Taraba Gov, Ishaku abandons office in Jalingo, operates from Abuja since December

Taraba’s Governor Darius Ishaku has been staying in Abuja for close to two months now, because he is receiving adequate medical treatment for a domestic accident.

His spokesman Bala Dan Abu, a senior special assistant, gave this information Thursday night in a reaction to calls for his impeachment for abandoning Jalingo, the capital of the state.

Abu did not elaborate on the nature of the domestic accident the governor suffered, but said the governor is recuperating.

Abu, a former magazine editor and veteran journalist, dismissed calls for the impeachment of Ishaku, who has stayed out of the state since December.

He said Ishaku’s continued stay in Abuja does not in any way constitute an impeachable offence.

He described those calling for the governor’s impeachment as unpatriotic people, who were only bent on promoting “inanities and outright falsehood.”

“We urge the good people of Taraba, their friends and admirers in and outside the state to ignore the campaign of falsehood being orchestrated by some people.

“His Excellency is desirous to return to the state and will do so when he has sufficiently recovered.”

According to Abu, the governor’s absence had not affected the state in any negative way.

“No aspect of governmental activities has suffered a setback as a result.

“All government projects are going on smoothly and government has continued to meet its obligations to contractors while progress are being monitored by appropriate government ministries and officials,” Abu added.

He further explained that the 2020 budget was being implemented with vigour while salaries of workers, pensions and gratuities are also being paid promptly.

“It is therefore wrong and misleading to suggest that the Governor’s absence has affected morale of civil servants and governance in the state”.

According to him, it was wrong to claim that the governor had breached Section 190 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) by not transmitting power to his Deputy.

“The said section of the Constitution 190(2) speaks of transmission of power only when the Governor proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office.

“In this case, the Governor is not on vacation and he is not unable to discharge the duties of his office. He has been conducting his official duties diligently.”

“Government activities are not at a standstill. Governor Ishaku has not breached any part of the Constitution.

“He remains focused and irrevocably committed to peace and the socio-economic development of Taraba State,” Abu added.

He advised those claiming that governance was at a standstill in Taraba to visit the state and verify.