The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Taraba

  • Election results: Taraba lifts curfew on Jalingo

    The Taraba Government on Tuesday lifted the curfew it imposed on Jalingo to forestall the escalation of the post-election violence that broke out soon after INEC announced the results of the governorship polls.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Darius Ishaku, Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa, commended the people for their patience throughout the duration of the curfew and urged them to remain law abiding.

    It quoted Ishaku as directing the security agents to continue their surveillance and patrols to avert any ugly incident.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that a 24-hour curfew was imposed on the state capital when tension enveloped it after the announcement.

    It was later reviewed to 14 hours, starting from 4 pm to 6 am daily. (NAN)

  • Breaking: Appeal Court quashes disqualification of Taraba guber candidate

    Court of appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday upturned the disqualification of Sani Danladi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Taraba state.

    It would be recalled that a Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo on Wednesday disqualified Danladi on charges of age falsification.

    Details shortly…

  • 54,000 women benefit from World Bank-backed Project in Edo

    Efforts to bridge gender gap in Edo State has received a boost as 54,000 women from the three senatorial districts are set to benefit from the pilot phase of the Nigeria for Women Project, Governor Godwin Obaseki has said.

    Obaseki who inaugurated the State Steering Committee and State Technical Committee of the Nigeria for Women Projects at Government House in Benin City, said the project is supported by the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Government and designed to empower women across Edo, Ogun, Niger, Taraba, Abia and Kebbi states.

    Expatiating on the benefits which the programme holds for women, the governor maintained that his administration was committed to bridging the economic and social gaps that exist between men and women in the state.

    “We are addressing all forms of gender gaps which have encouraged extreme poverty in the state.

    “So much is being done to ensure that women and girls are empowered with relevant skills to enable them to become self-reliant and contribute more to the economy,” he said.

    According to Obaseki, “when women are empowered, it has a multiplier effect on the nation’s economy and poverty reduction.”

    He stressed the importance of a robust data base for the committees’ work and charged members to come up with modalities on how the projects will be executed.

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    “We need to come up with specific action plans and monitoring mechanism so we can measure outcomes,” he urged, and tasked the various Ward Development Committees to be part of the screening of the project beneficiaries, to allow for fair representation, he said.

    In her votes of thanks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Magdalene Ohenhen, said the ministry was passionate about the project and would ensure it succeeds.

    Ohenhen commended the governor’s efforts at mainstreaming women in governance and particularly for ensuring that Edo State is part of the project.

    She assured that the committees would act on the terms of reference given by the governor.

  • Breaking: Court disqualifies Taraba APC guber candidate

    The Federal High Court in Jalingo on Wednesday disqualified the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi, from contesting the polls on Saturday.

    Details shortly…

  • NiMet predicts cloudy, thundery weather Friday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy and sunny weather conditions with thundery activities over most parts of the country on Friday.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook released on Thursday, in Abuja, predicted scattered thunderstorms and moderate rains over the western part of the central region with day and night temperatures of 28 to 35 and 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.

    It also predicted partly cloudy to cloudy condition with chances of localized thunderstorms over Lafia, Lokoja, Taraba, Benue, Mambilla Plateau and Adamawa axis in the afternoon and evening hours.

    The agency predicted that northern states would experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with chances of morning thundery activities over Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Zaria and Bauchi axis.

    It further predicted partly cloudy to sunny conditions over the region in the afternoon and evening with day and night temperatures of 30 to 36 and 17 to 23 degrees Celsius.

    Read Also: NiMet predicts hazy weather

    According to NiMet, southern states will experience localised thunderstorms in the morning with cloudy morning over south-west inland.

    “Scattered thunderstorms are probable over the entire southern region in the afternoon and evening period, with day and night temperatures of 29 to 33 and 21 to 28 degrees Celsius.

    “There are possibilities of rainfall activities over the south, central and few places around the northern states in the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted.

    NAN

  • Just in: Katsina, Taraba, Kebbi, Zamfara lead in PVCs collection

    Katsina, Taraba, Kebbi and Zamfara states have the most number of collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    The PVCs will be used for voting in the 2019 general elections.

    Katsina, according to INEC data, records 98 percent collection of PVCs followed closely by Taraba state with 97 percent.

    Kebbi has 95 percent while Kebbi and Zamfara boast of 94 percent collection rate.

    Also, Yobe recorded 92 percent collection.

    Details shortly…

  • Blame politicians for farmers/herders crisis ­- Dambazau

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, (rtd) on Thursday disclosed that it is not possible to stop the free movement of cattle across borders and within countries.

    He said this is because Nigeria is signatory to ECOWAS protocol and free movement.

