March 11, (THEWILL) –Â Following the appointment of principal officers at the Taraba state University, the Taraba Muslim Council, has again accused the state Governor, Darius Ishaku of insensitivity to the diverse ethnicity and religions in the state.
Earlier, the Council addressed a Press conference, where it faulted the appointment of Permanent Secretaries and heads of state owned tertiary institutions, stating that the Muslim population in the state are been grossly marginalised.
On Friday, the Council made the fresh accusations in a press statement issued in Jalingo and signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Council, Khadi Abdulmumini Abubakar (rtd), Alhaji Chindo Bose, respectively and 18 others.
As contained in the statement;
“Your Excellency may wish to recall a press release by the Muslim Council of Taraba State, dated 11th January, 2022, on the marginalisation of Muslims by the Taraba State Government in its various appointments. The appointments include twelve Permanent Secretaries among others. The Taraba State Government did not dispel the marginalisation allegations raised in the earlier release, but still is reluctant to address the issues, instead flagrantly continuing with the marginalisation agenda as portrayed in the recent appointments of Principal Officers of Taraba State University.
“The appointees are as follows: Professor Sunday Paul Bako, Vice-Chancellor; Mr Joseph Bibinu, Registrar; Mr Abraham Bagu, Bursar; Mr Israel Idris, Librarian. All the above appointments were not based on merit, rather were based on religious and ethnic sentiments/affiliations to Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State.
“It’s worthy to note that some of the applicants, who scored higher during the interview were not considered for the simple fact that they did not meet the qualification agenda of the Governor.
“The Council views the action of the Governor in the appointments of these Principal Officers as insensitive to the multi-religious and multi-ethnic nature of Taraba State.
“Therefore, we wish to remind the Governor of the oath of office to which he swore that he will “do right to all manner of people, according to the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.
“In conclusion, the council urge the Governor to address the issues raised and review the contentious appointments of Permanent Secretaries and Principal Officers of Taraba State University among others, in line with the Oath of Office he swore to guide him in the discharge of his duties to all Tarabans”, the statement read in part.
It could be recalled that the allegation by the Council on Marginalisation against the Muslim population in the state generated a lot of reactions from the Muslim Council and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state.
Meanwhile, the Taraba state government has faulted the Muslim Council for taking their grievances to the Media, stating that the issues should have been tabled to the State Governor, who is in a best position to properly address the issues.
