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Tag: Darius Ishaku

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

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has picked his nomination form in the People’s 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 in a press conference in Jalingo for the governor, after picking the nomination form on his behalf, said “there is nothing to worry about.”

    Read Also:2019 elections: PDP already conceding defeat, says APC

    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 who that candidate would be this time around.”

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

    Taraba and Gombe states are the only PDP states in the north. Sources said, the APC is strategising to capture the two “stubborn states” in next year’s election.

    But 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.

    “Who are they nominating in APC, Sen. Aisha Alhassan whom we defeated in 2015, or David Sabo Kente, Garba Umar, Kaigama Bobboi, or that professor?

    “These people cannot stand DDI. He will beat them flat. 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.

    “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.”

  • 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.”

  • Ishaku urges Muslim pilgrims to pray for Nigeria

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, on Monday urged intending Muslim pilgrims to pray for peace to reign in Nigeria when they are in Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.

    Ishaku spoke at the Model Primary School Jalingo, while biding farewell to some 300 intending Muslim pilgrims from Taraba State.

    At least, 746 Muslim pilgrims will perform the Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year. Out of the 746 pilgrims, 296 are sponsored by Taraba, making Taraba State to be ranked among the first three highest sponsors of Muslims to Mecca this year, a repeat of last year’s feat.

    “Your responsibility, as you perform this religious requirement, is to pray fervently for peace and development in Taraba and Nigeria.

    “The State is in dire need of peace. That is why you must pray to God to restore peace, tolerance and understanding among the citizens of the State, so that we can be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers,” the governor said.

    He added: “My Muslim brothers and sisters, it is expected that at the end of the pilgrimage, you will imbibe the lessons of affection and oneness that are embedded in the Hajj operation to become agents of peace and peaceful coexistence.

    Read Also: Ortom, Ishaku call for restructuring

    “It is incumbent on every Muslim, and indeed non-Muslims alike, to always pray for the country and those that God in his infinite mercies has put in positions of authority because leadership comes from Him alone.”

    Ishaku explained that, although, the methods may differ how we worship God, we however, have more in common than the insignificant differences which most people often tend to amplify to our collective detriment.

    He charged the pilgrims to be good ambassadors Nigeria and respect and abide by the statutes of the Saudi Government, by being disciplined and orderly.

    He assured the pilgrims of a hitch-free and successful holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and back to Nigeria.

    The State government said it has secured the Max Airlines for the uplifting of the pilgrims from Taraba State.

    Ambassador Waziri Idris who is leading the delegation, pleaded with the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Taraba state while away and to also remember that prayer is the reason for the journey.

     

     

  • FG plotting to stop me, six others from seeking re-election – Ishaku

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, said on Thursday that a plan has been hatched by the Federal Government to stop him and six other governors from seeking re-election next year.

    Ishaku stated this he hosted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the State Government House in Jalingo.

    He said: “I have been told on good authority that seven of us (governors) have been enlisted to be stopped from coming back in 2019.

    “That all arsenals, whether airplanes, guns and whatever means shall be used to wrestle power from us by hook or crook.

    “I told them they are not God.

    “It was God’s willing that I am in the saddle as governor today.

    “Everyone desires that Nigeria should be one. We must continue to keep the country united.”

    He urged Atiku to do something about “election rigging” in the country.

    The governor said there were dysfunctional units in the system that should be repaired for the country to move forward.

    “I am the governor and chief security officer of my state, but in reality, I am helpless in terms of security.

    “I am handicapped, I am a toothless bulldog,” Ishaku added.

    He urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the establishment of state police.

    Ishaku also faulted the anti-graft crusade of the current administration, saying “corruption is not all about money.”

    He said: “Corruption is not all about funds. If someone steals N100 million and you jail him for 100 days and another person kills 100 innocent people with AK47 and you allow him to go free, it is the worst form of corruption.”

     

     

  • Benue has not been a happy state since January 2018 – Ortom

    Governor Samuel Ortom has stated that since January 1st, 2018, Benue people have not known peace due to the activities of militia herdsmen.

    He stated this on Tuesday during a cocktail party organized to honour delegates and stakeholders who were in the state for the Middle Belt Rally and Conference currently holding in Makurdi, the state capital.

    The Governor while lamenting the continued killing and displacement of thousands from their ancestral homes by the herdsmen noted that he would continue to speak out and stand with his people until justice is ensured.

    He commended the Federal Government for its renewed efforts in curtailing the attacks through operation Whirl Stroke, stressing that if the operation had started earlier, Benue wouldn’t have been where it is today.

    The Governor also acknowledged the support of his Taraba State counterpart, Architect Darius Ishaku and the Middle Belt Forum for standing with Benue in her trying times, saying he was strengthened by their actions.

    Read Also: I have no plan to leave APC -Ortom

    On his part, Taraba State Governor, Architect Darius Ishaku, said he and Governor Ortom passed through the eye of a needle to become Governor and were further bonded together by the similar challenges they were facing.

