Eighteen days to the end of his tenure, the governor of Taraba state, Darius Ishaku has approved two billion for the purchase of vehicles for himself, his wife and his deputy, and his wife.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that in the said deal, the governor will get two Toyota Land Cruise SUVs, two escort Toyota Hilus vans, and a utility vehicle while his wife Land Cruise SUV and an escort vehicle.
According to the newspaper, a source who doesn’t want to be mentioned, said the deal was approved at the last meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) presided over by the governor.
“Governor Darius Ishaku in our last SEC meeting asked the council to approve a memo he presented for the purchase of vehicles for himself, his deputy and their wives and it was speedily approved without any argument,” the source said.
The source said it became a subject of argument at the meeting that since Ishaku and his deputy were elected into office in 2015, the duo had been using old vehicles inherited from their predecessors and that they, therefore, deserve new vehicles as they prepare to step down.
The source also disclosed that going by the memo presented, the governor and his wife will get over N1.3 billion worth of exotic cars while his deputy and his wife will receive cars worth N750 million.
The newspaper said the source further explained that by the proposal, the governor will get two Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs, two escort Toyota Hilux and a utility vehicle while his wife will get a Land Cruiser SUV and an escort vehicle.
Similarly, the deputy governor, Haruna Manu, will receive two lower versions of the Land Cruiser SUV and one escort vehicle while his wife will get one SUV and a utility car.
In an attempt to confirm the story, Lois Emmanuel, commissioner for information in the state was contacted. She did not deny or confirm the approval for the purchase of the vehicles.
“I am not in the state. I travelled out. I am not aware, I will confirm,” she said and terminated the call abruptly.
However, the commissioner was seen a few hours later at the commissioning of a housing project by the governor in Jalingo, the state capital.