UDP Gov candidate hopeful in Taraba, denies withdrawal allegation

Okerafor Athanatius, Jalingo

The United Democratic Party (UDP) Governorship Candidate for March 2, polls in Taraba State, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan has debunked allegations that she has rescinded her initial decision of contesting for the number one Seat of the State. Alhassan, who our Correspondent gathered was one of the major contenders in the race, stated this yesterday while fielding questions from Journalists in her Jalingo residence shortly after arriving from Abuja. Mama Taraba, as she was popularly called further disclosed that she was still in the race and contesting to win. She said, few days past, her name was pasted at INEC headquarters in Jalingo as one of the Governorship Candidates for the election slated for March, 2nd. Her words, “I am still in the race and I am contesting to win by the grace of God, it is just rumours by people that are afraid, there is nothing they have not said” “Some have said that the President has called me to withdraw for the APC candidate, some people will go and tell lies that I have withdrawn for the PDP candidate” “For God’s sake, these are people that are not as competent as I am”, she said. Mama Taraba also revealed that both PDP Governorship Candidate, Darius Dickson Ishaku and his APC counterpart, Sani Abubakar Danladi have been tested as Governors in the State with nothing to improve on the lives of the people. According to her, the APC candidate ruled the State for six months in Acting capacity as Governor while the incumbent Governor has been on seat for almost four years now. “They have not done anything to bring peace among the people, they have not done anything to improve on the lives of the citizenry”, she said. Senator Alhassan said she facilitated the construction of Zing – Monkin road, Mararraba – Pantisawa road through the Federal Ministry of Works when she was a Senator representing Taraba North at the National Assembly. “I also pushed to see that the provision in the Budget in 2010/2011 for Jalingo – Lau road was implemented. It was implemented really but unfortunately, the said projects were awarded to bad Contractors who defaulted and the Projects could not be completed”, she said. Mama Taraba said her first priority, if voted into office as Governor of Taraba come March 2nd is justice to all Tarabans despite religious, tribal or political differences. She however frowned at the menace of armed banditry, kidnapping, insecurity and other social vices bedevilling some parts of the State, attributing it to high rate of unemployment which assured, her administration will address.