    He stated that Nigeria’s constitution is defective because it has rendered Governors incapacitated and ‘toothless maimed dogs’ by making them Chief Security Officers that cannot command the security architecture in their respective states.

    Governor Ishaku while adding His voice to several calls for the restructuring of Nigeria noted that there is something more than herdsmen behind the killings in the country, adding that if the Federal Government had wanted to solve the problem, it would take less than two months to achieve that.

    In a remark, National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Mr. Bitrus Poga, urged Benue people to be very proud of Governor Ortom, noting that it takes courage to do what Governor Ortom was doing.

    He said the Governor’s bravely  was equal to none and should be encouraged to continue to speak for the less privileged in the country.

  • Taraba crisis: NGO urges joint effort to enthrone peace

    The GilbertNyanganji Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation ( NGO ), has called on people of Taraba to support efforts by both the state and Federal Governments aimed at restoring peace to the state.

    Founder of the organisation, Mr Gilbert Nyanganji made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to him, there is nothing heroic, wise or worthy of praise about mass conflict and violence.

    Nyangaji, however, applauded the efforts of Gov. Darius Ishaku for steering the affairs of the various State and Federal Government commissions to ensure peace in Taraba.

    He also commended the governor’s dedication to finding lasting solutions to the crisis in the state.

    Nyangaji noted that different areas in the state had witnessed several ethnic clashes, dating back to the 70s between farmers and herders across the state.

    He added that each round of such violence had led to the next with no successful resolution of the crisis.

    Nyangaji noted that in June 2017, a similar ethnic clash erupted on the Mambilla which affected 13 communities including: Kwarakwara, Mayo, Ndaga, Nguroje, Dorofi, Tamyo, Hainare, and Chabbal Peluwaje among others.

    “Another clash erupted in March this year, affecting the Nyiwa, Maisamari, Yalwa, Karim-Lamido, Gassol, Takum, Wukari and Lau communities.

    “This circle of violence is now a reality for the people of Taraba and should not be the norm in the state,´´ he said.

    Nyanganji added that the issues that caused the seeming unending violence in the state, does not defy negotiation and reconciliation, adding that if violence was the solution, those issues would have been long resolved.

    He, therefore, said that there was a strong need for a better course of action, especially as violence in the state had escalated presently.

    Read Also: ‘New Taraba’ endorses Umar for 2019 governorship

    “It is time to chart the course of engagement and dialogue, these killings will continue if we do not sit down to talk, and to think.

    “They will solve nothing and we will only aggravate the animosity among us, especially among our youths and children.

    “Experience has taught us across the world to understand that non violent conflict resolution informed by mutual compassion is the far better option, ´´ he said.

    Nyanganji said this necessitated GilbertNyanganji Foundation to launch the `THINK’ campaign for peace and dialogue in Taraba.

    According to him, the THINK campaign will be a series of engagements across Taraba to encourage grassroots support for ongoing efforts by both the Federal and State Governments´ constituted conflict resolution commissions.

    “Our aim is that following these engagements, the sons and daughters of Taraba would choose a different course of action.

    “People should drop their various tools of violence and think about our actions and their repercussion, and embrace peaceful settlement of our differences,’’ he said.

    Nyanganji said that the THINK campaign had begun the production and distribution of campaign posters and handbills across the state for sensitisation on the need to embrace peace.

    NAN

  • Bwacha flags off rehabilitation of Wukari-Ibi road

    Sen.  Emmanuel  Bwacha  representing Taraba South District  on Friday flagged off the rehabilitation  of  the 36.5-kilometre  Wukari -Ibi road which is expected to gulp  N1 billion.

    Speaking at the occasion, Bwacha said  the project, which was approved jointly by the Federal Ministry of  Agriculture as well as  Power, Works and Housing  as a rural road initiative,   had  funds appropriated for it  in the 2017 and 2018 budgets.

    The senator commended the Federal  Government for its commitment to  infrastructural development.

    Bwacha, who is also the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, urged  the people of the community to cooperate with  the contractor  to ensure the project was  completed in six weeks  as scheduled.

    The lawmaker  also said  work on the abandoned Akwana Mobile Police Barack which he initiated years ago as a House of Representatives member,  would soon resume as N1.3 billion  had been appropriated for it  in the 2018 budget.

    He said when completed, the barrack would help in ensuring security  on the fringes of the Taraba-Benue border.

    Also speaking at the occasion,  Gov.  Darius  Ishaku of Taraba commended Bwacha for facilitating  the road rehabilitation project for the benefit of the people.

    Represented by the Commissioner for Works, Mr Tafarki Agbadu, Ishaku also commended the Federal Government  for approving funds for the project.

    He, however,  appealed to the Federal Government  to refund the N32 billion the state government  had spent so far  on the rehabilitation  of federal roads.

    Mr Samuel  Oyafami, the  Director of Moulds Nig. Ltd, the company handling the Wukari –Ibi road project, said the road was first constructed in 1974 and had  not undergone full rehabilitation.

