Published 29th Nov, 2022

By Sodeeq Atanda

Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku, the governor of Taraba State, has been in the news lately for using his office to threaten and undermine the freedom of Ayodele Oloye, the publisher of Taraba Truth and Fact newspaper and CEO of Rock FM 92.3 in Jalingo.

A report by the journalist’s newspaper had uncovered the governor’s plans to privatise the state government’s liaison office located at 4 Yawuri, Garki area of Abuja, as his second term in office winds up.

THE REPORT AS PUBLISHED BY THE MEDIA OUTFIT

Taraba Truth and Fact have exclusively gathered that Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku have commenced moves to sell the Taraba state Liaison Office located in No. 4 Yawuri Garki area of Abuja.

A credible source told this newspaper that the property is currently valued by Building valuers working under the directive of the Taraba State government.

Governor Ishaku’s refusal to balance a contractor who renovated the build under the Late Governor Danbaba Suntai administration had left it abandoned in the last Seven years, Taraba Truth and Facts uncovered.

The build, Taraba Truth and Fact gathered is listed among state owned properties which ownership would be transferred to private hands in the winding up of Governor Ishaku’s two term tenure .

The Liaison office which was maintained and used by successive administration was left to rot under Governor Ishaku’s administration, a visit to the building by this Newspaper shows that had not been in used for a while with all doors under lock.

One of the state officials who pleaded anonymity told Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper that Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku abandoned the building and stopped paying the contractor who renovated, the building was upgraded to a befitting status but the valuers are under valuing it now to pave way for the prospective buyer.

“You can imagine, a building that was used by all the former governors of Taraba state was abandoned by Governor Ishaku and now he wants to auction it as a dilapidated building , there are rumors that a female member of his family will be buying the building off, this building is one of the heritage of Taraba,” the official added.

Another official said Taraba state could have made millions in revenue if they had put the building into use.

“This building has been abandoned by Governor Ishaku because he refused to balance the contractor who furnished and renovated it under the late Governor Danbaba Suntai’s administration, the building was built to increase revenue for the state, looking at the location of the building at the heart of Abuja, Taraba can make millions monthly from using the building as hotel, also anytime state officials visit Abuja they can be accommodated in the place, Governor Ishaku left the place to rot and now he’s bringing some Lebanese fronting for family to buy the building.”

Several efforts to get the Secretary to the Taraba State Government, Mr Anthony Jelason speaks on this development failed as various calls and messages to his phone lines were not responded to.

Several top Government officials in the state however confirmed that a list of government properties is been compile by the administration, with many denying knowing what the list would be used for.Recall that despite protest the move to privatize some state owned companies, Governor of Ishaku, has begun the process of transferring ownership of Mambilla Beverages Company, producers of popular Highland Tea, to private hands.

The move for privatization was revealed in an EXTRACT of the conclusion reached at the State Executive Council meeting where the request for privatization approval was discussed.

FIJ had reported how faceless state agents, acting on the orders of the governor, were trailing Oloye on November 25 in a tinted Prado SUV.

FIJ had also published a story how the police in Jalingo arraigned Oloye before a court in the state on Tuesday for allegations of “inciting the public against the governor and defamation of character.”

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