Fear grips Taraba officials as Ribadu visits
From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo
IT was a mild drama as some political office holders and government officials in Taraba State took to their heels during a study visit of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, to the state.
Ribadu, alongside his colleagues from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, during their study tour to the state visited Zing, Bali, Gashaka, as well as the Mambilla Plateau, 1,800 metres above sea level.
The panic, which the presence of the former EFCC boss sent into the nerves of the officials was, however, calmed by the Director General of the institution, Prof. Akin Akindoyemi.
Having discovered that the people were not comfortable with the presence of Ribadu in the team, the director general, during the interactive session, which took place at the Dome Tent in Jalingo, the state capital, ordered Ribadu to be on his feet.
He tried to allay their fears, saying: "You have to be free in expressing yourselves because Ribadu is no longer with the EFCC. He is my student in NIPSS. Moreover, we are not here to investigate or arrest any of you for corrupt practices".
He added: "Our mission to the state is to help you discover areas where you need help in terms of development. So, please feel free to give us relevant information that would help us ensure the actualisation of the seven-point agenda of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua".
The team was, however, sad at the level of development in the state, saying a lot needs to be done before the year 2020. To this effect, they stressed the need for all and sundry to give the much-needed support to the incumbent governor to achieve his dreams of taking the state to greater height.
Some of the problems observed by the study team to have plagued the state include erratic power supply, lack of assess roads, poor communication network, education, poor standard of living, as well as health menace.
The director observed during the visit to Mbamnga Constituency in Gembu, that a school of over 1,500 population was being manned by only two teachers, which he described as unhealthy to "both the state and the nation at large".
The need for the state government to make use of the consultant department of NIPSS to achieve its developmental was emphasised.
Akindoyemi's timely intervention yielded positive results as
some of the political office holders and government officials were later seen emerging from their various hideouts 
[to engage Ribadu in different photographs.
Some, as observed by The Guardian, took bold step to demand Ribadu's telephone numbers with promise to call or visit him at NIPSS.
News -- Government officials in Taraba State took to their heels as Ribadu comes to town on study visit
Linear Mode
