Knowledge is power. The birthday of Governor
Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, on 30th July
1954 reveals certain facts that will blow any
discerning mind on how he keeps getting it
right every time there is a security challenge
in the state.
According to an age-old research that
decodes birth dates to single or double digits,
the Governor’s birthday falls within a group
that gives him natural ability to handle
conflict, where all parties are satisfied.
When it comes to security, People who fall
into this category are generally peacemakers,
enlightened, diplomatic, good mediators, can
control their temper, motivated by
interpersonal relationship and balance among
others. Going by conflicts in Taraba and how
the Governor has handled security issues can
best be described in the following ways;
responsiveness, security meetings, appeal,
and proactiveness.
Responsiveness – Governor Ishaku’s manner
of responding to security issues has been
next to none. This is revealed through how
he releases funds to curtail security
challenges, how he sends relief materials to
Internally Displaced Persons and how he is
accessible to direct vital decisions.
Security Meetings – Regular security
meetings at the Exco-chambers of the
Government House, and the governor’s office
is a common occurrence with this
government. Governor Ishaku has met with
traditional rulers, Local government stake
holders, stakeholders by tribe, security chiefs
as well as religious leaders. In fact, his most
quoted slogan is “Give me Peace and I will
give you development”, from his decoded
birth date, we can confirm that this is not a
coincidence, he is a Peace Loving Governor.
Approach – It is one thing to bring people
together, it is another thing to speak in a
most convincing way by appealing to
conflicting parties for peaceful resolutions.
Governor Ishaku uses stories, parables, facts
and lots of undeniable realities to drive his
Peace Sermons home. These approaches
don’t only convince people and make them
internalize the messages, you will find people
looking attentively at him and nodding their
heads affirmatively. The papers are awash
with pleas for the Federal Government to
send in more security reinforcement, after
thanking them for ones they have sent.
Proactiveness – Proactiveness is one virtue
that many people admire. Governor Ishaku
has tried to curtail security problems in
several ways through proactiveness. For
example,
He setup the Judicial Commission of
Enquiry to find out the immediate and
remote causes of conflicts in Mambilla
Plateau before violence erupted.
He released security patrol vans to the
Police within his first six months of
assuming office.
He held several meetings with traditional
and religious leaders before any violence
ever erupted among others.
Taraba is lucky to have a Governor whose
natural ability to handle challenges is very
high. If not, more people should have been
dead today. We should remember this always
and thank God almighty for giving us a
peace-loving Governor. We all lose at the end
if we don’t give Peace, to get development.
Let’s be wise.