“34 years after, Gov. Kefas pushes Taraba back on its knees”
From Williams Ayooso
A seasoned media personality and chieftain of the APC, Aaron Artimas has assessed the socio-economic condition of Taraba State since its creation, 34 years ago and concluded that, Governor Kefas’ administration has reversed the gains recorded by past administrations.
He was speaking exclusively with a team of our reporters in the Worldview Magazine office in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Aaron, who is also the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Taraba, enumerated the efforts and achievements of other administrations in making Taraba a better place. He however regretted that, Gov. Kefas come as a prodigal son and plundered the hard earned investments, thereby truncating the future of the state’s younger generation.
“Taraba State started on a very good foundation. When you look at Taraba State development in the first 20 years, you will agree with me that the State was on the right path because there are notable infrastructure projects like the Jolly Nyame Stadium which is one of the best in the country, the Specialist Hospital which at some point, was the best Tertiary Medical Centre in the whole of Northeastern Nigeria, the Technobat and many other housing projects.
“Virtually, every military Governor who served Taraba State, established their own housing estate, beginning from Afolahan who established an estate in Magami then, Dickson and of course, Oyahire who established the Senior Housing Estate and the Legislative Quarters. Owoniyi built Owoniyi quarters. The Danbaba Suntai-Garba Umar administrations, equally established high land mark projects especially roads like the Jalingo-Bali-Gashaka road, the Mile 6 bypass among many other road projects. At a stage, Taraba was ahead of Adamawa State in terms of pace of development” He stated.
Aaron Artimas emphasized that the promising socio-economic situation of Taraba State started nose diving into the bottomless pit of infamy just 10 years ago, when Governor Darius Ishaku of the PDP took over the leadership of the state as Governor., and like a relay, the infamous trend of retrogression was passed to the present administration of Gov Kefas.
“The State started getting it wrong from Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku. Personally, I don’t think he had any passion to develop this State and I did not regard him even as an indigene of this State. During his time, the State assumed an unfortunate social order which Tarabans were playing more sentiment and emotions with the issue of governing the State.
‘But with the coming of Governor Agbu Kefas, Tarabans hoped for a positive change giving his experience and service in the military because, there were other of his military colleagues who did excellently well in governance across various States of the Country but unfortunately under his leadership, the State is surviving largely on empty promises and till date, there is no tangible project on ground.
“In terms of structure, as you are you are aware, the Governor has not constructed 1 km of road in the State and all the schools and hospitals are in complete State of disrepair. One of the things he used to deceive people with was free education but how can you offer free education with run-down classes? There are no classrooms, no school equipment, no instructional materials and many other essentials so, how is the free education policy effective? “ He fumed and asked rhetorically.
Aaron painted a gloomy picture of the future of the state, when he said that with Gov. Kefas, the future of the state is mortgaged, stressing that the state is already on its knees, crawling and panting for survival.
Gov Kefas pose with the Committee for acquisition of properties surrounding the premises of TY Danjuma House, Jalingo , soon after its inauguration
“There is no doubt that we have gone back on our knees because loans usually add up as time progresses depending on the charged interest. Some of the loans that the State collected have not even mature yet, they are still enjoying some moratorium but by the time they are due for payback, even salary that is the mainstream of Taraba, they won’t get it because as at today the money we are expecting is 2billion and is going straight to debt servicing.
“Now in every month, payment of salaries begins after they have entered the next month because they will need to negotiate overdraft since the money is not there. In fact, the State lives on overdraft to pay salaries and service debt so if you are talking of any project that would take just 100million in the State, the Government cannot do it because the funds are not there at all.” Aaron regretted.
On what Taraba State people should do to avert the Gov Kefas’ tsunami that hovers dangerously on the future of the state, Aaron Artimas has this to say:
“If Tarabans don’t have a rethink on what they want to do with their State, the State will continue to go down. I’m a Journalist, Politician, public officer and a mature citizen. I am aware that no government can thrive on sentiment. When you elect people on tribal, political or religious lines, he will go to sleep because he has nothing to challenge him. We have many capable hands but they have not been given the opportunity but until we get someone who knows the State and has its interest at heart before things will be right.
“I have been privileged to work with four Governors in the State and I understand their psychology of governance. If a Governor did not know you, he wouldn’t place any value on you. He will pick those to work with based on the recommendation of others and the recommendation is based on the interest of those recommending. If they know that you are capable and independent minded, they will never recommend you for the job so, lets elect people who have suffered with us here and knows the nooks and crannies of the State to work for our common good otherwise, we will continue to dwell in the dark.” He stated.
