By Adeniyi Samuel.
The immediate past Administrator of Ijumu local government council, Alhaji Taufiq Isa has assured his confidants that his emergence as Chairman of the council is inevitable.
A close confidant of former council helmsman, who craved anonymity, disclosed to this reporter that Taufiq told him and others in Lokoja on Friday that even if Governor Yahaya Bello dissolve the Administrative Teams a hundred times, he will always return to office.
According to our source, Taufiq told his close associates that the pact between him and the Governor is beyond what anyone can decipher.
The source added that Taufiq showed them call logs showing constant discourse between him and Governor Bello’s Chief Security Officer.
“The level of confidence might not be unconnected to insinuations that the Governor and Taufiq share lots of top secrets and that makes him a sacred cow that cannot be touched.
“I can confirm to you that the purported pact between Governor and Taufiq is already sending jitters down the spines of traditional rulers and political stakeholders in Ijumu local government who are bent on the existing zoning arrangements in the local government. At the moment, there are fears that Governor Bello will impose Taufiq on the people of Ijumu.
“The zoning arrangement in Ijumu does not favour Taufiq’s aspiration as it is the turn of Ijumu-Oke to produce the council chairman. However, Taufiq is bent on having his way, regardless of what anyone feels or think about his actions. The ball is in Governor’s court. Will he collude with his ally to distort a traditional arrangement for political represenation in Ijumu?
“Taufiq has struck a deal with a political heavy weight from Ijumu who resides in Abuja. This political heavyweight is believed to have spent heavily for the people around the governor to convince Gov. Bello and the party on returning Taufiqas the head of Ijumu local government to perfect his 2023 gubernatorial ambition.
“In the meantime, Muslims and Christians in Ijumu local government have declared prayers and fasting for peace and unity,” he said.
The source added that he gathered from Taufiq that Governor Bello has concluded plans to appoint Caretaker Committees to man the local government councils till the newly composed KSIEC will conduct council polls.
