Forgive me if I stepped on your toes – Gov. Ishaku to Taraba politicians
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
The Executive Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku has once again, apologized and pleaded for forgiveness from Taraba State Politicians whom he might have stepped on their toes in the course of discharging his duties as the Governor of Taraba State.
The governor made the call in Jalingo while speaking at a Thanksgiving/Farewell Service organized in his honour by the Taraba State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria CAN.
This is the second time the governor had gone before congregation to publicly seek forgiveness from politicians and the entire people of Taraba State on issues and areas he might have offended them.
He had few weeks back, knelt before the Congregation of Anglican Church Mayo Dasa Jalingo, during a Special Easter thanksgiving Service, where he noted that as a leader who had led the state for almost eight years, it was likely that he might had offended so many people either knowingly or unknowingly in the course of discharging his duty.
Governor Ishaku at the service, pleaded that where ever he had gone wrong, he should be forgiven especially that the act was one of the expected cardinal virtues of all christians.
Here at CAN Secretariat, the governor reiterated that whoever he had stepped on his or her toes, should forgive him, insisting that where ever such occured, it was not deliberate but circumstances that surround the number one seat of the state.
“Some times, you will be doing your best but people will misunderstand you. We feel that everything we did in the course of our administration was for the best interest of the state. However, I want to state that who ever I have stepped on his/her toes in the course of discharging my duty, the person should forgive me.
“I have also forgiven everybody that offended me in one way or the other during the administration. My prayer is that God should keep us together in good health”. He added.
The governor appreciated members of the state Executive Council, traditional leaders, Security Agencies, Stakeholders and all Tarabans who had been with him through tick and thin in the course of his administration.
Commending the Taraba State CAN and Muslim Council for standing by him and helping him to tackle complex issues during the administration, the governor noted that his doors were still wide opened as he hoped to enjoy more and continuous cordial relationship with the people of the state.
Earlier in a sermon at the session, Bishop Timothy Yahaya, former Taraba State CAN chairman and Anglican Bishop of Kaduna who preached on the topic; “To God be the glory”, charged brethren to make their ways right before God by identifying areas they had gone wrong and genuinely seek forgiveness from God Almighty.
The Bishop who read from Philippians 4:20, emphasized that God’s glory can never be taken by anybody. He said seeking for forgiveness by reaching out to people was a genuine and right way of showing God’s glory before mankind.
He urged Governor Darius Ishaku to set aside his ego and do everything possible to reach out to all the politicians he feels he had offended and reconcile with them through round table discussions.
The Bishop also appealed to politicians in the state to always throw their doors open to accommodate those who come to them for reconciliation, adding that the act was the best way to pleased God.
Our reporter who witnessed the farewell service reported that top government officials and political leaders in the state, First class Chiefs and prominent religious leaders as well as other government functionaries accompanied the governor to the service.
