Ex-Taraba Council Boss Resigns From Office, Links Reason To Killings

The caretaker chairman of the Usa local government area of Taraba state, Hon. Abershi Musa on Thursday alleged that the inhuman attitude of governor Darius Ishaku over the killings in his local government was the reason for his resignation.

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 alleged that the inhuman attitude and the inaction of the governor over the continued killings by herdsmen in the Usa 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.

Musa said, “The inhuman attitude of governor Darius Ishaku over the killings of my people in the Usa local government by headsmen is the reason why I have tendered my resignation letter as a caretaker chairman of the local government. I am not hungry so, i can’t be chairman while my people are being kill and nothing is done about.

“I don’t want to be seen as a compromise in the situation. I want my intergrity maintain because my people already know who I am. When the situation started months ago, I quickly informed the governor through phone 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 up till as we speak, refused to respond or take action to end the killings.

“My people are being killed on a daily basis for reason 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 Usa people. Even at the joint security meeting, I told the governor that we can not condole any killing in Usa 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 headsmen attacks and they must farm this year to live.

“It doesn’t matter whether I 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 continue killings in Usa. The citizens are saying may be is because Usa 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 tune to it opposite then the 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 people of the local government to remain calm and distance from any action that would spark more trouble in the area.”

See the resignation letter below: