Taraba Facts

The Federal Government has proposed N2 billion in the 2014 budget as counterpart funding for a special economic development initiative for the North East. This is coming about three weeks after President Goodluck Jonathan promised a “special intervention programme” for the region. During the 2nd North-East Economic Summit in Gombe earlier in the month, Jonathan announced that the region will soon benefit from a special intervention programme being packaged by the government to accelerate the zone’s socio-economic development. Details of the 2014 budget available to Daily Trust show that N2 billion was provided under the heading “Federal Initiative for North-East (Pilot Counterpart Funding Contribution).” The use of the phrase ‘counterpart funding’ indicates that the programme would be run together with the six states in the zone. At the North East summit, Jonathan explained that the programme he was coming up with would be executed in partnership with governments of the ...

Emmanuel Njiwa, has been in the power game since the Second republic- a journey that saw him become commissioner, board chairman and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Cameroon. In this revealing interview the former Secretary To the Taraba State Government, spoke to bode gbadebo about many burning issues in his home state of Taraba. What led to your removal as the secretary to the Taraba state government? What led to my removal was the political intrigues at the time because I was far removed from what I was accused of. There was no correlation between what they said I did and the actual facts on ground. The truth is that after the plane crash of Governor Danbaba Suntai on October 25, 2012, I visited the ailing governor in Germany in January this yera. By this time, the deputy governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, had been sworn in as acting governor according to the dictates of the Constitution. Now, after my visit, it was his turn to go there and he went to Germany....

The Comptroller of Prisons in Taraba State, Alhaji Isa Bambul has asked the Federal Government to relocate the Jalingo Prisons currently located in the middle of the state capital following the incessant attacks on prisons in the Northeast part of the country. Bambul spoke yesterday in an interview with newsmen during the ongoing symposium/workshop on security sensitisation organised by the prisons in the state. According to him, it was wrong to locate a prison in the mist of civilian community because of the security risks posed in case of security breaches as the people living around such areas end up becoming casualties. Earlier in his speech, Bambul had lamented the incessant attacks on prisons particularly in the North East zone of the country where prison officials spend sleepless nights to ensure that prison walls are secured.

The Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Garba Umar, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mr Mathias Danazumi on Friday, said the state government plans to employ 20 medical doctors in its bid to boost healthcare services to its citizens. He disclosed this in Jalingo at the opening ceremony of the 2013 Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Week/Dinner. He said the recruitment became inevitable as there are inadequate number of medical personnel in the health facilities across the state. Umar also announced that the newly constructed Takum General Hospital would be inaugurated on Dec. 19. He said the hospital was set for operations as drugs and other essential facilities had been procured. He also commended members of the NMA for their selfless services to the people, adding that Taraba would continue to partner with them for effective healthcare service delivery to the people. Earlier, the Chairman of the NMA in the state, Dr Wada Sa...

Recuperating Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, is fit to resume his constitutional duties as the executive governor now, the former governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna has said. He said the most important thing is that Suntai has capable hands around, including his deputy Alhaji Garba Umar, who can complement his efforts. Haruna, accompanied by his wife, spent sev eral hours with Suntai at the Government House, Jalingo on Sunday. Haruna clad in an ash short-Safari suit while the governor wore a milky baban riga. From the governor’s living room, the two kinsmen of the defunct Gongola state went to sit outside, in white rubber chairs. This discussed for several hours. Most of the discussions centred on the governor’s air crash and the political impasse in Taraba. Present were their aides and journalists who later interviewed the former Adamawa governor. Haruna warned politicians, particularly the Taraba State House of Assembly members to stop pl...

The political space is becoming   more free and conducive for women to participate as two female Senators – Helen Esuene (PDP, Akwa Ibom South) and Aisha Jummai Al- Hassan (PDP, Taraba North) – on Wednesday declared their ambition to contest the 2015 governorship election in their respective states. The women declared their intention at a joint press briefing held at the National Assembly. According to them, they decided to contest the governorship election of their respective states to complement the efforts men had been making over the years in the same capacity. They also pledged to “bring about more impactful governance on citizens of the states as far as genuine development was concerned”. Esuene said, “We are not saying we are better than men that have been occupying these positions over the years in the two states and infact across the 36 states of the federation. “We are only saying as responsible women, we shall be less distracted in office like any of the men...

Taraba State Acting Governor Alhaji Garba Umar has send the name of Danladi Yakubu Balutu to the state House of Assembly for confirmation as chairman State Universal Basic Education Board. A letter personally signed by the Acting Governor is requesting the House to confirm the nominee in line with the 1999 Constitution. After reading the letter at the flour of the House, the Speaker Josiah Sabo Kente directed the Clark of the Assembly Ismail Tentason Ukwen to communicate with the nominee to present thirty copies of his curriculum vitae to the House and to appear before it on Monday next week.

Taraba State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it had arrested 70 drug suspects and seized 700.7 kilogrammes of cannabis between January and November 2013.  NDLEA Commandant in Taraba, Ishaku Kwajaffa, who said this while speaking on the activities of the agency in 2013, added that 650 grammes of psychotropic substances were also seized within the period. He said that 17 of those arrested were convicted by the court and sentenced to various prison terms with 21counselled and released to their parents while the others are still undergoing counselling.  The NDLEA boss said most of the arrests were made in Jalingo, Wukari, Takum and Bali area councils of the state, adding that the command could have done more if it had adequate operational vehicles to penetrate the hinterland.  He called on the Taraba State government to assist the command in the provisions of operational vehicles and a rehabil...

Rt. Hon. Speaker, J.S Kente Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly Josiah Sabo Kente has announced minor changes in the House standing committees. Under the new arrangement, Edward Baraya member from Karim Lamido is the new chairman House committee on Finance and Appropriation while Hamma-Adama Abdullahi member from Bali is the new chairman House committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Josiah Sabo Kene said changes were normal in the House and asked the new chairmen to evolve new ideas that would lead to the success of their assignment. Also the House received two communications, one from the Ministry of Justice in respect of medium term expenditure for 2013 to 2014 while another communication was send in by the Taraba State Physical Responsibility Commission. The Speaker Josiah Sabo Kente requested the members to study the two documents with a view to deliberate on them within the week.

There is “heavy looting” going on in Taraba state, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Amb. Emmanuel Njiwah alleged. Njiwah who briefed reporters in Abuja, accused the Acting Governor Alhaji Garba Umar of being corrupt. Njiwah and five commissioners and two special advisers were sacked by Umar for allegedly mismanaging N400 million flood mitigating grant in July. But the former SSG said he was removed because he refused to support the acting governor, whom he said is desperate to become the substantive governor. Njiwah said they have sued Umar over the sack. “The deputy governor was the chairman of the committee,” he added. He alleged that Umar masterminded the ongoing political impasse in the state in order to plunder the state’s treasury. “He said: Umar has betrayed the governor by scheming to take over power from him at all cost. “He has become the number one enemy of Governor Danbaba Suntai because he is trying to unseat him. “No one would have...

A political group known as The Save Taraba Group (TSTG) has called for the swearing-in of the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar as substantive governor without further delays following what it called the existence of a ‘parallel administration’ in the state. In a press statement issued in Abuja by the coordina tors of the group Mr. Adamu Bello and comrade Inuwa Benson, TSTG said the call became necessary to preserve the economic and political future of the state. “While capital expenditures are dispensed with the approval of the governor, contingency funds are shared between the office of the governor and that of the acting governor, in what is believed to be a weird parallel administration in a constitutional democracy,” the group said. It further said the current arrangement was beginning to create an uneasy calm as it has resulted in the “stalling of state projects and proposals, creation of lethargy in decision making process, mutual suspicio...