    Oyafami said his company would restore the road to its original state  within a record time.

    Reports from our reporter confirmed that Bwacha later proceeded to Jandeikyula village near Wukari where assailants  recently killed  32 people to commiserate with the families of the victims.

    NAN

     

     

     

     

  • Soldiers, herdsmen, terrorizing my people – Taraba Gov

    The Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku has cried out over what he described as the continued wave of attacks across the various communities in the state.

    Ishaku addressed the media in Abuja shortly after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (APC).

    He described Takum in southern Taraba as the worst hit, saying communities in the area are being harassed by herdsmen and soldiers on a daily basis.

    The governor said, “In the southern part of Taraba, the military has been withdrawn, but that is not only the case. We are still being harassed by the herdsmen militia.

    “The military has taken over the job of the police and bombarding peoples houses at 2:am, arresting youths and locking them up.

    “Two of these  youths were missing and we understand that they are with the military and being transferred to the Abuja military headquarters.

    “I asked for the reason. Nobody has confronted me with the reason. All I was told was that they committed crime. Which crime nobody has told me about as the Chief Executive and Chief Security Officer of the state.

    “Nobody has reported this to me. The police are not aware of this. The military have written to the Takum Local Government Chairman for him to report to them immediately to be arrested.

    “I don’t know what is happening. The armed forces are not protecting the people against the killer herdsmen, but are now going around arresting the youths in the town”.

    According to Governor Ishaku, the continued attacks and harassment have led to protests and demonstrations by various groups in the state, including women groups.

    “The situation is getting really bad. I am now calling on the federal government ‎to call on the military to bring back those boys that were arrested and allow the police to do their job if indeed, they are criminals and to insist the military do what they are asked to do and that is to defend us. They should not allow us to be vulnerable”.

  • Herdsmen kill 25 in Taraba

    Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Wednesday killed 25 people in Taraba State.

    The presence of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and a military probe panel in the state did not deter the marauding herdsmen from carry out their onslaught on people of the state.

    The herders killed 25 residents of Jandeikyula village in Wukari local government area on Wednesday night.

    The spokesman of the Taraba State police command, David Misal, confirmed the killings.

    Speaking to The Nation on Thursday, the state Governor, Darius Ishaku, said he did not sleep on Wednesday night when he received news of the killings.

    “As I am talking to you I didn’t sleep last night. At 1:00 a.m., I was woken up by a distress call on another herdsmen attack.

    “Fortunately, yesterday, the military from Takum came in to help.

    They battled the attackers till this (Thursday) morning. In the morning, they counted 15 bodies, some injured ones are in the hospital in Sondi,” Ishaku said.

     

  • Taraba signs N104.2 billion appropriation law

    Taraba signs N104.2 billion appropriation law

     

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, on Wednesday, gave assent to the one hundred and four billion naira budget passed by the State House of Assembly for the 2018 fiscal year.

    The governor said his top priority will be in agriculture, because the people Taraba State are largely peasant farmers.

    He noted that he has built a Greenhouse that has employed hundreds of Taraba people, who are exporting vegetables and increasing the revenue base of the State.

    He disclosed that he intends to establish small scale industries that would be processing agricultural produce in the State such as cassava, soybeans, tomatoes and fruits.

    The governor added that he would take care of crop farmers and cattle breeders, with a view to not only rehabilitating those affected in their clashes, but educating them on the symbiotic relationship between them, targeted at ending their perennial clashes.

    Ishaku had submitted a budget proposal of N96.6 billion to the House, but the lawmakers increased it to N104.2 billion.

    Ishaku promised to do his best for people to see, as such, he said: “the modest increase will solve many problems of infrastructure and would provide the desired dividends of democracy.”

    The House of Assembly Speaker, Peter Abel Diah, said, the Assembly, in the course of processing the budget, “in its wisdom,” increased the budget by N2.02 billion.

    Read Also: Taraba herdsmen, farmers agree to end hostilities

    “Furthermore, following the governor’s letter of January 26, 2018, requesting House’s approval to expend the third tranche of the Paris Club Excess Debt Service Payment refunds amounting to N5.6 billion, the House deemed it important to incorporate this amount into the current budget.

    “Accordingly, this has raised the total proposed expenditure to N104.2 billion.

    “It is my hope and desire that the budget will be accorded diligent implementation to meet the aspirations of the people of Taraba State,” the Speaker said.

    Diah assured of the House’s commitment to a good working relationship with the executive arm of the State.

    He said: “We (Assembly) shall continue to perform our constitutional responsibility of oversight to ensure that the approved budget is appropriately implemented by the various MDAs.

    “We were eager to achieve a timely passage of the bill and equally conscious of our responsibility to meticulously examine every aspect of the appropriation bill, to ensure that the bill is not expeditiously passed into law, but that it is also capable of addressing the needs of the people of our dear State.”