Dangote’s N50m donation: Taraba govt refutes media report on refusal to disburse funds to victims

Okerafor Athanatius, Jalingo

The Taraba state government has refuted media publications that it vehemently refused to disburse the sum of N50 million Alh. Aliko Dangote donated to lessen the sufferings of the victims of the recent crisis that engulfed the people of Mambilla in Sardauna Local Government Area of the state.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku on media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu stated this during a press conference at Government House, Jalingo.

Bala Dan Abu said the publication contained insinuations suggesting that the Taraba state government had received the said donation from the donor but had refused to disburse it.

“I have called you here this afternoon to enable me publicly react to recent Media publications concerning the pledge of a donation of N50 million by Alh. Dangote, President of the Dangote Group in aid of victims of the crisis that happened earlier in the year in Mambilla”, he said.

Refuting the publication Bala Dan Abu said, “I wish to categorically state here that as I am talking to you, the money promised by Alh. Dangote has not been received by the state”,

” Our enquiries have also confirmed that it has not even been released by the donor”.

While blaming the accusers of the state government for lack of patience in cross-checking the facts of the issue before rushing to the media, SSA added that their intention was to embarrass government “but they have only succeeded in embarrassing themselves”.

He further disclosed that the delay in the release of the Money by Alh. Dangote is not surprising because he (Alh. Dangote) is an extremely busy man.

According to him, the Taraba state government is disappointed by what he described as “this act of political indiscretion on the part of political opposition in the state”, stating emphatically that the Darius Ishaku administration remains committed to the welfare and comfort of victims of the unfortunate crisis in the Mambilla and other places in the state.

Bala Dan Abu however, advised political opposition members in the state behind ” these false and embarrassing stories to show more decency and decorum in the criticisms of government”.

He pointed out that government has already sent a reminder to the offices of Alh. Dangote concerning the money he pledged.

SSA also stated that several high level delegations of the state government have visited the areas affected by the crisis, to sympathise with the displaced persons and to deliver relief materials to victims.

“The most recent one was led by the Deputy Governor, Engineer Haruna Manu, who visited displaced persons in communities in far flung areas at the Nigeria/Cameroon borders,” he said.