Why I Accepted To Be Commissioner, Mike DioResigned As Assembly Member

Member Representing Karim 1 State Constituency at the Taraba State House of Assembly, Dr. Mike Dio Jen has given reason for accepting commissionership appointment.

Dr Mike Dio gave the reason in an interview with Journalists in Bandawa village, shortly after the Bandawa Day Celebration.

"My appointment as Commissioner to head the Ministry for Tertiary Institutions is saddle with sadness and joy, especially in my Constituency.

"The Governor Dr Agbu Kefas is my boss, whatever he said I should do, I will do it. Even if he tells me to go and help him as Councilor representing my Ward, in Karim Lamido Local Government, I will go.

"The Governor ask me to go and manage the Tertiary Institutions and I said ok, I am not a disobedient child.

He said that he owns no apology to anybody, except the Governor who is his boss.

"If the Governor sees anything good in me and he said assist me in this, I will not hesitate to do it.

"So I am happy about it and I call on people to understand that in every country or sector, you have a leader, so I am following what my leader told me to do for him.

According to him, when he is sworn in as Commissioner, a bye-election will be conducted to fill in the vacant space.

"I will just relinquish the position of Member Representing Karim 1 State Constituency Taraba State House of Assembly to create room for a bye-election for somebody to emerge.

"It is a state assignment and if I want the state to grow, I must do it. Forget about the personal interest.

I rose up to the pinnacle of my Career, I have been a Provost, College of Education, Zing, for Ten years. I have never been a disobedient child or subordinated to anybody.

He commended the state Governor Dr Agbu Kefas for his achievements particularly in area of security.

"I am here today on the instruction of my Boss, Governor DrAgbu Kefas to preach on Security, knowing well that BandawaDay will gather people, especially Youths that are the major challenge, because you cannot see older people doing what the Youths are doing.

"I am enlightening them on the importance to live and coexist peacefully amongst themselves, for there will be no development if there is no peace and if a community is not united, there is the possibility of outsiders to bring an attack especially now that many people are coming in the name of dry session farming.

"Today, we are celebrating this Day freely and peacefully because of the effort of the Governor, we appreciate him for that.

On the issue of Chiefdom and District tussle in community, he said,

"Adequate presentation and consultation must be made which comprise all stakeholders of the affected communities.

"Government is saying that every community should nominate people within their communities that will rule them rather than taking somebody from another jurisdiction to go and rule in a different jurisdiction which is not his, such causes confusion and conflict amongst the people.

"First, call people and ask them their choice of whom they want to rule them and not to impose another person on them.

He uses the medium to announce that Fifty youths will be carefully selected to be trained as Marshalls.

"All village leaders should ensure that they select youths that are of good behavior, responsible, but not questionable characters, such as thieves and other forms of criminal activities or behaviors.

"If you recommend such youths to the government, it will hold you responsible for any behavior they exhibit.

He pointed out that Seven Districts were created and some Heads were appointed without consultations of some stakeholders and petition were written to the government.

"What actually happened is that one person was taken to a different village that he doesn't belong to, gone are those days. Seek the consent of the people on whom to be their leader.

He pointed out that government upon hearing about the process that was carried out, it quickly stopped it through the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to avoid brake down of law and order.

"If the government says that people should follow the popular view, is the government wrong?

All what the people need is peaceful coexistence and should consult government agencies before taking decisions – he said.