Taraba: Ag. Governor Looting State Dry, Says Ex-SSG

garba-umarA former Secretary to the Taraba State Government (SSG), Ambassador Emmanuel Njiwah has alleged that there is “heavy looting” going on in the state under the watch of the acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar.

Njiwah, who made this known on Sunday at a press briefing in Abuja, also accused Umar of being corrupt.

It would be recalled that Njiwah and five commissioners alongside two special advisers were sacked in July by the acting governor for allegedly mismanaging N400 million being the state’s share of the 2012 flood relief fund disbursed by the Federal Government.

But the former SSG yesterday denied the allegation saying he was removed from office because he refused to support the Umar, who he said is becoming increasingly desperate to be confirmed as the substantive governor.

According to Njiwah, “The deputy governor (Umar) was the chairman of the committee”.

He alleged that Umar was the brain behind the ongoing political crisis in the state in order to get unhindered access to the state’s treasury.

“Umar has betrayed the governor by scheming to take over power from him at all cost”, said Njiwah.

“He has become the number one enemy of Governor Danbaba Suntai because he is trying to unseat him.

“No one would have looted the state more than this junta. Go and see the mess going on in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The looting is unquantifiable”.

The ex-SSG added that “Garba Umar is looting heavily because he is over ambitious to be the substantive governor.

“He bribes anyone who is ready to listen to his tales. I am an insider and I know what is going on.

“Take the SURE-P funds, for instance; the money has all gone.

“Where are the savings he claims to be protecting?” he quipped.

Njiwah said he has urged the anti-graft agencies to beam their searchlight on Taraba state treasury because the acting governor is looting the state dry.