We’ll Do Everything To Maintain Peace— Ishaku
• ‘Herders Activities Threat To Forests Preservation’
TARABA State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, has plegded to resist any move to frustrate his administration’s plans to establish the much-needed peace in the state.
Ishaku made this known, yesterday, while hosting the new leadership of the state branch of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). He expressed dismay at ongoing plans by government at the centre to frustrate the state’s anti-open grazing law.
He alleged that the Federal Government is kicking against ongoing training of Marshals to ensure enforcement of the anti-open law.
He said: “Marshals would halt frictions between farmers and grazers. The state needs them to ensure enforcement of the law.”
The governor, who used the forum to berate those describing the Marshal as an illegal security outfit, vowed not to be discouraged or cowed by persons he de- scribed as “enemies of peace.” He urged CAN leadership not to relent in using its position to foster peace among people of the state, irrespective of religious, tribal and political affiliations.
The newly elected chairman of CAN, Innocent Solomon, said the association was ready to contribute to the state’s growth.
In a related development, the presence of herders has made the protection of even gazetted forests dangerous in the state, as several rangers are said to have lost their lives while protecting parks. An environmental journalist, Lawal Sani Kona, who made this known at a twoday workshop on Cross River and Taraba State knowledge exchange, which held in Ikom, Cross River State, said pastoral human activities have become threats to forests in Taraba.
He cited demand for land, due to the growth in human population as another major factor crippling protection of forests in the state.
DELTA State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has approved N12bn for payment of teachers'and local councils salary arrears. He revealed this at a rally to receive members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Chief Andrew Orugbo and other opposition par- ties, who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Orugbo, a former Commissioner in Delta State and thousands of the decampees, were received by the governor, the PDP Chairman in the state, Chief Kingsley Esiso, and other top politicians at a well attended political rally held at Ovwian, Udu local Council of the state.