    He blamed the problem on the effect of climate change, which he said has forced some farmers to abandon their traditional farming areas to traditional routes for the cattle.

    The minister said that the problem is also being aggravated by some politicians for selfish interests.

    Dambazau, who spoke in Abuja on his stewardship at a ministerial press briefing, said change in climate and growth in population were majorly responsible for movement of cattle.

    It would be recalled the herders/farmers clashes had, in the last two years, led to destruction of lives and property majorly in Benue, Plateau, Taraba and other states in the North-central part of the country.

    As a result of the loss, Ministry of interior under Dambazau as Minister, which is constitutionally responsible to provide internal security said it has held top meetings with affected state governors on how to end the problem.

    He said part of the resolutions at the meeting last year was establishment of an international clearance certificate for the herders moving from one country to another.

    His words: “When he (herder) enters into a country there must be a check point area where the cattle will be inspected, there must be international clearance certificate, know the number of cow is moving with, ensure that he does not carry weapon of any kind, show him the route he must follow and so on.

    “So in doing that all these clashes between herders and farmers will be completely reduced if not eliminated because what is happening is that harders along the routes go into farms and somehow destroy the crops.”

    While blaming climate change and high population for the problem, the Minister also said some failed politicians do take advantage of the clashes to score some points.

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    He said: “Part of the problems is that there have been cattle routes over the years but because population growth and climate change even farmers are moving from their traditional communities, moving elsewhere because of climate change, so now they are occupying the routes created for cattle.

    “Now, population growth has made it possible for people to also built homes along those routes, so when those herders are moving, they now have to look for alternative routes, in the event they destroy farm. So, this is what is happening.

    “And we (Nigeria) is signatory to ECOWAS protocol and free movement. What is happening is that we cannot stop the free movements. About 60-65 percent of ECOWAS is here and we also move en-mass to ECOWAS countries.

    “We move our goods to ECOWAS countries. This is why I said it is a complex issue abd it is a regional issue which must be tackle accordingly.

    “The second issue is that certain politicians also politicize this issue for their own benefits, particularly when the election is approaching and they have not been able to do well in their states, so they politicize it.

    “So at that meeting we discussed with the Governors that politicizing this crisis is of no benefit to anyone rather it endanger the public.”

    Dambazau, who was giving stewardship of leadership as a Minister in the last three years, listed some reforms he brought to the ministry to include:Automation of citizenship and business department, Prison reform, reforms of the Federal Fire Service, Police reforms, Immigration Service reforms among others.

  • 236, 864 IDPs return home in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa

    The Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) Maj.-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini says a total of 236,864 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have returned to their homes in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states.

    Yekeini stated this on Monday in Mbabai, Guma Local Government area of Benue when he led journalists to most villages affected by recent farmers/herdsmen clashes in the area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the journalists visited Mbabai, Mbadwen, Umenge, Yogbo all in Guma local government and Keana town and Giza, in Keana local government of Nasarawa.

    NAN reports that Yekini is the Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in charge of Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.

    He explained that out of the 236, 854 IDPs that have so far returned to their homes, 201, 854 were from Benue while 15,000 in Nasarawa and 10,000 from Taraba.

    According to him, 141,000 of the IDPs are from Guma local government, 33,000 from Gwer West and 27,000 in Logo local government.

    He further said that OPWS together with Operation 777 recovered over 20 assorted weapons, hundreds of ammunition, arrested and handed over 100 criminals and have virtually crippled all militia groups within the three states.

    Yekini further reaffirmed the commitment and mandate of OPWS which he said was for the safe return of all IDPs to their homes and to ensure that all criminal elements and bandits were flushed out of the states.

    Speaking to Newsmen at Umenge, Chief Abugh Ajir the District Head of Mbadwen, commended the Federal Government for ensuring their safe return to their respective homes.

    Ajir said they were now enjoying relative peace as some of his subjects were already harvesting their farm produce.

    He, however, appealed to the federal government to rebuild some of the bridges that were destroyed during the crisis to enable his people fully return to their homes and improve the security of the area.

    “Many of my people have returned to their various places, some are already harvesting their farm produce and eating same.

    “But we have a problem, there are still some areas that my people are yet to access not because of the presence of herders but largely because of lack of access roads as most of the bridges were destroyed during the crisis,” he said.

    Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Keana local government, Mrs Kafishat Yahaya said peace has returned to their town after the protracted crisis.

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    Mrs Yahaya admitted that both the Fulanis, Okoro and Tiv people are now living happily in the town, adding that some herdsmen were still living in few areas in the bushes but not causing problem.

    Also speaking to NAN, Mrs Sarah Ubur, an IDP, said she was tired of staying at the camp, disclosing further that they were dying of hunger and cold at the camps.

    Ubur said that their greatest challenge was shelter and how to restart life following the destruction of all their property in the crisis.

    Yekini also visited some of his troops at Sector 1 Giza, Keana Local Government of Nasarawa.

    NAN reports that villages such as Mbabai, Mbadwen, Umenge, Yogbo all in Guma local government area of Benue, do not have access roads thereby making them vulnerable to attacks.

    NAN further reports that socioeconomic activities have picked up in all the villages visited with residents going about their normal life. (NAN)

  • Taraba governor’s wife honoured

    Tiv Women of Taraba State have honoured their daughter, Mrs Anna Ishaku, wife of Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku. They gave her a “Humanitarian Service Award.”

    Anna, a consummate lawyer, is of Tiv descent from  Vandeikya, Benue State.

    Anna was decorated in Tiv’s most revered black and white cultural regalia and bestowed the traditional title of “Msughshima u Tiv Taraba.” This means Anna Ishaku is the “comforter of the Tiv ethnic group in Taraba state.”

    There are indigenous Tiv people in Ibi, Wukari, Donga, Takum, Gassol and Bali local government areas of the 16 local councils that make up Taraba. The event, held in Sabon Gida, Gassol, was organised by the Tiv Women Association of Gassol (TWAG). Eye-witnesses described the event as a “show of love by mothers onto their daughter in whom they are well pleased.” One of her aides, Boaz Isaac, reported that what he saw at the occasion was a “torrential pour of love” on the First Lady. He added: “The Tiv Swange dance that heralded the event was something else too beautiful to watch and believe.”

    Many others described the honour accorded Anna as well deserved. Through her NGO -Hope Afresh Foundation (HAF), Mrs Ishaku has empowered many youths in her Skills Acquisition Training (SAT) programme with startup packages such as sewing machines, computers, hair dryers, make-up kits and welding machines, among others.

    In healthcare delivery, she runs free dental and optometrical services. She has also done distinctively well in the fight against HIV/Aids, poliomyelitis, maternal/child mortality and drug abuse.

    The governor’s wife had once organised a Cultural Festival for the state’s over 100 heterogeneous ethnic groups to showcase their ancestral ways of life. The festival healed the wounds of perennial ethno-religious skirmishes in the state. She is the discoverer of the people of Ndola who are Tarabans inhabiting the Cameroon mountains. Upon her return, the governor integrated the hitherto forgotten people into the Taraba community to feel the presence of government. The people, happy, bestowed on Anna their traditional title of Na’a Ndola, meaning: “Mother of Ndola People.” Governor Ishaku became the Ta’a Ndola (father of Ndola people).

    Tiv in Taraba, predominantly farmers, are being confronted with multifaceted challenges, including attacks and killings by herdsmen. They need a comforter and helper to regain their feet, repatriate to their homes. TWAG said Anna is doing a lot for them in this regard.

    Born August 24, 1957, the First Lady still looks every inch beautiful, despite having five children with her husband. The children are all graduates -two have bagged PhD, three have Masters. The second child, David, got married recently.

    Anna and Darius Dickson Ishaku, born on July 30, 1954, attended the same college. They also went to the same university -ABU Zaria. They married in the early 80s, a long time when Anna had no inkling that Ishaku will one day become a minister and later governor. But through Ishaku’s hard work and struggles, with her as “a helper,” today, the husband, an architect, is governor and she is one of the most respectful First Ladies in the country. Yet, she remains a humble woman. God-fearing mother. Her concept is not about frequenting Dubai malls for luxury shopping, wallowing in the latest fashion, keeping up with expensive jewellery and all make-up accessory trends, and strutting catwalks during public functions.

    Anna’s story, in a nutshell, is that of a role model in power who remembers her less privileged community, who radiates maternal concern -a true mother and wife who cares for her family and children. Her Tiv mothers and sisters are pleased with her.

     

  • Appeals by Dariye, Nyame: Court delivers judgment Friday

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja will Friday deliver judgments in the appeals filed by ex-governors of Taraba and Plateau states, Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye.

    The court heard the appeal by Nyame on September 25 this year and heard that of Dariye on October 2 this year.

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    Nyame was, on May 30 this year, convicted and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine, by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu, Abuja.

    Nyame was convicted on 27 out of the 41 counts charge, in which he was accused of diverting public funds estimated at N1.64billion. He was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Dariye was, on June 12 this year, convicted and sentenced to 14 years jail term by the same judge for diverting public funds to the tune of N1.126billion.

    Dariye who was governor of Plateau State from 1999 to 2007 and a current Senator, representing Plateau Central, was found guilty on 15 out of the 23 counts contained in the charge filed against him by the EFCC.