Permanent Secretary, Bureau For Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero has expressed optimism that Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba state would win re-election because of his outstanding performance.
Yero said Ishaku’s performances in the last four years which are visible for all to see, would give him a convincing victory over his opponents.
The Permanent Secretary who stated this in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER in his office also highlighted on the reasons why the state is now peaceful.
He said the peace initiatives of the governor has brought much development and harmony among the people of the state adding that the “slogan which Ishaku’s administration is known with across the state is: ‘Give Me Peace I Will Give You Development’.
Yero whose duties includes overseeing the affairs of Taraba state traditional rulers and head of local government councils in the state said “the records in local areas are so visible that the electorate will use that to return Governor Ishaku.
Continuing, he said “in almost four years of his administration, Nigeria as a country was faced with serious economic challenges, the country even went into recession, the governor stood his ground, unlike other states, Taraba state government was able to pay both state and local government workers promptly through out the hard period without owing them any month.
“The workers were happy, the state was peaceful even when other states were owing their workers for months.
“The governor inherited series of crisis in the state, call it communal, tribal or ethnic crisis at almost all the local government areas of the state.
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“He inaugurated different set of peace committees, the crisis that was as if it will consume the state silently went down and if you visit these areas now, the people are leaving happily among themselves” he added.
Yero noted that the youths skills acquisition programme across the sixteen local government areas of the state has put smile on the faces of the youths who are more vulnerable and prone to crisis, stressing that “hundred of them have been engaged and they are self-reliant”
He insisted that residents of the state have so many reason why they are insisting the governor should go for second term.
“Yes the opponents may have one or two thing’s to mention as an excuse but one have to be truthful that within the resources the governor was able to access in the last four years or there about, he has made good use of it.
“The governor opened up the state to the whole world, the commencement of flight from Jalingo to Abuja at Danbaba Suntai Airport is a welcomed development to both opposition parties and the lovers of democracy in the state and beyond, the tourism potentials in the state can easily be accessed by the tourists across the world through the airport.
“We in government can testify to Nigerians how we were faring before now and how we are now faring. The governor has put a road map for confirmation of promotion of civil servants both at state and local government levels, payment of pension, prompt settlement of gratuity among other welfare packages for workers .
“With this record, we are convince that whoever is running against the Governor will have a rethink just the same way some governorship candidates of some Political parties decided to step down for him yesterday”.
