By Nahum Sule (Taraba State Correspondent, in Jalingo)
The caretaker chairman of Ussa local government area of Taraba state, Hon. Abershi Musa, on Thursday, said the inhuman attitude of governor Darius Ishaku over the killings in his local government was the reason for his resignation.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent reports that Hon. Musa tendered his resignation letter to the governor on Wednesday evening and thanked governor Ishaku for giving him the opportunity to serve in his government for six months.
However, the ex- council caretaker chairman explained that the "inhuman attitude and the inaction of the governor" over the continue killings by herdsmen in Ussa local government was the reason behind his decision.
He also said he was not hungry and can't remain as a chairman when his people are being killed.
"The inhuman attitude of governor Darius Ishaku over the killings of my people in Ussa local government by herdsmen was the reason why I have tendered my resignation letter as a caretaker chairman of my local government. I am not hungry, so l can't be chairman while my people are being killed and nothing is done about it.
"I don't want to be seen as a compromise in the situation. I want maintain my integrity because my people already knew who I am. When the situation started months ago, I quickly informed the governor through a telephone conversation but no action was taken toward ending the killings. At a joint security meeting again, I draw the attention of the governor but he has uptill as we speak, refused to respond or take action to end the killings.
"My people are being killed on a daily basis for reasons best know to the killers and their sponsors, and governor Ishaku has refused persistently to comment. Just this week, 15 people were attacked and killed, the palace of (Kwe Ando Madugu), the 3rd class chief of Lisan chiefdom was also attacked and destroyed by angry youth who believed that I and the chief have the capacity to stop the Fulani attack in the area but are not doing so.
"It is not all about me being chairman. It's all about the people, the poor masses of the local government. How can I be chairman and watch helplessly when my people are being killed?
"I didn't beg for the appointment, the governor called me and I gave him condition that the appointment must be the type that I will touch the lives of my Ussa people. Even at the joint security meeting, I told the governor that we can not condone any killing in Ussa because, our people must farm this year. Farming is the only source of my people's earning. They didn't farm last year due to herdsmen attacks and they must farm this year to live. It doesn't matter whether l am chairman or not, all I want is to stop the killings and let my people farm.
"Several questions are being asked on why governor Ishaku has refused to take any action on the continued killings in Ussa. The citizens are saying may be it is because Ussa local government did not vote for the governor in the last senatorial election but I think as a politician, you don't expect certain percentage of votes from people and if the game turns opposite, then those people automatically become your enemies. But if that is the case, has the governor forgotten so soon that the same people gave him massive votes in 2015? I think if that is the governor's reason then, he is not a politician and is purely inhuman of him.
"I am already discussing with stakeholders on how to stop the situation. So, I wish to appeal to the people of my local government to remain calm and distance themselves from any action that would spark off more trouble in the area", the resigned council chairman explained. NNL.
