Gov. Ishaku restrains Monarchs from allocating lands to emigrants
By Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
The Executive Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has restrained monarchs in the State from indiscriminately allocating lands to unknown persons without the approval of their Local Government Chairmen and by extension the State Governor.
The Governor made this declaration while presenting a staff of office to Etta Ekpan, His Royal Highness Mallam Joel Yerima Jatau of Ekpan Chiefdom at the Government House Jalingo last Friday.
The Governor who also cautioned the monarchs to be wary of trading land as a result of peculiarly inducement stated that the challenges bedeviling the country had made it expedient for him to strengthen traditional institutions to perform more pivotal roles in solving problems of the state.
Governor Ishaku who extolled the crucial and vibrant role of traditional institutions as custodians of our rich culture and tradition Stated that his desire to strengthen the institution was to also give all the ethnic nationalities in the state a sense of belonging and fulfilment.
He noted that since the inception of his administration, he had upgraded 11 tools to second class chiefs and created 49 chiefdoms of third class status across the entire state.
While challenging monarchs in the state on their various responsibilities, the governor emphasized that they “must desist forthwith from indiscriminate allocation of land in your domain to unknown persons or strangers without approval of your Local Government Chairman and by extension the approval of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Taraba State. Chiefs must also be wary of trading land as a result of peculiarly inducement.
“You must ensure unity, peace and peaceful coexistence by monitoring the influx of new emigrants and strange characters so that they do not further destabilize the fragile peace in this state.
“You must actively secure your domains through constant synergy with security and relevant government agencies. Be proactive by reporting or even effecting the arrest of persons or groups whose actions seem to be inimical to the peace of your domain and immediately submit same to the police. And you must distance yourself from partisan politics as well as avoid undue politicization of the traditional institution. Your actions, body language and utterances must be exemplary as a father of the people”. He added.
The governor pointed out that his administration has ensure proper boundary demarcation of each chiefdom in the state to give each a strict area of jurisdiction to avoid encroachment and disputes.
He explained that the creation of each chiefdoms in the state was done in good faith to bring government closer to the people and not intended to Balkanized the state in to ethnic blocks, pointing out that wherever a community falls, it should pay its loyalty and allegiance to the chief and the chiefdom irrespective of tribe or religion.
Ishaku who revealed that his government would soon organize a sensitization workshop through the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in order to give the chiefs a sense of direction, called on the traditional rulers to justify the huge resources this administration has been expending on their ware fare by supporting and cooperating with his administration particularly in matching his mantra of “give me peace and I will give you development”.
Our reporter affirmed that one of the monarchs, His Royal Highness, Auwalu Hammanjulde of Kabri Chiefdom who was to also receive his Statff of office alongside His Royal Highness, Yerima Jatau could not receive it owing to administrative lapses. However, the governor assured the people who came along with him that in no distant time, the government would be through with the administrative hurdles, during which another day would be fix to present it to him accordingly.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alh. Bello Yero, noted that His Royal Highness Mallam Joel Yerima Jatau replaces His Royal Highness late Daniel who died on 38th day of July 2020.
He said the occasion was a clear manifestation of the value the governor, His Excellency Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has on traditional institutions in the state.
The permanent Secretary who described the governor as a passionate figure who is determined to provide succor to the common man in the state appealed to all Tarabans and in particular His Royal Highnesses to effectively reciprocate the governor’s gesture by ensuring that peace unity and cohesion rains among inhabitants of their respective domains regardless of tribe, faith or socio economic status.
He also charged monarchs to provide the requisite leadership in the state so that human and capital development target of the governor Darius administration could be achieved.
He also called on them to be law abiding, loyal to the government at all times and stay away from issues that cause rancor and disunity in their chiefdoms.
In his goodwill message, the former Chief of Staff to the Taraba State Government, Robo Usman congratulated the chief for the position and encouraged him to work hard to maintain peace in his domain. He appreciated the governor and said that the exercise of devouring power through the upgrading and appointment of chief by the governor was a very good strategy towards restoring the much needed peace in the state.
