Re: Gov. Darius, Finishing The Year Strong Against All Odds -By Jen Jibrin

Narcissism and voyeurism appears to be the symptoms of the rescue mission agenda of Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba State. An observer had imagined a political leader with a consistent desire for propaganda and lying inventions from those who shower him with praises. Nature’s gift to the nation is gradually unraveling narcissism while Gov. Darius is pulling at the remaining threads.

Paradoxically, a narcissist will always seek validation. “I’m good-looking, please tell me I’m good-looking.” The most important trait showing Narcissism is a lack of shame.

A.A Mshelia recently provoked the narcissistic behavior of His Excellency, Gov. Darius Ishaku when he wrote a piece captioned “Gov. Darius: Finishing the year strong against all odds” being published by Arewareporters.

In the mundane piece, the author made a case when he said “Most of the federal government roads, aside many within the State that the governor spent billions of Naira to construct for the benefit and security of his people, yet without a single kobo re-funded, and we all know why the FGN didn’t care to.”

He further said “Salaries pension and gratuity have been consistent in Taraba State. Not only does Governor Darius Ishaku start paying from the time he assumed office, but as far back as 2010.”

However, public curiosity aroused when the governor personally took to his official page on social media to share the article and even thank Mshelia for his mundane praise of his administration.

Gov. Darius wrote “A good piece A.A Mshelia, thank you. https://www.arewareporters.com/gov-darius-finishing-the-year-stronger-against-all-odds-by-a-a-mshelia/. The statement by the Taraba governor is deemed to be characterized by a long-term pattern of deception, excessive need for public admiration and lack of remorse for the people of Taraba State.

Why Mshelia’s article is mundane and bizarre.

In December in 2018, the senate approved the sum of 34,315,232,396.96 as payment for the outstanding bills spent on projects executed by the Taraba state government on behalf of the federal government from 2010 to 2015.

In June 2020, the federal executive council chaired by president Muhammadu Buhari approved a refund of 22.5billion against 34billion earlier approved by the senate. The 22.5billion was immediately paid out to the government of Taraba State as directed by the Buhari led presidency.

A data obtained from the Taraba state government website www.tarabastate.gov.ng shows the sum of 28.5billion being owed as pension and gratuities by government retirees in Taraba state. While the sum of 8.4billion being owed as salary bailout.

Accordingly, Taraba state government owes the federal government the sum of 17.5 billion as budget support facilities being borrowed by the federal government to Taraba in many tranches. While the sum of 10.6billion restructured commercial loans as FG bonds.

Recall that the Nigerian ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Amb. Hassan Jika Ardo had in January 2020 asked Gov. Darius to account for the federal government refund payment to Taraba.

Jika Ardo said “The governor should come out and explain to Taraba people what the reimbursed amount was used for and the process he followed to spend the refunded funds,”

Under Ishaku’s administration, Taraba state government has also failed to access SGDs from its refusal to pay counterpart funds since 2015.  There are thousands of memos being sent to the government house Jalingo by ministries and parastatals without Ishaku’s approval.

There are two things to pick from Mshelia’s hypothetical article. One, Mshelia has failed at so many lame brain schemes and likely does not have necessary acumen to substantiate facts from fiction. As such, his mundane article has exceeded the lies and propaganda presented in the exposure.

Two, Gov. Darius on his part is yet to acknowledge his wrongdoings, all the damage caused, accept every consequence and offer amends to his people.

So spot on Mshelia’s article, a leader with narcissistic behavior will always create a scenario to prove that he is doing the right thing and not the other way round. The level of propaganda and manipulation is breathtaking under Ishaku’s administration.

While Mshelia weave the lies into tapestry that looks so truthful. Let us pull the threads and hit our brains and not our ears. Ooh yes, Darius never admits he’s done wrong to Taraba. He never apologizes, he plays the victim card and distorts the truth about his failure.

It’s an odd choice of name, Mshelia has accorded himself a title called flying monkey or a wizard of Oz by bamboozling his pay master who presides over the basements of narcissism.

But then who is a flying monkey, someone who is lacking self awareness and a victim of blind loyalty. So it applies to anyone becoming a wizard of Oz.

From Mshelia’s article, it’s reasonable for the people of Taraba to believe that Gov. Darius is using his office to maximize his political dominance by undermining loyalty to Taraba state except his person.

Jen Jibrin

Public Affairs Analyst

Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja