Jang’s NGF says Taraba crisis not religious

The Governor Jonah Jang-led Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has dismissed claims that the recent crisis in some parts of Taraba was religiously motivated.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Osaro Onaiwu, Administrator of the NGF secretariat on Monday in Abuja.

The call by the Taraba Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on the state House of Assembly to begin an impeachment process against the acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, is unfair, the statement said.

It stated that the call was not only biased and capable of inciting the public against the government at a time when Christians had just finished marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It further stated that during a recent media assessment tour of the state, some Christians commended the acting governor for ensuring that peace and tranquillity reigned in the state.

“The Chairman of the recently-inaugurated Taraba Peace Initiative, Bishop Charles Yohanna, a renowned and respected Christian cleric, and the Commissioner of Police, Mrs Kalafite Adeyemi also a Christian, lauded the governor for harmonising both religions.

“We should not forget that before now, Taraba uniquely stood out as one of the few states in the region where total peace existed.

“The NGF frowns at this campaign of calumny and hereby calls on the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritjesafor, to caution the CAN in Taraba,” it stated.