Tribunal: Don’t inflame passions on Taraba, youths caution

By Emeka Nze
Abuja

Against the backdrop of already existing tension in Taraba state arising from the outcome of the Governorship Election Tribunal which sacked Gov Darius Isiaku, a coalition of youths in the state has pledged to continue to maintain peace and order with the hope that the Appeal Court ensure that justice is done on the matter.

The group under the auspices of the National Association of Taraba State Youths Stakeholders Forum (NATSYSF) reaffirmed confidence in the judiciary and called on the authorities of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to purge itself of bad eggs and restore the fast declining glory of the country’s judicial system.
According to the National coordinator, Joseph Bulama Kwagh at a press conference in Abuja, the tribunal deviated from its primary responsibility of adjudicating on election issues but delved into pre-election matters which he said was a PDP affair and outside the mandate of the tribunal.

The youths who assured that Isiaku remains the governor called on all the citizens to remain calm and law abiding to pave way for the governor’s rescue agenda which emphasizes on the development in the state.
According to the coalition, further inflammation of tension in the state by some leaders who now address Hajiya Aisha Jummai Alhassan as “Her Excellency” as President Muhammadu Buhari did on the day ministers’ inauguration day, could worsen the volatile nature of the state.

The youths further noted that addressing Senator Alhassan as “Her Excellency” is instigation to anarchy as there cannot be two governors in the state.
Kwagh regretted that the verdict of the tribunal had sparked off breakdown of law and order especially in Wukari areas of the state where lives and multi-billion naira property were lost.
Describing the state as hitherto the most peaceful in the Northeast, the group stated that “the freedom to wake up and go about our daily routine without the fear of being sidelined, subjugated or even terrorised by others is being eroded.”