Mambila Beverages Privatization: Host Community Demands Taraba Investment MD’s Sack | Tellwell Newspaper
Tellwell Newspaper, Abuja – Nigeria:
From Godwin Agia, Jalingo
Crisis was simmering between the Managing Director of Taraba State Investment and Property Development Ltd., Ezekiel Iliya, and the host community of the state-owned Mambila Beverages Nigeria Ltd.
The host community has called on the state governor, Darius Ishaku, to sack the Managing Director for what they described as his ulterior motives in the planned privatisation of the beverages company.
Chief Kumbili Tau, one of the leaders of Kakara community in Sardauna Local Government Area, who addressed newsmen in Jalingo, on the matter, alleged that Iliya was interested in selling the company and divert the money to his pocket.
He described Iliya, whom he perceived as the initiator of the planned privitisation of the Mambila Beverages Nigeria Ltd as only interested in his personal gains with regard to the sale of the company.
“As the out cry over the planned privitisation of the Taraba Mambilla Breavages continue to linger, we urge Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku to, as a matter of urgency, sack the Chief Executive Officer of the Taraba Investment and property limited, Mr. Ezekiel Iliya,” the community leader appealed.
“I want to assure you that the people of Mambilla will continue to resist any move to privatise Mambilla Beverages Limited,” he said.
Tau who further debunked claims by the managing director that the community had agreed to the privatisation of the company, warned him to desist from misleading the public.
He recalled that the community had, on June 30, 2022, staged a protest at the premises of the company against the planned privatisation of the company.
“We want to categorically state here that no member of the host community welcomed the idea of the privatisation,” he stated, stressing, “we are not happy with anything about the so-called privatisation.”
Tellwell Newspaper recalled that the Taraba government has adopted the privitisation of 75 per cent equities in the Mambila Beverages Nigeria Ltd, producers of the High land Tea to private investors.
