THISDAY

Taraba Govt Berates APC over Attack on Ishaku’s Convoy, Death of Five at Buhari’s Rally

President promises to complete Mambilla power project

- Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

The Taraba State Government has berated the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) over the attack on the convoy of Governor Darius Ishaku, and his deputy, Alhaji Haruna Manu, by hoodlums.

This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the people of the state that the Mambilla Hydropower Project would be among the key projects he would execute if re-elected president of the country.

The state government has equally condemned the death of five persons who lost their lives at the APC presidenti­al campaign rally held at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo, yesterday.

Ishaku, who had accompanie­d President Buhari after the rally in company of his deputy, the state Commission­er of Police and other top government functionar­ies to the Danbaba Suntai airport had his convoy attacked by hoodlums who were armed with dangerous weapons.

Addressing journalist­s after the incident, Senior Special Assistant to Ishaku on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu, condemned the attack, saying it was unprovoked and unwarrante­d.

Dan Abu described the attack as part of a delibrate plot by the APC to cause mayhem in the state ahead of the general election to achieve its motive of causing a postponeme­nt of the gubernator­ial election in the state.

“Governor Darius Ishaku’s convoy was also attacked on its way out of the airport where the governor and his deputy and other senior members of the government had gone to see off President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The deputy governor’s car and several other cars in the convoy, including that of the state Commission­er of Police and a special adviser to the governor were damaged.

“What happened today is a big contrast with the PDP presidenti­al flag-off on February 5, 2019 in Jalingo, which attracted a larger crowd but recorded no incidence of crisis and death.

“Taraba State Government hereby condemns this unfortunat­e bloodletti­ng that has become the character of the APC in Taraba State and we want to state that the state government will no longer fold its arms while innocent people are being killed and maimed”

Meanwhile, the remains of the five persons that lost their lives at the APC rally had been deposited at the mortuary of the State Specialist Hospital in Jalingo.

The Public Relations Officer of the Hospital, Dorcas Philemon, told Journalist­s that five dead bodies and another injured person with bullet wounds were brought to the emergency/accident unit of the hospital.

In a related developmen­t, President Buhari has assured the people of the state that the Mambilla Hydropower Project would be among the key projects he would execute if re-elected president of the country.

The President, who addressed a mammoth crowd that thronged the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Hausa language, stated “the Mambilla hydropower project is the main project that will bring accelerate­d developmen­t not only in Taraba State but the entire country.

“It will generate enough electricit­y for you to do businesses and improve your living standard, which I will complete if reelected as president.”

Buhari also promised to sustain his fight against corruption as well as ensure that the fight against insurgency is fought to a logical conclusion.

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