Taraba Commissioner clears air on Poverty sustainability allegation.
From Daniel Mtindiga, Jalingo
The Honorable Commissioner Taraba State Ministry of Cooperation and Poverty alleviation, Mr Habu Philip James has debunked the claim circulating in the media space that he said Taraba State His Excellency, Dr Agbu Kefas was going to sustain poverty in the state.
Hon.Habu explained that the “sustainability”, he meant in his presentation during the poverty reduction and sustainable development workshop in China, was for development adding that, he didn’t mean the former.
He made the explanation while speaking with newsmen in Jalingo the Taraba State capital regarding a publication circulating the social media, calling for his removal over a presentation in China.
The Commissioner noted that, it was a normal natural slip of tongue adding that he immediately corrected but wondered why some persons have taken the mistake as a deliberate act.
He said, “It was in China, during the poverty reduction and sustainable development workshop, where I made a normal natural mistake of tongue and corrected it immediately.
“Because it was a poverty reduction and sustainable development workshop, I wanted saying, our government was going to sustain development but mistakenly said poverty. I immediately corrected the mistake, indicating that it was just a normal natural mistake of tongue.
“How can I say we will sustain poverty when governor Kefas is putting in all efforts to alleviate poverty. Governor Kefas’ aim is to ensure development, and exit Taraba on the poverty index list.
He however appealed to Tarabans to disregard such report aimed at putting him and the state government in bad light.
“I want to appeal to all Tarabans to disregard the publication, portraying me as saying the state government is going to sustain poverty. We are determine to sustain development. The poverty sustainability statement was a mistake of Tongue”. He stated.