The Tale of King Darius: The Supports, the Criticisms and the Betrayals

When King Darius came to the throne in 2015, he met N27 Billion Debt in Taraba. He wept for Taraba because of the high debt profile and promised to rescue the kingdom and make Taraba state a number one destination for students, tourists, the sick and Politicians who will love to learn the politics of building a modern Kingdom under a democratic regime. He promised to improve the economic status through ruburst internal revenue generation and prudent management of resources with emphasis on infrastructural and human capital development.

He told us the time is short for him and Tarabans must be willing to sacrifice their personal pleasures to build a state that will be envied in Nigeria. Tarabans, out of curiosity endorsed king Darius and tagged him the “Rescue Captain”. Those who denied him support during election in 2015 like me later caught into the euphoria and became his die-hard supporters when the member of my constituency intimate me of the various projects in the constituency that have been budgeted for and signed into law by King Darius. I commented Sen Aisha for her dogged fight to the Supreme Court but I believed it was time for Tarabans to put party politics aside and support the man whose time has come and who has promised to do more for our state looking at the items in the budget that has just been signed into law.

Infact, there was a mass public support for the God’s annointed King who has spend all his life in Business and has experience of working Minister in two ministries in Abuja before being called upon to rescue Taraba. No one cared to know how his performance index was as a minister and the impacts of his business on his immediate province in Takum as a businessman and renown Architect. Darius sudden popularity and support by elite military general and the Lucky Politician in the village of Aso Rock, silenced everyone. You’re either for King Darius, or you’re against the rescue of Taraba Kingdom.

Home groomed political royalties who have been preparing to lead the kingdom like the Prince of Kente and the experienced Political Prince from Mararaba who so much believe that God gives power, had a choice to either accept King Darius or leave the Royal family of people’s Democratic Party.

The Prince of Kente left the Royal family of People’s Democratic party to a new Royal House that “Progressives” which prefers using experience men to rule. But the Prince of Mararaba who had inherited the structure of the former King and believes that God gives power, remain and accepted to continue to represent the people of the South as a lawmaker. He blessed Darius and gave him the structure of the Royal People’s Democracy.

Known for grooming princes, the Prince of Mararaba decided to support King Darius and help him to rescue the Kingdom that was in debt of N27 Billion naira.

The prince of Mararaba who is known to be Benevolent, Warmed, Accountable, Caring, Humble and Active (BWACHA) Political leadership, was a major reason for popular acceptance of King Darius. BWACHA is loved and respected by traditional royalty, Political royalty and the masses. He convinced Tarabans that the coming of Darius was not a news in Heaven because God was fully aware his coming. Taraba must pray for the King and Darius must live up to the expectation of the throne to truly rescue the state. And he promised that whatever happens during King Darius will not stop him from praying for him.

King Darius had promised that all the promised members of Royalty from every Assembly massive projects of roads, industries and Human Capital Development. He made budgets with massive capital projects around the state in every constituency. He told the people’s Assembly that the only way to actualize these, the state must collect more loans.

By October 2019 he has raised the debt profile to N93 Billon. By March 2020, he has increased it to by an additional N70 billion loan making Taraba State debt profile to N163 billion. Yet all the projects he has executed so far is not up to N20 Billion, 80% are uncompleted.

These realities displeases everyone including the Prince of Mararaba, the powerful son of Diah on the Mambilla Mountain and the son of Useni on the Bete Hills with the powerful Royalty, Prince Charles from Karim. They refused to grant further loan to King Darius, neither will they support his reign with the way he is ruling the kingdom. They demanded for accountable and warned him of the fate of anyone who abuse power in Taraba.

This bold move angered King Darius who sees it as disrespect, betrayal and insubordination. He quickly set up plans remove them from Political Royalty. Instead of waiting to forced out, they left the palace but remain members of the Royal family. These men are now silent and watching, they understands the kingdom more than anyone else having been given the privilege to be political Princes since the United Kingdom of Nigeria was restored back to political Royalty in 1999. However this silence and withdrawal frightens King Darius exceedingly.

To survive the storm under this new reality and maintain his stronghold and royal dominance, King Darius decided to go back to his former enemies and make friends with them. He convinced them to come and live in the Royal Palace despite not being responsible for his rising to power, they are needed in times like this. He rewarded them with position in his kingdom and promised them a greater Political future under his watch.

However the questions everyone in Taraba, both friends and foes are asking King Darius is: 1. Where is the promised Rescue after this huge financial investment? 2. Where’s Taraba State money going? 3. Where is King Darius? Why is he ruling by proxy? Can we keep on living this way, O Darius, son of Ishaku?

My humble plea to King Darius is for him to back home and see things for himself especially in Southern Taraba. I call on him to have mercy upon our people and return home to utilize this second tenure to rescue our people. Tarabans are known to easily forgive and forget once you change and improve.

Rikwense Muri
Wrote this from
Jalingo,Taraba State.