Programme Director
Rights Watch Alternative: NGO for the Defence of Citizens Rights based in Doma, Nasarawa State.
There appears to be an attempt to go after the deputy governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe. This is evident in what is best described as a desperate but coordinated media attacks to cast the integrity and credibility of Dr. Akabe in bad light through some hastily concocted stories and rumour peddling in the media space and public galleries where the cooked up stories are being repeated simultaneously, and almost word for word by few individuals mostly within and outside Nasarawa State by a few individuals the style of which is presented in similar thread and fashion. Someone out there is desperately acting in cahoot with some minions within to smear and cause disaffection to an otherwise cordial internal executive relationship and the of the Executive and Legislative arms in the State.
Let us even consider the propaganda in itself, one of which is the purported involvement of the Deputy Governor in the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE using the Covid 19 funds in the state. The propagators of this lie, in an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of the innocent reading public and people of the state, alleged the procurement of fake items and diversion of funds meant for Covid 19 containment and management of patients. Obviously, the purveyors of this wicked concoction are not aware of the deterrent and strict measures employed by the Governor Abdullahi Sule administration to curb wastage and pilferage of public resources and use of the state’s funds by, making it unattractive for intending or would be corrupt officials, a principle and phisophy shared by all members of his administration. Clearly, there has never been such amateurish effort to justify slander and libel by sullying the hard earned reputation of the team or, of a confidant to the Governor like that of Dr. Emmanuel Akabe who by providence were joined to serve their fatherland at this time.
Although the deputy governor had earlier and swiftly responded, one is compelled to add to the growing voices of rejections of the callous and wicked agenda to create blatant mischief. This is to hopefully and completely deny any links with the allegations, set the records straight for the benefit if all, noting that the sponsors of this wishy washy story would have escalated their tactics non denial or response will be pushed as evidence of complicity.
Dr. Emmanue Akabe was the chairman of Covid-19 task force in Nasarawa State, where all processes of procurement of health consumables followed due process and were approved and recommended by the Commissioner of Health, a Pharmacist for upward review and approval by his Excellency. There was no time Dr. Emmanuel Akabe was involved in any direct contract procurement or by proxies noting the the rules if the service. Besides, he is a medical practitioner outside politics with a flourishing eye centre and never been a supplier or contractor.
Dr. Akabe a practioner and one time Commissioner of Health in the state is experienced enough to know that the welfare of health care personnel is as important as patient care. He was applauded for such a courageous act during the Covid19 global pandemic fight, managed strike actions embarked by health workers in Nasarawa State as it should have been, because that is what is expected as a major responsibility of government to which his boss and himself remain committed to achieve..
Should Nasarawa State citizens be surprised then that passersby refuse to help those attacked by armed robbers or accident victims on the roadside like the Good Samaritan? If you do, your critics may accuse you of being the perpetrator instead of the salvation.
Although the name of the Executive Chairman of Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Agency (NAPHDA) Dr. Mohammed Usman Adis and his team of collaborators are alleged to be masterminds, the further noise of this allegation of contract padding, treachery in the last administration in the state also hangs around his persona. Let me remind him that there are allegations against him that have refused to go away. He has hold glue to the Speaker of Nasarawa State Assembly in this quest for blackmail.
In fact, the allegations against Dr. Mohammed Usman Adis comes with documentary evidence. We remember that he was alleged to have begged his subordinates at the National Primary Health Care Agency for a ‘loan’ of #13 million against civil service rules and against the rules of public decency. The same Dr. Adis is a board member to several company that did supply and contract for NAPHDA and Ministry of Health.
Have those allegations gone away, Dr. Adis Mohammed? Should we then accept them as true? Of course not! Why? Because allegations, no matter how weighty, are not evidence.
I have since learnt wisdom. I learnt that It is better to lose power and gain honor than to gain power and lose honor. I learnt not to defend myself when my enemies falsely accuse me. I believe the same media that reported their lies will eventually expose them when they see that the public is no longer buying their lies.
Finally, I learnt that the best revenge against those who criticize how you do your job is to step up you on to stellar performance and not to look back or succumb to distractions. May God bless Nasarawa State.