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Tag: Darius Ishaku

  • 1,100 Taraba pilgrims to depart for Saudi Arabia on Thursday – Official

    1,100 Taraba pilgrims to depart for Saudi Arabia on Thursday – Official

    A total of 1,100 intending pilgrims from Taraba will commence their journey to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj on Thursday, Executive Secretary of the state Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Alhaji Umaru Leme, has said.

    Leme told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jalingo on Monday that 177 of the pilgrims were sponsored by the state government and 37 by local councils.

    According to him, the state governor, Mr Darius Ishaku has appointed the Lamido Gashaka, Alhaji Zubairu Sambo as leader of the state contingent for the pilgrimage.

    He disclosed that the state government had released N310 million to the board to ensure successful hajj operation.

    Leme said that 1,100 passports for the intending pilgrims had been processed, and assured that all the pilgrims would be transported before the end of August.

    He further assured that accommodation and feeding arrangements for all pilgrims in Makkah and Madina have  been concluded, while Islamic scholars have been engaged to guide the pilgrims on hajj obligations.

    Leme advised the intending pilgrims to abide by the rules and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during their stay, and pray for peace and prosperity in Taraba and Nigeria.

  • Late Suntai’s burial now to hold Aug. 19

    Late Suntai’s burial now to hold Aug. 19

    Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku has announced the postponement of the state burial of former Governor Danbaba Suntai from Aug. 5 to Aug.  19.

     A press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa in Jalingo on Saturday said the new date followed the governor’s consideration of the report submitted to him by the steering committee for burial of the late governor.

    “Other activities lined up for the funeral ceremony will be announced soon” Mijinyawa said.

    He quoted Gov.  Ishaku as describing  Suntai as a great leader who impacted positively on the lives of Taraba people and therefore, deserved to be honoured.

    Ishaku also urged them to keep praying for the repose of the soul of Suntai and his family.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reports that Suntai, who was receiving treatment from injuries he sustained from a plane crash in Oct. 2012, died at a hospital in Florida, U.S. on June 28.

  • Taraba will pay outstanding pensions, gratuities with Paris Club fund – Ishaku

    Taraba will pay outstanding pensions, gratuities with Paris Club fund – Ishaku

    Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba said on Monday in Jalingo that the Paris Club debt relief fund received by the state would be used to settle outstanding pensions and gratuities.

    Ishaku, in a speech shortly before signing the Anti-open Grazing Bill into law, said that the amount received would cover the outstanding pensions of local government workers and a substantial part of gratuities of both state and local government workers.

    He expressed concern that local government retirees had not been paid their pensions and gratuities since 2013, and promised to address the situation.

    The governor announced that he had requested the House of Assembly to approve the re-naming of the state airport after Mr Danbaba Suntai to immortalise the late governor that died last month.

    “Suntai did so much for Taraba and we owe him a duty to honour him,” Ishaku said.

    He said that the late governor would be given a state burial on Aug. 5.

  • Ishaku extends time frame for inquiry into Mambilla Plateau crisis

    Ishaku extends time frame for inquiry into Mambilla Plateau crisis

    The Justice Nuhu Adi Commission investigating the violent crisis that recently engulfed Mambilla Plateau in Taraba now has two months to complete its assignment, instead of the three weeks initial frame.

    Gov Darius Ishaku, who announced the extension on Sunday in Jalingo, urged members of the general public, especially interested parties, to submit their written memorandum on or before July 24.

    “15 copies of every memorandum should be submitted to the Secretary of the Commission,” he said, adding that hearing would commence on Aug. 3, at Gembu, headquarters of Sardauna Local Government.

    Ishaku thanked the warring parties for heeding the call to embrace dialogue toward solving disagreements, and expressed happiness that peace had been restored.

    He advised the people to eschew violence and promote peace which he described as the fundamental ingredient for sustainable development.

    The governor said that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had since distributed relief materials to the affected communities, adding that more relief materials were being taken to the affected areas.

    NAN reports that scores were killed in the violence that pitted farmers against herdsmen in the area.

  • Ishaku blames FG for crises in Taraba, others

    Ishaku blames FG for crises in Taraba, others

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has blamed the Federal Government for some of the crises in the country.

    He said the federal government has been inactive.

    Ishaku stated this in Jalingo when the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulaham Danbazau (retd) and the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of operations, Joshak Habila, visited him at Government House.

    The governor said he had complained to the federal government over the regrouping Boko Haram terrorists in Suntai Daaji forest in Bali local government area of the state over a year ago, but nothing has been done on the matter.

