Taraba women, youth berate Assembly Speaker over N1,000 Christmas gift

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

There is public outcry among women and youth of Zing local government area in Taraba, following Wednesday’s Christmas gift by the speaker of the state house of Assembly, Hon. John Kizito Bonzena.
Peoplesdaily reports that, women between the ages of 45 and 50 years, along side youth numbering over 30 persons, were seen desperate around the Catholic pastoral center Jalingo, around 4pm, seeking help from passer-by.
Our correspondent gathered that the desperate individuals were invited for Christmas gift by the speaker of the state assembly but ended up getting 1,000 naira each.
When approached, the beneficiaries told journalists that the speaker shared N1000 each as 2025 Christmas gift to 37 of them who came on his invitation and were left without transport to return back to their villages
According to the constituents, the speaker personally invited them to his residence in Jalingo for Christmas gift.
Some of the constituents, such as Mrs. Sochaja Luka, Mr. Bivoro Benjamin and Kpanti Jelanson, alleged that, “the speaker of the Taraba state house of Assembly sent an official invitation for us to leave our various villages from Zing and come down to Jalingo for Christmas gift”
“We selected 37 people across council wards of the constituency and transported down to Jalingo. Transport from Yakoko to Jalingo is 3500, while from the main town of Zing to Jalingo is 2500.
“We arrived the speaker’s house as early as 12 noon. While in the house, we were served round with local cake (Chinchin) and bottle water before the speaker appeared after 3 hours.
“The speaker said, he had called to also urged us to mobilize support for governor Agbu Kefas’ 2027 governorship bid.
“After all, the speaker brought out a bundle of 500 naira note and started sharing to us. He gave each person 1,000 naira, and returned the remaining balance to his pocket.”
“We are desperate on how to go back to Zing. We are looking for who we help us. We want to get the contacts of Prof. Jerome Nyame and Dr. Anthony Manzo to assist us with transport.
“We are still imagining what we have ever done wrong to the speaker that he has chosen to punish us now that is Christmas. We want governor Agbu Kefas and the Kpanti Zing to investigate the speaker’s action”. The constituents cried.
Meanwhile, Hon, Bonzena, the speaker of the Taraba state house of Assembly did not answered nor, replied to text messages sent by journalists regarding the allegation.