*APC prophecy of citizens regret referenced
From Godwin Agia, Jalingo
After one year of Dr. Agbu Kefas’ administration as Governor of Taraba state, questions on whether the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC’s prophecy that Kefas would be a regret for the people of Taraba are beginning to flow down the streets.
Citizenship Daily correspondent reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba, had during the 2023 general election campaign, prophesied, rightly or wrongly, that if Kefas ever became governor, he would be the worst ever in the history of Taraba since 1999.
Meanwhile, checks on perception assessment of previously elected administrations in the state under one year, since 1999 by our correspondent indicate that the rating of each of the past governors by residents of the state puts governor Kefas as the least performing, although he has barely finished one year in office and has room to sit up if he wishes.
Taraba residents had May 29, 2024, conducted an online assessment of administrations in the state under one year since 1999, and scored governor Agbu Kefas lowest.
In the ranking as conducted, former governor Jolly Nyame scored 48 points, the late former governor Danbaba Suntai scored 40 points, former governor Darius Ishaku scored 16 points while governor Agbu Kefas scored 7 points under one year. However, governor Kefas was graded top based on his earlier promises to the people.
Reacting to the poll, Mr. Adi Timothy, a retired civil servant from Wukari Local Government, described the poll as the most fair in the assessment and comparison of government performances.
“Governor Agbu Kefas has made so many promises but it’s unfortunate that a good governance assessment has shown that his first one year is the worst ever witnessed in Taraba. The one year outing of the governor is the poorest since 1999, but we pray to God to redirect his heart for good governance rather than promises and traveling,” Adi reacted.
Ordinarily, Tarabans believed that Kefas, as a young man, was coming to prove a point to clear the doubt that young people do not perform well in leadership positions. Meanwhile, many campaign promises and after election promises of the governor have remained unfulfilled, while the hope for the fulfillment of promises in 100 days and one year in office have been dashed.
Why the APC’s prophecy on Kefas is becoming scary to the citizens is because of the consistent “I will do” pronouncement of the governor without visible action.
“I will return IDPs to their ancestral homes and unite Tarabans within my first 100 days”. Governor Agbu Kefas had during and after the election campaign promised to return all the displaced Tarabans to their ancestral homes from the IDP camps, and restore unity among Tarabans that was claimed to have been disrupted by the immediate past administration of former governor Darius Ishaku.
However till date, IDP camps are rather increasing in numbers while old ones are becoming overcrowded due to either the claim that a particular ethnic group is not from Taraba, or the effect of the unknown killer’s attack on others.
“I will build Taraba of the citizens dreams” was yet another unfulfilled promise.
Findings by the Citizenship Daily correspondent showed that a move to build Taraba of the citizens’ dreams as promised by Governor Kefas is yet to commence.
Checks also showed that not even a single project has been flagged off since May 29, 2023.
“I will pay 245,000 to corps members serving in Taraba.” On this pronouncement by the governor, Miss Hassana Zakari, Jeremiah Atukwa and Tony Akin Akande, all told our correspondent that they were beginning to get frustrated on the governor’s promise since they have just a few months to finish their one year mandatory National Youth Service.
“We are beginning to see the promise as normal politicians’ promises especially those who do not have the heart for good governance. These promises were made when some of our colleagues were just a few months in the service. They have passed-out and we are here hoping the governor would make a difference”, the corps members expressed.
“I will build a world-class ICT and skills acquisition centre for youth development within my first year.”
A promise of establishing a world-class ICT and skills acquisition centre in Jalingo for youth development by governor Agbu Kefas, just two months of his administration, was a mind blowing promise for youths since it was said to be targeted toward creating job opportunities for youth and women in the state.
However, the hope of the youth to be liberated from unemployment and poverty is now apparently elusive.
It is a popular saying that “traveling is part of education”. Considering this fact, Tarabans thought that development would accompany the number of times Kefas has gone to either Europe or Asian countries in the name of attracting development for Taraba state.
Since May 29, 2023. Gov Agbu Kefas is believed to have embarked on over 100 foreign and local trips in the name of either partnership or attracting investors to come and invest in Taraba. However, all the over 100 trips, over which analysts claimed he has spent several billions of Naira, have not created a single positive impact on Taraba state.
Tarabans are building their hope for the development of the state through prayers for God to redirect the governor’s heart to concentrate on governance rather than traveling.
The most unfortunate reality that is gradually bringing the Taraba APC prophecy to fruition is that, analysts have reviewed that since May 29, 2023 till date, Governor Kefas has spent only a handful of weeks in Nigeria.
The analysis shows that Kefas, who has not spent four days in Jalingo in a stretch since he became governor, spent his first one week in Nigeria in December, 2023 while organizing the 85th birthday anniversary for Gen. TY Danjuma in Lagos.
The governor spent his first one week in Taraba, and second in Nigeria in February 2024, while mobilizing for the commissioning of Daisy Danjuma’s Eye centre in Takum Local Government, and spent his second week in the state in May 2024, during the installation of the 28 years old vacant chieftaincy stool of Takum, which marks his three weeks in Nigeria since becoming governor of Taraba.
Considering the current state of Taraba, and the continued underdevelopment status of the state, while the promises for general transformation is still making the headlines for Governor Kefas after one year, the delivery of governance is not commensurate. This is making the APC prophecy to reverberate in the minds of Taraba people with regards to perceived misgovernance and underdevelopment.
Our correspondent contacted the Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Barr. Zainab Usman Jalingo, with the following enquiries for comment on the issues:
“Good afternoon Hon. Commissioner. I called to enquire about why Governor Kefas’ promise for the establishment of a world-class ICT and Skills Acquisition centre in Jalingo for Youths development, the return of IDPs to their ancestral homes within 100 days, and one year of his administration have failed.
“Residents of Taraba are demanding to know why these promises and many others have not been fulfilled. Thank you,“ our correspondent wrote.
The Commissioner’s reply:
“Modalities are already in place to ensure the implementation of same. Everything is work in progress.“
