After one year of Dr. Agbu Kefas’ administration as governor of Taraba state, questions of thought on whether the opposition All Progressives Congress APC’s prophecy that Kefas would be a regret for the development of Taraba are beginning to flow the street.
Nigerian Tribune reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba, during the 2023 general election campaign, prophesied that Kefas, if become governor, would be the worst-ever governor in the history of Taraba since 1991.
Meanwhile, a vivid check and assessment of elected administrations in the state under one year, since 1999 by our correspondent indicates that the scores graded to each of the past governors to date by residents of the state which scored governor Kefas as the least performing is fair.
Taraba residents have on 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 grading as conducted, former governor Jolly Nyame scored 48 points, Late. former governor Danbaba Suntai scored 40 points, former governor Darius Ishaku scored 16 points and governor Agbu Kefas scored 7 points.
However, governor Kefas was graded top based on promises.
Reacting to the pool, Mr. Adi Thimoty a retired civil savant from Wukari local government described the pool as most fairest in the assessment and comparison of government performances.
“Governor Agbu Kefas has made so many promises but, unfortunately, good governance assessment has shown that his first year is the worst ever witnessed in Taraba.
The one-year outing of the governor is the poorest since 1999, but we pray 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, campaign promises and after-election promises of the governor have remained unkept, while the hope for the fulfillment of 100 days and one-year promises have been dashed.
Why the APC’s prophecy on Kefas is becoming scary to the citizens because of the consistent “I will do” pronouncement of the governor without action?
“I will return IDPs to their ancestral homes and unit 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 those that was claimed to have been disrupted by the immediate past administration of former governor Darius Ishaku.
However, to date, IDP camps are rather increasing in numbers while old ones are becoming overcrowded due to either, ” The claim that a particular ethnic is not from Taraba or the unknown Killers attack on others.
“I will build Taraba of the citizen’s dreams” A vivid finding by the Nigerian Tribune review that a move to build Taraba of the citizen’s dreams as promised by Governor Kefas is yet to commence. A check by a correspondent shows that not even a single project has been flagged off since May 29, 2023.
“I will pay 245000 to corps members serving in Taraba” Miss Hassana Zakari, Jeremiah Atukwa, and Tony Akin Akande, both told the correspondent that they are beginning to dash out hope on the governor’s promise since they have just a few months to finish the one-year mandatory service.
“We are beginning to see the promise as normal politicians promise especially those who do not have the heart for good governance. This promise was made when some of our colleagues were just a few months into the service. They have passout and we are here hopping the governor would make a difference”.
The corps members expressed.
“I will build a world-class ICT and skills acquisition center for youth development within my first year”
A promise of establishing a world-class ICT and skills acquisition center in Jalingo for youth development by Governor Agbu Kefas, just two months into 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 being thrown under probability.
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 has 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 which analysts said, he has spent over 37 Billion Naira, have not created a single positive impact on Taraba state.
The reality of life remains that a leader builds more and continues hope in his followers when he is often seen around. However, in the case of Governor Kefas, Tarabans are building their hope for the development of the state through prayers for God to redirect the governor’s heat to concentrate on governance rather than traveling.
The most unfortunate reality that is gradually bringing the Taraba APC prophecy to reality is that analysts have reviewed that since May 29, 2023, governor Kefas has spent only three weeks in Nigeria.
The analysis shows that Kefas who has not spent four days in Jalingo since he became governor, spent his first week in Nigeria in December 2023 while organizing the 85th birthday anniversary of Gen. TY Danjuma in Lagos.
The governor spent his first week in Taraba, and his second in Nigeria in February 2024, while mobilizing for the commissioning of Daisy Danjuma Eye Center in Takum local government, and spent his second week in the state in May 2024, during the installation of the 27 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, the continued underdevelopment status of the state, while the promises for general transformation is still the headline of Governor Kefas after one year, even though, if the hope for transformation should still be alive, the APC prophecy is remembered to save Taraba from total collapsing.
