PRESS RELEASE:
RE: THE LEAKED AUDIO CONVERSATION BETWEEN SENATOR, JOEL DANLAMI IKENYA AND HIS EXCELLENCY, SANI ABUBAKAR DANLADI: MATTERS ARISING
With rude shock and utmost surprise we have attentively listened to the leaked audio conversation between Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya, former Senator of Southern Taraba Senatorial District and His Excellency, Sani Abubakar Danladi, former Acting Governor, Taraba State.
In the leaked audio conversation, Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya who claimed he is also contesting for gubernatorial election under the Labour Party had tried to lure Sani Abubakar Danladi to join him to support Prof. Jerome Nyame or Hilkiya Buba Joda. Ikenya’s reasons are simply malicious, mischievous, scandalous, envious and faulty assumptions against Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku CON, Executive Governor, Taraba State and Lt. Col. Agbu Dantala Kefas (Rtd), the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taraba State.
According to Gondoku Youths:
Emmanuel Amadu (Orlando)
Kinda Tsokwa -Gindin Waya
Ahijo Sabo Ndo-Manu,
Mikiu-Finkau Youths:
Tanko Exodus Jibaniya
Ibrahim Ezekiel-Sondi
Samuel Ato-Warawa,
Pantswen Youths:
Atobe Sallah
Danjuma Dantani- Rafinkada
Sanfo Phillip- Tsokundi
and Ajiduku Youths:
Gambo Siman Ashani
Gambo Ato – Byepyi
Tubasen Bitrus – Benkaho,
Ikenya said to Sani that Kefas is more wicked than DDI for that they should do everything possible to truncate his chance of winning the governorship case in the court and work in favour of Jerome or Hilkiya. According to Ikenya, because he is now a born again politician and he wants peace to reign in Taraba State that was why he is against the candidature of A. A Kefas.
We will like to categorically and unequivocally state that the allegation, insinuation, perception and assumption of Senator Ikenya are only not correct, but faulty, mischievous, desperation and deliberate attempt to tarnish the good image of DDI and A. A Kefas because he (Ikenya) knows that and has severally mentioned that DDI is a good leader, and he also told us in December, 2021 that he will continue to support DDI because of the peace and security we are enjoying, Chiefdoms created and meaningful developmental projects that he (DDI) brought to us.
It is equally important at this point to note that Lt. Col. Agbu Dantala Kefas was Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya’s senior in Government Secondary School Wukari in the 1980s. Ikenya knows that Kefas was and is still a good person and a child of destiny. Ikenya has also told us sometimes in October, 2016 that Kefas is calm and always religious when they were in Secondary School. Kefas is visionary, peaceful, generous, humble, cool headed and respectful. Kefas was never elected into any public position, yet he has meaningfully contributed to youths and women educational development, economic empowerment, peace building initiative and political stability and progress of Wukari and Taraba State.
The truth however, is Ikenya the self-acclaimed political champion of Taraba State is envious of Agbu A. Kefas as the PDP Gubernatorial flag bearer in Taraba State which he was so desperate to have become. This reason is not far-fetched, it is obvious and known by all and sundry. He said Wukari First, the PDP candidate is from Wukari who performed marvellously in his military and political career, he always humble himself before our elders and elites and the delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party decided to nominate him as the party flag bearer with the hope that he will provide them with even more dividends of democracy by consolidating the Rescue Agenda of Taraba State. This has always been the practice of the PDP to nominate candidates based on their performances and not necessarily because of how long you have been in politics.
Ikenya has despite his instability in politics, jumping from one party to another, DDI appointed him as Chairman Board of TAWASCO, gave him some appointments slots which include; Special Advisers, Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants, Councillors, Party Executives, Boards Chairmen and appointment into Civil Services in his Government. Where he (Ikenya) gave the appointments mostly to his relatives.
It is therefore surprising for Senator Ikenya to turn around now, because he lost the PDP primary election to Agbu Kefas to say that Governor DDI and Agbu Kefas are wicked.
It is equally important at this point to note that all the Wukari elders at home and in diaspora, youths and women are happy, appreciating DDI, supporting DDI and Kefas bid to be our next Senator and Governor except Senator Ikenya for selfish reason he is against them. Imagine Ikenya advocating for governorship to Jerome Nyame who is 49 years old, about 8 years younger than Kefas.
We want to remind Senator Ikenya that our parents and some of us have voted for him as Member Taraba State House of Assembly twice, Member Federal House of Representatives and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not because he was better than us. But because it was his destiny and time, also DDI, Kefas and Co. in 2015 nominated and supported him to be appointed as the Minister of Labour and Productivity not because he was the best from Wukari, but because of love, unity and God’s wish. We cannot change the wish of God.
It is therefore surprising for Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya who was a beneficiary of DDI Rescue Government and whose village (Nwokyon) has benefitted from DDI Schools Projects, Water and Maternity to descend so low and accuse the Governor of wickedness. How wicked is DDI to Senator Ikenya?
Another important issue that caught our attention in the leaked audio is the phrase that Agbu Kefas is a small boy. “Agboo”!!! At 57, Ikenya is calling Kefas a small boy. Kefas is 57 while Jerome is 49. Who is a small boy among them? How old was Ikenya when he contested for governorship election in 2011? How old was Danladi Baido in 2007? How old was Nyame in 1999? How old was Sani Contact in 2007? We are surprised by this desperate desire. In as much as Senator Ikenya has the constitutional right to aspire for the position, we are equally aware that A. A Kefas too has the same constitutional right and as a small boy he has paid his dues and price and he keeps his faith with destiny.
Certainly, by the special grace of God, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku will handover to Lt. Col. Agbu Atenwunu Kefas (Rtd).
For now, our joy is that the legal tussle surrounding the nomination of Agbu Kefas as the Gubernatorial Candidate of PDP in Taraba State, which we have always seen as deliberate distraction is now over. What Ikenya and all of us need at this critical moment is to support DDI, Kefas, Zasty, Jethro, Josiah and Atiku all of PDP irrespective of age, village or party.
We therefore, advise Senator Ikenya to have a rethink. Dog should not eat dog.
Thank you.
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