We Will Create More Chiefdoms- Gov. Ishaku

·       Taraba Holds Sensitization Workshop for Traditional Rulers

Taraba State Governor Arch Darius Dickson Ishaku while declaring a Sensitization Workshop for Traditional Rulers in the State opened said the state government had plans to create more chiefdom in order to bring governance closer to the people.

 

At the workshop mainly for Second and Third class Chiefs in the state organized for by  State government in conjunction with the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Governor Darius Ishaku further disclosed that his administration had built on the previous administrations' legacy to create new chiefdoms and also upgraded the existing old ones in line with the extant laws of the traditional institutions.

 

He disabused the minds of Tarabans, especially those accusing him of being clannish that his administration's efforts in creating new Chiefdoms was not based on clannish interest, saying that it was basically to build an egalitarian society and not to divide the State into tribal enclaves.

 

The Governor warned traditional rulers against accommodating criminals in their communities or risk sanctions.

The governor further urged traditional rulers to evolve ways of detecting suspicions movements and characters within their communities.

 

"Do not give refuge to any fleeing criminal; doing so will be at your own peril, support government's efforts to tackle criminality," he said.

 

He also warned the traditional rulers against using their good offices to seize properties especially lands that belong to their subjects, stressing that ancestral land is the only thing that belongs to a poor man and must be protected at all cost in their course of conflict resolutions and other related disputes.

 

"I must urge and encourage you all to be upright in your traditional administrative justice system. This workshop is organized to equip and strengthen your leadership capacities and capabilities to enable you to discharge your roles effectively as  fathers to everyone.

 

Governor Ishaku assured the traditional rulers of his continuous supports to their respective challenges especially in terms of security, assuring that government would continue to push for the security of lives and property at all time, while thanking the security agencies for untiring efforts to ensure that all Nigerians are safe within the shore of the country.

 He disclosed that the workshop was the first of its kind since the Creation of Taraba State, adding that he was most delighted that the royal fathers were being brought under one roof to be sensitized and armed with the requisite skills to better understand the rudiments and challenges of leadership so that the ultimate goals and functions of their respective Chiefdoms as enshrined in their appointments were truly achieved.

 

 

 

 

The Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Bello Yero while welcoming participants  at the workshop sensitization programme, appreciated "the visionary leadership of  Governor Darius Ishaku, for initiating the workshop for traditional rulers in Taraba State to enable them key into the state government's agenda on peace and harmonious co-existence of the people."

 

Yero noted the Ishaku-led administration had upgraded 11 third-class stools to second-class status and also appointed 39 new third-class chiefs.

 

"So far, there is a total of 49 third-class and 12 second-class chiefs in the state," he said.

 

Yero alluded to the fact that creating and upgrading Chiefdoms and Districts as well as appointing Chiefs to oversee their affairs, "Governor  Ishaku, had attended to the legitimate yearnings of people of Taraba for self- identity, adding that this gave the people of Taraba cultural identity  and helped brought government closer the them.

 

 The Aku Uka of Wukari and Chairman, Taraba State Council of Chiefs, Dr. Shekarau Angyu Masa Ibi  represented by  the Gara of Donga, HRH Sanvala Barzuwa Shimbura  lauded the good efforts of Governor Darius Ishaku in organizing this workshop at a time its needed most and pledged to consciously undergo the training as well abide by the teachings and knowledge of the programme as is expected of them.