Bwacha, Diah, Others, Absent as Taraba PDP Swears in New Executive
By Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
Although the Taraba State Chapter of the PDP has inaugurated the new executive team with a promise to retain power in 2013, there are latent and patent cleavages of divisions, which may likely frustrate its aspiration.
Some critical stakeholders of the party, including Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Southern Senatorial District as well as the immediate past speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Abel Peter Diah, were visibly absent at the convention which took place at Jolly Nyame Stadium Jalingo last Wednesday. Also absent are the two members representing Wukari 1 and 2 state constituency in the State House of Assembly, among many others.
Although Worldview Magazine could not ascertain the reasons for their absence at the time of filing this report, there are indications that some members of the party are aggrieved with the party’s recent developments, hence their boycott.
Notwithstanding, the state new executive of the party was inaugurated to run the affairs of the party for yet another four years.
The election which took place at Jolly Nyame Stadium witnessed the selection of Hon. Agbu D. Kefas who replaced Hon. Victor Bala Kona as the new state chairman of the party.
Also inaugurated alongside with Hon. Agbu were thirty five other members who took the oath of office to serve in the various offices of the party in the state.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Arch. Darius Dickson Ishaku assured supporters of the party’s determination to retain power in 2023.
‘’ I wish to assure you that our party remain solidly on ground. We are determined that Taraba Sate will continue to be a PDP state’’ he said
The governor commended the outgoing exco of the party under the able leadership of Hon. Victor Bala Kona whom he described as ‘’ victorious victor’’
for solidifying the party in the state and making it a choice for Tarabans.
Applauding the delegates and the security officers for the peaceful and matured conduct at the congress, the governor called for a synergy between the new exco and party members to enable the party move to an enviable height within and outside the shows of the state.
While expressing the PDP led government determination to rescue the state in all facets of life, the governor said his administration had deliberately designed programs aim at benefitting all classes of people in the state.
On the latest COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the nation, the governor said he had ear marked 22 billion naira in the 2020 budget to help fight the scourge and urged citizens to always maintain the various protocols given by the NCDC.
In his acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated chairman, Hon. Agbu D. Kefas who responded on behalf of all the newly inaugurated exco, appreciated Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, his predecessor Hon.Victor B. Kona as well as all other members of the party for finding them worthy to serve in the various capacities in the Party and pledged that they would justify the confidence reposed in them.
‘’ Let me assure you all members of our great party, that am here to unite the party the more and to see us retaining the victories that we have been enjoying in this state. For sure, we will continue to hold our hands together shoulder to shoulder in uniformity to see that we make our party greater than it is today’’. He pledged.
Earlier in his opening speech, the outgoing chairman, Hon. Victor Bala Kona commended the cooperation he received from the leader of the party, His Excellency Arch. Darius Dickson Ishaku and all other members of the party while he was in office and urged members to sustain the tempo.
Highlighting some of his achievements while in office, the chairman said the party had introduced reforms that repositioned the party to an enviable height. According to him, the party had among other things secured a hostel that harbors staff offices and had procured a bus for PDP State Secretariat.
“we were able to coordinate our party and won the governorship seat of the previous administration led by the Late Pharmacist Danbaba D. Suntai and the present governorship seat. This is not to talk of the two senatorial seats which we constantly maintain as well as majority of seats in the State House of Assembly. We are also assuring you that the party is determined to retain the seats in 2023”. He said.
The chairman challenged the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) led by President Muhammedu Buhari describing it as a clueless, wicked and incompetent government and assured members that such a party will not have roots in Taraba State.
