Ishaku retains ex-Taraba gov spokesmen

THE dream of those seeking for the positions of the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) and Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity to the Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku, have been quashed as both the former CPS and SSA on Media and Publicity to the immediate past governor, Danbaba Suntai, have been retained by the incumbent governor.

Both Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa and Mr. Sylvanus Giwa respectively were head of the media team of former Governor Suntai and were as well retained by the out-gone Acting Governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi, who had been elected as the senator representing Taraba North.

In a press release made available to journalists yesterday in Jalingo, the state capital, the governor said that the appointment of the duo was with immediate effect.

The statement, signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Gebon T. Kataps, read: “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku, has approved the appointment of Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa as the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

“Similarly, Governor Ishaku has approved the appointment of Mr. Sylvanus Giwa as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity.”

The duo, who spoke with The Guardian, vowed never to betray the confidence the present administration has in them, saying: “Since our loyalty to the former governor was never at anytime in doubt, we would as well give the much needed support to our new boss to succeed in his quest to take our dear state to the height.”

They implored journalists in the state to as well do the same by being objective in their reportage, stressing the need for practising media to desist for making public reports that would pitch the people against themselves.

Unlike in the past where efforts of journalists in the state were not recognised by the successive governments, the reverse, according to the newly-appointed media men to the governor, would be the case.

While Mijinyawa hailed from the northern zone of the state, Giwa on the hand who was the former General Manager of the Taraba State Television (TTV) before becoming SSA to the former governor, hailed from the southern part of the state.

Apart from the two appointments, no other appointment has been made by the governor after his inauguration on May 29, 2015.