By Jane Adams
Taraba State government has debunked reports making the rounds that the post election violence which recently engulfed the state capital was as a result of the use of religious bigotry to whip up sentiment.
In press briefing at government house, Jalingo, state commissioner of information and culture, Rt Hon Simon Dogari, told journalist that the state government is aware of the cowardly act by those who lost the elections to employ every means to cause chaos in the state.a
He revealed that their intention was to create tension and anarchy in Jalingo and in the entire state such that the impression would be created in and outside Taraba that the election was not credible.
He disclosed that one of the major contestants in the gubernatorial election, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, rated the election as free, fair and credible, even though she lost.
He bemoaned the situation the opposition group created by organizing armed youths to confront people who came out in their numbers to celebrate the PDP victory.
Hon Dogari underlined the fact that the unfortunate and dangerous dimension to this campaign was the religious colour their group tried to assign to the crisis, wondering why a man who is aspiring to a high position of leadership of the state will resort religious bigotry to achieve his ambition.
Accordingly, he noted that the relative peace that is gradually returnng to Jalingo is a testament to the mantra of Government to ensure peace and security for all and sundry.
He therefore urge citizens to go about their lawful business without fear as the security agencies are on top of the unfortunate situation.
