To provide clarification on the interim administrative changes in the Deputy Governor’s office, the Taraba State Government has come forward.
Professor Josiah Kente, Governor Agbu Kefas’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, responded calmly and firmly to what he called “misleading narratives” about Dr. Emmanuel Lawson Hassan’s temporary assignment to oversee the Deputy Governor’s office during a press conference in Jalingo.
Kente claims that the appointment is solely intended to keep the government running smoothly while Deputy Governor Alhaji Aminu Alkali Abubakar takes a leave of absence for medical reasons.
Kente declared, “It is neither a usurpation nor a replacement of the Deputy Governor’s mandate.”
“Instead, it is a temporary solution to guarantee that the office keeps operating efficiently for the benefit of governance and service provision to the people of Taraba State,” he continued.
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However, the state government’s choice has drawn criticism from some quarters, with some suggesting that politics or religion may have influenced the decision.
However, Kente swiftly rejected such viewpoints as harmful and ineffective.
“Religion has no bearing on Dr. Emmanuel Lawson’s appointment. He underlined that it is a temporary administrative oversight of office activities rather than a permanent replacement.
He advised the public to avoid polarizing narratives that can exacerbate tensions or misrepresent the decision’s meaning, especially among political players and interest groups.
Kente also took advantage of the opportunity to reassure the public regarding Deputy Governor Abubakar’s health, stating that Governor Kefas keeps in close contact with him and his family, sending well wishes for his recovery as well as moral support.
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