ITF Boss Joseph Ari, Cries Out Over Flooding of Campaign Posters In Plateau, Linking Him As An Intending Aspirants, Ahead APC Convention ,As He Debunks Allegation

Yakubu Busari

The Director-General/Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph N. Ari, has condemned the campaign of calumnies against his personality purportedly by some mischief-makers in the All Progressives Congress, APC,  who are trying to inflict pain and blackmail him by linking him with the 26th March 2020 national convention of the party.

Joseph Ari expressed sadness with the manner some people are now employing cheap propaganda to cajole themselves using posters to promote their self-centered agenda.

He made this disclosure in a press conference held at the Nigerian Union Journalists , NUJ, Plateau State council ,on Saturday in Jos .

He disclosed that what has come to his attention is that in their desperate attempts, they have printed campaign posters suggesting that I am aspiring for an elective position, and also canvassing support for the aspirations of some candidates that are vying for elective positions in our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in upcoming APC National Convention.

Joseph Ari revealed that ,”I have also been reliably informed that these disgruntled elements plot to flood the convention venue with these posters in order to breed mistrust and disharmony and thereby generate rancor for their own selfish purposes as I have never contemplated and not contemplating on vying for any elective position in the nearest future, as I am presently busy and fully engaged with the onerous responsibility of deploying the mandate of the ITF to equip Nigerians with  skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

According to him ,”since my appointment as the Director-General/ Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), I have invested all energies in ensuring that the institution achieves the vision and aspirations of its founding fathers.

Therefore, under my watch, the Industrial Training Fund has hit lofty heights, fulfilling its onerous mandate of developing the Nation’s human resources, while also partnering with the Federal Government to actualize the objectives of the President Buhari Administration, especially with regard to poverty reduction, job and wealth creation, he explained.

Sir Joseph Ari stated that under his leadership, the ITF has been at the forefront of instilling in Nigerians the need for the country, like other developed nations of the world, to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a real alternative to paper qualification and white-collar jobs, and the most sustainable solution to the seemingly intractable problem of unemployment and poverty”.

He noted that , In doing this, our efforts have received plaudits and commendations of governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Ari stressed that although Warren Buffett may not have thought of my current experiences when he said “Greatness inspires envy; envy engenders spite; spite spawns lies,” his expression aptly captures what has transpired in the last few days. As journalists, some of you may perhaps, be aware of the activities of unscrupulous elements that are bent on pulling me down.

He called on the general public , that to this end, the public is therefore, advised to disregard any campaign poster to the effect that I, Sir Joseph N. Ari, is running for any elective positon, or in support of the ambition of any candidate during the upcoming APC convention as it is false, unfounded and not deserving of any attention.

I have, therefore, reported the matter to the security agencies for their further necessary action.

Ari  advised  the mischief-makers that  for them to heed the words of Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu in his homily of Friday, 18th March, 2022: “If you do not celebrate the gifts of others; no one will celebrate yours.

If you try to pull people down, you will forever remain down. None of us is cheated by God. No human being is without special gifts and abilities.

God has planted a vineyard in you and He expects to see your fruits. Watch out when you begin to criticize others continuously, you may simply be playing out your envy.”

On a final note, he has taken the pains to bring what has transpired to the public glare, as it will be difficult to convince anyone after the deed has been done.