    “Government cannot celebrate its victory over Boko Haram until the terrorists regrouping in Taraba are rooted out.

    “The federal government must act fast to avoid a devastating crisis.

    “Some of the crises being blamed on herdsmen in actual sense are not carried out by herdsmen but by terrorists masquerading as herdsmen.

    “The federal government must be proactive in handling security issues,” he said.

    Ishaku thanked the federal government for the attention given to the crisis on the Mambilla Plateau.

    He, however, faulted the federal government for not giving same attention to crises in other local government areas of the state.

     

     

     

     

     

  • PDP mourns Suntai, former Taraba governor

    PDP mourns Suntai, former Taraba governor

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the late former governor of Taraba, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, as an outstanding and professional man.

    Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, the Deputy PDP National Chairman in Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction, said this on Wednesday.

    “We are proud of late Suntai. He left his profession and became a politician in order to bring quality to governance.

    “This, he exhibited, while in office until the unfortunate plane crash incident.
    “Suntai represented PDP well and are very proud of him.”

    Ojougboh said that until his death Suntai never gave up as he was involved in the struggle for the progress of PDP and Nigeria.

    He said that the PDP commiserated with the family of late Suntai, the people and government of Taraba state on the great lost.

    Suntai, 56, who has been receiving treatment in hospital across the world since he was involved in a plane crash in October 2012 died in Houston, Florida, in the United States on Wednesday.

    Mr. Emmanuel Bello, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Darius Ishaku on Public Affairs had confirmed the incident to NAN on telephone on Wednesday.

  • Taraba Speaker cautions against politicising anti-grazing bill 

    Taraba Speaker cautions against politicising anti-grazing bill 

    Taraba House of Assembly Speaker Abel Diah on Tuesday cautioned members of the public against politicising the anti-open grazing bill currently before the House.

    Diah made the appeal in Jalingo, when he received a delegation of Taraba Farmers Protection Association, led by its chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Bitrus, who paid a solidarity visit to the lawmakers.

    “Contrary to speculations that the bill is targeted at a particular ethnic group, its intention is to promote peaceful coexistence and reduce clashes between farmers and grazers,” Diah stated.

    The Speaker regretted that some sections of the bill were being altered or misinterpreted to cause mischief, and advised anyone interested in the bill to get a certified true copy from the House of Assembly.

    He said that the House had set up a seven-man committee to conduct a public hearing on the bill, and urged stakeholders to take advantage of the hearing to make inputs into it.

    While assuring the association that the bill, when passed into law, would be for the good of the state, he urged its members to attend the public hearing, saying that three hearings would be held with one in each of the three senatorial zones.

    Earlier, Bitrus had told the Speaker that the bill was long overdue, describing it as the best solution to the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

    “We are here to register our support for the bill because we are convinced that when it is passed and signed into law, peace and order will be guaranteed.

    “We want to assure the legislators of our unflinching support toward the passage of this bill. We also want to assure the House that we shall mobilise Taraba residents to support it,” Bitrus said.

    The association thanked Gov. Darius Ishaku for making fertiliser available to farmers in good time, saying that the gesture would boost food production in Taraba.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hundreds of farmers, who converged at the Trade Fair Complex in Jalingo, had accompanied Bitrus to the House to register their support to the bill.

    NAN also reports that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) recently mobilised its members to the House to register its displeasure over the bill which it said was “ill-motivated and discriminatory”.

  • Taraba sets up committee to investigate violence in Ussa, Takum areas

    Taraba sets up committee to investigate violence in Ussa, Takum areas

    The Taraba Government says it has set up a committee to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the recent violence that hit parts of Ussa and Takum Local Government Areas.

    Alhaji Haruna Manu, the Deputy Governor, who announced this on Tuesday in Jalingo, said that government was determined to get to the root of the recurring crises so as to work out measures to end them.

    “Government wants to fish out the perpetrators of the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Taraba. The crises have affected our development and we cannot continue this way,” he said.

    Manu, who spoke with newsmen shortly after the weekly security meeting, said that anyone found to be linked to the clashes would face the full wrath of the law “no matter his or her status in the society”.

    He said that the security meeting, which he presided over, focused on finding a lasting solution to the perennial clashes which had claimed several lives, particularly in the central and southern parts of Taraba.

    According to him, the committee will be expected to establish the main causes of the crises and recommend ways of averting future occurrences.

