Why I Stayed Away From Taraba For 87 Days – Gov. Ishaku

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, on Thursday, returned to the state after spending 87 days outside the state.

The Taraba State governor called on the people of the state to stop handshakes and unnecessary movement in order to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

Gov. Ishaku revealed that he had fallen and broken his legs but he has healed tremendously, but not recovered fully.

There had been reports that he left Jalingo, the state capital on December 22, 2019, and moved to Abuja, where he was controlling the affairs of the state.

Governor Ishaku while speaking with newsmen noted that he had complied with medical advice, which prolonged his stay in Abuja.

He refuted claims that governance in the state suffered a setback during the period of his absence.

“I had an accident in the house. I fell off from a staircase and broke my legs.”

“But I did not know, so I had to go for surgery. Then, I came back to recover from the injuries.”

“And there were speculations: some said I am dead; some said I am crippled; some said I am vegetable.”

“You are seeing me talking today, not that I have recovered fully but my doctor said I can travel today. That is why I have returned.”

He appreciated his vice, Haruna Manu, for “holding the forte well” for him during his absence.

He thanked the state House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker, Hon. Joseph Albasu Kunini, for passing “a vote of confidence” on him when the opposition asked the lawmakers to impeach him for allegedly paralysing governance in the state.

The Taraba State governor also appreciated the Judiciary and security agencies for doing well during his absence.

Ishaku while responding to the allegations that his absence had paralysed governance in Taraba, he said: “It is not true that nothing was working during my absence.”

“I was getting reports every day about what was going on in the State, and everything was working correctly, in spite of my absence.”

“I want all Nigerians to note that we are all humans -that I am a governor does not make me super-human.”

“I made a mistake of running upstairs in my house around 8 p.m. Then they took the light. I fell and rolled down and that created crisis for me, which I never anticipated.”

“Now, all of us are like that. An accident can happen to anybody at any time, anywhere. So, when you glorify it and start singing music about it, it doesn’t help you.”

“I want to assure the people of Taraba State that I am healing very well and nothing will stop moving in the state. The Rescue Agenda is ongoing,” Ishaku said.