bawa, the San Turaki Gashaka, who spoke at a press conference in Jalingo for the governor, after picking the nomination form on his behalf, said “there is nothing to worry about.”

    He said: “The governor is ready for whoever the oppositions will nominate to challenge him at the election. In 2015, the election was a two-horse race between the PDP and the APC. In the end, PDP won with a landslide.

    “PDP won because it presented the right candidate (Darius Ishaku). The same scenario seems to be playing out. We are only waiting to see the candidate APC will field this time around.”

    Bawa said, although, PDP is very democratic enough to welcome any governorship aspirant who may want to contest on the PDP platform, members however, have unanimously agreed that Ishaku should fly the party’s banner.

    The governor’s political adviser said: “I can advance many reasons why I am optimistic Ishaku will be reelected. None of the opposition parties, including APC which is the main opposition party in Taraba State, has a candidate that is better than Ishaku.”

    “There is no party that can withstand the PDP in Taraba State. The PDP is an opposition in the country, but in Taraba it is the ruling party. And it has been the ruling party since 1999. So, we believe there is no other political party here apart from the PDP. Even if there are other parties, we don’t take them serious.

    “Besides political parties, Taraba people want someone who naturally cares for them. And Darius Ishaku is the answer; he is one leader who has deep love and rare passion for Taraba people; how they eat, dwell and make progress bother him. For now, he is just the right person.

    “Therefore, in sha Allah (with God on our side), I think we will triumph at the poll, because of the governor’s performance and goodwill. I have been in politics in Taraba State for long so I know what I am talking about.

    “Recently, I went round the State to do a silent opinion poll, and the goodwill has been overwhelming for the governor. Nevertheless, the PDP is working hard. The party chairman, Victor Bala, and all his party executives, are leaving no stone unturned; the governor is doing his part –by providing developments; and we are working very hard and still soliciting support from the electorate to make sure we return the governor for a second term.

    Read Also: 2019: Imo APC adopts indirect Primaries

    “The general consensus is that Ishaku should do a second term. Rev. Jolly Nyame did 10 years from northern zone, from 1992-1993 and 1999-2007. Late Pharm. Danbaba Suntai, from central zone, did eight years (2007-2015). So the fairest thing to do, as it has become our zoning formula, is to allow Ishaku, who is from the southern zone, to also do eight years, to complete the rotation.

    “And to the best of my knowledge, the PDP stakeholders from his area (southern Taraba) have no other candidate. They have all agreed that Ishaku has done well. Bringing another person, even from the same southern zone, will affect our political arrangement.

    “The northern and central zones are also in full support of the arrangement to give Ishaku the party’s ticket and subsequently re-elect him for a second term.

    “In terms of performance, he has scored a distinction everyone can attest to. Ishaku has done well in education, agriculture, health, infrastructure and so many other areas. So, we are yet to see his challenger.”