    “The communities involved in the recent clashes – Kuteb, Jukun and Fulani – have coexisted peacefully over the years. We have met some of their leaders and they have agreed to expose the evil men that have infiltrated them,” he said.

    He said that security agencies had intensified patrols in all corners of Taraba, and expressed optimism that those alleged to have hired mercenaries to kill farmers would be brought to book.

    Meanwhile, the state government has rejected suggestions that the anti-open grazing bill currently before the House of Assembly, was targeted at herdsmen.

    According to Mr Emmanuel Bello, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Gov Darius Ishaku, such insinuations are “mischievous, divisive and without substance”.

    “It is wrong to say that government is habouring anti-Fulani sentiments; the bill is aimed at finding a permanent solution to the herdsmen/farmers clashes. No group is targeted.”

    He urged members of the public to fully participate in the public hearing aimed at getting everyone’s input into the bill.

  • Taraba to build 5000 housing unit for low income earners

    Taraba to build 5000 housing unit for low income earners

    As part of efforts at addressing the housing deficit in the state, the Taraba State Government has flagged off the construction of 5000 housing units for low income earners in the state. 

    Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony to flag off the construction, the state governor, Darius Ishaku said the project would comprehensively address the problem of housing deficit in the state. 

    The governor said the houses would be sold to civil servants and other members of the public who show interest at prices which the governor said would be pocket-friendly.

    According to Ishaku, the estate will be a community that would not be dependent on Jalingo for power, water, clinic and security. All these facilities would be provided separately for the estate.

    Ishaku advised civil servants, particularly new entrants into the service to register so that their salaries could be deducted towards payment for the houses and advised private individuals interested in the houses to feel free to book for them. 

    The governor asked civil servants in the state to take advantage of the houses since which will be completed within one year since it will ease their problems after retirement. 

    Ishaku used the occassion to re-assure the people of his commitment to the development of the state, and urged them to remain steadfast on the side of peace and to work for its sustenance, while condemning  the recent cases of herdsmen attacks in some parts of the state.

    He urged the people to be vigilant and to watch out for strange elements who come into their communities with evil intentions.

    Former governor of the state, Rev. Jolly Nyame commended the foresight of Governor Ishaku for initiating the project which he said will help improve the revenue profile of the state.

    Rev. Nyame asked the governor to sustain the project to attain maturity and yield expected dividends.

    He also commended the Governor for remaining focused despite series of the court cases that had trailed his victory in the 2015 governorship elections in the state most of which lasted nearly two years. “Court cases can be very distracting. As a former governor of the state, I know what it feels to contend with court cases while trying to concentrate of working for the state”, he said.

  • ‘Taraba can meet Nigeria’s annual rice demand’

    Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba on Monday said that the state had the potential to produce 10million tonnes of rice, the annual demand of the country, with adequate financing and availability of modern equipment.

    Ishaku said this in Ardo-kola at a stakeholders’ meeting of the PDP’s delegates representing Jalingo and Ardo-kola.

    He said areas like: Karim-lamido, Gassol, Ardo-kola, Lau, Ibi, Wukari, Takum, among others, had fertile lands suitable for growing large quantities of rice.

    The governor noted that lack of sufficient funds had undermined the capacity of the state’s rice farmers to produce at an optimum level.

    Ishaku, however, said the state government was determined to support farmers in the state with farm inputs and improved seeds to increase their productivity.

    He said that Dominion Farms, owned by a Kenyan investor in Gassol, had been given six months to commence buying of paddy rice from out-growers for processing.

    The governor announced that the state government had bought hybrid seeds of Bennie seeds, soya beans and cassava and it would soon distribute them to its farmers.

    “Recently, there is a high demand of bennie seeds in our markets; though, I do not know what they are doing with it. We have acquired its improved seed.

    “We have also acquired hybrid seeds of soya beans and of course, cassava, because I will soon revive our cassava processing plant.

    “When that is done, it will bring the total companies I revived to five out of the 25 companies that were in comatose when I took over,’’ Ishaku said.

    The governor said he was in Ardo-kola to thank the people for massively voting for him in 2015.

    “The best time to appreciate that support is now; since I have won all the post-election suits instituted by my opponents,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, the state PDP Chairman, Mr Victor Bala, noted that loyalty to party decisions was critical to the growth of party politics.

    Bala urged council area chapters of the party that could not garner adequate support for the party in 2015 election, to “sit up’’ as the 2019 general elections were approaching.

    “Politics is like an investment. If you invest a little, do not expect high dividends at the end of the day,” he said.