The Taraba State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Elders Standing Committee has commended the acting governor, Garba Umar, over his sacking of some government officials who allegedly mismanaged the N400 million fund for flood victims in the state.

The sacked officials are the special adviser to the governor on education, Toyonga Binga and his counterpart on rural development, Mr Joseph Tahwa.

Chairman of the forum and former minister of interior, Mohammed Shata, stated this during a press conference in Jalingo. Shata said the decision should not be viewed as a political or religious witch-hunt as being insinuated, adding that those charged with the responsibility failed to do it in the interest of the people.

He pointed out that the settling of over N3 billion loan borrowed by the state government from various banks as well as the completion of Takum General Hospital, Jalingo-Sunkani-GarbaChede Road project and recent award of Bali-Serti-Gembu Road by the acting governor were commendable.

A member of the forum, Alhaji Buba Yero Mafindi, advised the affected government officials who are challenging their removal in the court to reconsider their decision so as not to "make a mockery and caricature of themselves."