The Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku says he has been staying in Abuja since December 2019 to recuperate from a domestic accident he suffered.
The state government, therefore, dismissed calls for the impeachment for staying away from the state.
According to a statement, Ishaku’s continued stay in Abuja did not in any way constitute an impeachable offence.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Bala Abu, who issued the statement on Thursday night in Abuja, dismissed the call as laughable.
According to him, the governor is staying in Abuja to recuperate from a domestic accident he earlier suffered.
“As a result, His Excellency had to stay back in Abuja to receive adequate medical attention.”
He described those calling for the governor’s impeachment as unpatriotic people, who were only bent on promoting “inanities and outright falsehood.”
“We urge the good people of Taraba, their friends and admirers in and outside the state to ignore the campaign of falsehood being orchestrated by some people.
“His Excellency is desirous to return to the state and will do so when he has sufficiently recovered.”
According to Abu, the governor’s absence had not affected the state in any negative way.
“No aspect of governmental activities has suffered a setback as a result.
“All government projects are going on smoothly and government has continued to meet its obligations to contractors while progress are being monitored by appropriate government ministries and officials,” Abu added.
He further explained that the 2020 budget was being implemented with vigour while salaries of workers, pensions and gratuities are also being paid promptly.
“It is therefore wrong and misleading to suggest that the Governor’s absence has affected morale of civil servants and governance in the state”.
According to him, it was wrong to claim that the governor had breached Section 190 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) by not transmitting power to his Deputy.
“The said section of the Constitution 190(2) speaks of transmission of power only when the Governor proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office.
“In this case, the Governor is not on vacation and he is not unable to discharge the duties of his office. He has been conducting his official duties diligently.”
“Government activities are not at a standstill. Governor Ishaku has not breached any part of the Constitution.
“He remains focused and irrevocably committed to peace and the socio-economic development of Taraba State,” Abu added.
He advised those claiming that governance was at a standstill in Taraba to visit the state and verify.