Wife of Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai of Taraba State, Hajiya Hauwa Suntai, Saturday said her husband’s health condition is improving. Hauwa spoke at the ‘Ukenho Festival of Arts and Culture’ in Kente town of Wukari Local Government Area, thanking people of the state for their prayers for the governor and expressing confidence that he would participate in next year’s edition of the cultural fiesta. She said she was at the event because her husband had always been passionate about it and had been an active participant in previous ones before the plane crash in 2012 which led to the cancellation of last year’s edition. She said the event would help in the promotion of unity and cultural values of the people, adding that parents should cultivate the habit of teaching their children their local dialects in the home rather than communicating with them in English. According to her, children can always learn English language from their teachers in school as well ...

A fresh concern began yesterday over the political leadership in Taraba State nearly four months after the arrival of injured Governor Danbaba Suntai from medical treatment abroad. The return had resulted in an unusual power sharing arrangement between Mr. Suntai and the Acting-Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar. By the power sharing arrangement brokered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national leadership, recuperating Suntai remains as governor, while Umar is responsible for the day to day administration of the state, in consultation with Suntai. While capital expenditures are for instance, dispensed with the approval of the governor, contingency funds are shared between the office of the governor and that of the Acting Governor, in what is believed to be a weird parallel administration in a constitutional democracy. Competent sources said yesterday that the arrangement is beginning to generate an uneasy calm as it has resulted in the stalling or the frustration...

STATE ACTING GOVERNOR, ALH. GARBA UMAR Tarava State Acting Governor Alhaji Garba Umar has approved the appointment of Asabe Maingwa as Taraba State Head of Service to replace Augustine Bazin . In a statement from the office of the Acting Governor today in Jalingo, the Acting Governor also directed Danladi Balutu to take over the State Universal B asic Education Board from Hilkiya Bubajoda Mafindi as the Executive Chairman. Similarly, Alhaji Garba Umar has approved the transfer of SomePermanent Secretaries. Those affected are Habila Jaman from the State Ministry of Works to the Ministry of Finance, Lydia Baba moves from Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Women Affairs While Abdulmumini Ndoba moves to the Ministry of Agric from Home Affairs to replace Ifraimu kifasi who is now Permanent Secretary for Bureau for Land and Survey. Also Alhaji Umar Ibrahim has been transfered to the Ministry of work as new Perm Sec while the Department of Home Affair will be headed by...

Investigations by SaharaReporters reveal that poverty-plagued Taraba State has so far spent more than $1.2 million (close to N200 million) in ten months on the medical treatment of brain-injured Governor Danbaba Suntai. The state has also spent millions of naira more in security votes to the in jured governor, estacode payments to him as well as members of Mr. Suntai’s inner circle, and transportation. The total cost to the state is close to half a billion naira, our investigative team discovered. Mr. Suntai was injured in October, 2012 when a small plane he was piloting crashed near Yola Airport in Adamawa State. Mr. Suntai was attempting to land at the time of the accident. After a brief stay at the National Hospital, Abuja, the injured governor was flown to a hospital in Germany. He was later transferred to the Johns Hopkins Hospital in the State of Maryland, the United States. After spending a few months there, he was admitted at a rehabilitation center for tr...

Newly promoted Nigeria Professional Football League side Taraba FC have handed the coaching job of the club to former Heartland coach Ndubuisi Nduka. Coach Nduka has reportedly held talks with the Jalingo-based club’s management and will be leading the side in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season. According to the club chairman, Tijjani Babangida, the coach has an option to extend the contract at the end of the season. The former Super Eagles midfielder added that plans to beef up the squad ahead of the forthcoming season is a top priority for the coach and the management. Coach Nduka is expected to immediately resume duty after his official presentation to the players. The tactician led Heartland to a back-to back Nigeria Federation Cup successes in 2011 and in 2012. He has also coached Plateau United.