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The Jukun National Forum has accused 'Lagos based acclaimed President' of Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN), Mr. Benjamin Bako of betraying the Jukun Nation in 2014.


The group noting that Mr Bako Benjamin  hustles to survive through conducts akin to  blackmailing, "because Bako does not have a defined job to do, he is today an available agent of mischief and blackmail."

The group in a press statement signed by  Secretary General Mr Alex Peter and it's Legal Consultant Barr.  Bajo J. Joel recalled that in 2014 during the reign of Alhaji Garba Umar UTC as the Acting Governor of Taraba State, "Benjamin while attempting to blackmail him, was compensated with contracts for the supply of Cotonou cars at the cost of 10 million Naira and procurement and distribution of Palm Trees at the same cost. From there he became a supporter of Garba Umar UTC in the midst of crisis among Jukun people in Wukari."
Insisting that Benjamin Bako Danborno has questionable background, the group said  Benjamin Bako was also  in 2018 sponsored to organise a protest against Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku for buying Prado Jeeps to his Commissioners. "The protest was aborted when some youths collected N1, 000 each from him and abandoned him alone with T-shirts and P-Caps that made him frustrated as he was asked by his sponsors to return back their money. Governor Darius did not care nor worry."

The group however appeals to Jukun Traditional leaders, Stakeholders and the Jukun Youths and Cultural Development Association (Central Body) to call Benjamin Bako to order. "Bako should stop parading himself as the representative of the Jukun people, because he is not. As any further act of misconduct or insolence against Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku will not be tolerated henceforth. Benjamin Bako shall be banished amongst us, and all legal steps will be taken to bring him to order. His interest is in sharp contrast with that of the entire Jukun people and Tarabans as a whole."





THE JUKUN NATIONAL FORUM

MOTTO: Telling the story as it is

PRESS RELEASE

BENJAMIN BAKO'S SEVEN DAYS 
ULTIMATUM: MATTERS ARISING

In the midst of the challenges of COVID-19 global  pandemic and the proactive measures immediately taken by the Governor of Taraba State, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku to combat the spread of the pandemic in Taraba State, the self –acclaimed President of Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN), Mr. Benjamin Bako enjoying the comfort of his bedroom in Lagos concocted up funny stories via an interview with BBC Hausa Service where he alleged that Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku has abandoned them (Lagos based online politicians) we believe. 

As naïve and unreasonable as he is and without the knowledge of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and exposure to the workings of government on how an  ultimatum can be given and by whom, we listened carefully to a seven days empty, undemocratic, unconstitutional and illegal ultimatum given to Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku by the self-acclaimed President of the Jukun Development Association (JDAN), Lagos branch and All Progressive Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Donga-Takum-Ussa and Yangtu Federal Constituency Taraba in 2019 elections, Mr. Benjamin Bako Danborno which expired on  Friday 24th April, 2020, and we have waited for another seven days without any  action. 

Though the frivolous and fictitious claims of Benjamin Bako were immediately refuted by the Honourable Commissioner of Information and Re-Orientation, Barrister Danjuma A. Adamu via the same BBC Hausa Service. The Honourable Commissioner made it clear to the world that Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku never abandoned the people of Taraba, the Governor is on ground working 24 hours with his people of Taraba State. According to the Commissioner, Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku has done his best to end the crises between Jukun and Tiv and to prevent COVID-19 from spreading to Taraba State. As Jukun people who live and operate in Taraba State, we therefore, attest to the statement by the Commissioner of Information that Benjamin Bako are "Yan Chinrani" meaning strangers in Taraba State. Benjamin Bako does not live in Taraba State and hardly comes to the State even during festive periods. Obviously Benjamin Bako is ill informed, misinformed or and uninformed about the happenings in Taraba State.       

Under normal circumstances, we do not think it necessary to reply to Benjamin Bako's reckless statements, but for the negative impressions that may have been printed in the minds of vulnerable people on Social Media, we are compelled to correct some misconceptions and state that:
Benjamin Bako is a loner and a toothless bulldog who can onlyl bark but cannot bite because he lacks the legitimacy to bite. 
To put the record straight, ultimatum can only be given and enforced by a competent  authority or somebody in authority. Bako Benjamin lacks all these powers; he is just a jobless hungry man that is angry. 
What can Bako, his In-laws, political associates and numerous sponsors do now at the end of the laughable ultimatum?
We can now clearly see that the ultimatum is not only empty, but politically motivated and impregnated by outside influence.  

Generally, there are two groups of people or politicians who always see themselves as the most relevant in any given society.
One of such are those whose stock-in-trade is to perpetually attack government in order to gain recognition and settlement. 
The second group is made up of online politicians and publishers who blackmail various personalities in organisations or government to extort money from them. 
Benjamin Bako Danborno belongs to the two groups mentioned above; his antecedents conspicuously portray the modus operandi of  these groups.

Therefore, we want the good person of Taraba State and the general public to note that Benjamin Bako lives with his family in Lagos, he is a hustler who does not work with any known private or government establishment. He hustles to survive through conducts akin to  blackmailing and duping high profile people. Because Bako does not have a defined job to do, he is today an available agent of mischief and blackmail. 

We recall that in 2014 during the reign of Garba Umar UTC as the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Benjamin while attempting to blackmail him, was compensated with contracts for the supply of Cotonou cars at the cost of 10 million Naira and procurement and distribution of Palm Trees at the same cost. From there he became a supporter of Garba Umar UTC in the midst of crisis among Jukun people in Wukari. 

Benjamin Bako was in 2018 sponsored to organise a protest against Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku for buying Prado Jeeps to his Commissioners. The protest was aborted when some youths collected N1, 000 each from him and abandoned him alone with T-shirts and P-Caps that made him frustrated as he was asked by his sponsors to return back their money. Governor Darius did not care nor worry.

We want to further inform the people of Taraba State that what Benjamin Bako is doing is for his personal gain and selfish interest. He is neither serving nor representing the collective interests of the Jukun people, Bako uses JDAN platform as a common flack to deceive and cheat desperate politicians. Bako does not have the mandate of the Jukun people for his blatantly uncivilized actions; he is only serving the interests of his In-laws in Kente and some parts of Sondi towns in Wukari Local Government Area. Time shall come where those characters will be exposed because they have plenty skeletons in their cupboard. 
Benjamin Bako Danborno has questionable background.

Finally, we wish to further appeal to Jukun Traditional leaders, Stakeholders and the Jukun Youths and Cultural Development Association (Central Body) to call Benjamin Bako to order. Bako should stop parading himself as the representative of the Jukun people, because he is not. As any further act of misconduct or insolence against Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku will not be tolerated henceforth. Benjamin Bako shall be banished amongst us, and all legal steps will be taken to bring him to order. His interest is in sharp contrast with that of the entire Jukun people and Tarabans as a whole.
 A stich in time saves nine.       
  
Signed:
Alex Peter          Barr.  Bajo J. Joel
Secretary General  Legal Consultant

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