Emmanuel Awari, Jalingo
Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku has apologised to Tarabans he stepped on their toes during his eight- year administration.
Governor Ishaku tendered the open apology during a thanksgiving service organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Taraba State chapter, held at the CAN Sectariat, Jalingo.
The Governor expressed happiness that his mantra of “Give Me Peace and I will Give You Development” has found firm roots in the minds of all Tarabans and urged the people to let the spirit of peace, love, and forgiveness guide their attitudes, actions, and relations with their fellow people.
However, Governor Darius Ishaku had during a Special Easter Thanksgiving Service at the Anglican Church Mayo Dasa in Jalingo, the state capital knelt before the congregation and sought the forgiveness of all he had offended during his eight years as governor.
“As a leader who had led the state for almost eight years, it was likely that I might have offended so many people either knowingly or unknowingly in the cause of discharging my duties as the Executive Governor. So, it’s Biblical for me to openly apologise and seek for the forgiveness of those I have offended.
“Biblically, we are taught to forgive those who offend us. In this case, I am asking those I have offended to forgive me. I did this in the House of God and if they did not forgive me, it is between them and God. For me, I have done my duty by asking for forgiveness from everyone I have offended,” Ishaku added.
He, however, appreciated God for sustaining him with courage and wisdom to serve the people of the State effectively despite all the challenges that confronted his administration and urged them to give his successor, Lt. Col. Kefas Agbu (Rtd), maximum support and cooperation to enable him to succeed.
This is the second time the governor had gone before congregation to publicly seek forgiveness from politicians and the entire people of Taraba on issues and areas he might have offended them.
Here at CAN Secretariat, the governor reiterated that whoever he had stepped on his or her toes, should forgive him, insisting that wherever such occured, it was not deliberate but circumstances that surround the number one seat of the state.
“Some times, you will be doing your best but people will misunderstand you. We feel that everything we did in the cause of our administration was for the best interest of the state. However, I want to state that whoever I have stepped on his/her toes in the cause of discharging my duties, the person should forgive me.
“I have also forgiven anybody that offended me in one way or the other during the administration. My prayer is that God should keep us together in good health”, he added.
The governor appreciated members of the state Executive Council, traditional leaders, security Agencies, Stakeholders and all Tarabans who have been with him through thick and thin in the cause of his administration.
While commending the Taraba State CAN and Muslim Council for standing by him and helping him to tackle complex issues during the administration, the governor noted that his doors were still wide opened as he hoped to enjoy more and continuous cordial relationship with the people of the state.
Earlier in a sermon at the session, Bishop Timothy Yahaya, former Taraba State CAN chairman and Anglican Bishop of Kaduna who preached on the topic; “To God be the glory”, charged brethren to make their ways right before God by identifying areas they had gone wrong and genuinely seek forgiveness from God Almighty.
The Bishop who read from Philippians 4:20, emphasized that God’s glory can never be taken by anybody. He said seeking for forgiveness by reaching out to people was the genuine and right way of showing God’s glory before mankind.
He urged Governor Darius Ishaku to set aside any differences and do everything possible to reach out to all the politicians he feels he had offended and reconcile with them through round table discussions.
The Bishop also appealed to politicians in the state to always throw their doors open to accommodate those who come to them for reconciliations, adding that the act was the best way to pleased God.
