Taraba Muslims Council Fires CAN, Says Muslims Produces More Federal Lawmakers Since 1999, Are Not Minority

•List Muslims Denied Permanent Secretary Position Under Governor Ishaku

The Muslim Council of Taraba State has condemned   a press release issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Taraba State Chapter in response to it's  earlier publication  on marginalization of Muslim in Taraba under Governor  Darius Dickson Ishaku led administration.

Addressing a press conference in Jalingo on Sunday, Kadi Abdulmumini Abubakar Rtd and  Alhaji Chindo Bose, Acting Chairman and Secretary of the council said CAN acted like an attack dog by going wild, rampaging and using all sorts of unprintable words to portray the Muslim Council for doing what is constitutional.  

The Council however called on CAN to respect itself as a religious body and desist from acting or behaving like a political party or an arm of the Taraba State Government. 

"This is because the press conference by the Muslim Council did not in any manner join CAN in its marginalization cries."

Faulting CAN statement that appointment of Permanent Secretaries was done based on seniority,  the Council stated  categorically state that junior officers were favoured against their Muslim senior colleagues, for instance:

"i. Ardo-Kola LGA, Mr. Samuel Lauya and Mr. Godfrey Dame were appointed Permanent Secretaries in 2019 and 2021 respectively against Engr. Mohammed Yusuf Bose, who is by far their senior in service.

ii. Lau LGA, Mr. Misa Kundi (who is not from core civil service) was picked from college of health Technology, Takum and appointed as Permanent Secretary, as against the most seniors, Abdulkadir U. Nagari and others.

iii. Ibi LGA, Mr. Taki Zaku was appointed Permanent Secretary against Barrister Aminu Sabo Adamu, who is far senior to the appointee.

iv. Sardauna LGA, Mr. Benjamin Chiegiel and Mr. Jonah Febuin were appointed against Hajiya Halima Zubairu and Dr. Ahmad H. Kara who happened to be the most seniors to the two appointees.

v. Yorro LGA, Mr. Anthony Wakili was appointed as Permanent Secretary against Hashimu Hammawa who is a far senior to the appointee.

vi. Kurmi LGA Mr. Ibrahim I. Yaboro was appointed as Permanent Secretary, as against Dr. Shehu Yaro the most senior to the appointee.

The Council while insisting that Muslims in the state are not in the minority, said  it is only in the figments of CAN's imagination that Taraba State is willfully seen a Christian State.

The statement reads in part: The unassailable truth is that Muslims are not minority in Taraba State. In fact, Muslims conspicuously constitute a significant majority in the state in the eyes of every objective observer. According to Population projection by the National Population commission (NPC) 2016, and the report of the National Bureau for Statistics projected Taraba State Population at 3,066,800. The segmentation of this projected population into the three senatorial zone will give as follows:

i. Taraba North 981,900 (32.02%)

ii. Taraba Central 1,147,800 (37.43%)

iii. Taraba South 910,400 (29.69%)

Based on the forgoing figure, Taraba North with 32.02% of the State Projected Population, has a significant Muslim population, that is why from 1992 to date, the zone has produced four out of the six senators, but to say that it was out of favour that Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku surrendered Northern senatorial seat to a Muslim minority is fallacious and baseless. Also, Taraba central with 37.43% of the State Projected Population, has predominant Muslim population, that is why from 1992 to date, voted Muslims as their senators. While Taraba south with 29.69% of the State Projected Population, has a significant Christian population, that is why from 1992 to date, has produced three out of the five senators. The allegation that Muslim in Taraba State are voting along religious line is far from the truth in view of numerous citations earlier. In fact, political decisions by major players are based on multiple interest among the actors and not based on religious divide.