The Taraba State Commissioner of Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation, Habu James Philip, has responded to allegations that the state government’s policies aim to sustain poverty.
Responding to social media criticism calling for his resignation over remarks made at a poverty reduction and sustainable development workshop in China, he clarified that his intention during the presentation was to discuss sustainable development efforts, not poverty maintenance.
Describing the accusations as a misunderstanding due to a linguistic slip, he explained that he did not suggest that the administration under Governor Agbu Kefas would work to “sustain poverty.”
The commissioner, who made the clarification on Monday in Jalingo, the state capital, explained that his comment was simply a “slip of the tongue,” which he promptly corrected.
“It was a simple mistake in China during the workshop on poverty reduction and sustainable development. I intended to say that our government is committed to sustaining development, but I mistakenly used the word ‘poverty’ instead of ‘development.’ I corrected it immediately,” the commissioner clarified.
He further emphasized Governor Kefas’s commitment to poverty alleviation and development in the state, stressing that the administration is dedicated to reducing poverty levels in Taraba.
“I urge all Tarabans to disregard any publications suggesting that I stated the government would sustain poverty. Our focus remains on sustaining development and bringing Taraba off the poverty index list,” the commissioner said.
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