From Celestine Ihejirika, JalingoTaraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas has urged citizens of the state to work toward collective progress of the state so as to actualize a new Taraba of their dream.
Kefas,who stated this during a media briefing to mark the anniversary of 35 years creation of the state in Jalingo on Thursday , called for collective unity, peace and progress of the state.
According to him, the state required a collective unity of purpose to get to its destination point and appreciated the people for hardwork and dedication in the past 35 years.
Speaking on the journey so far, the governor said on assumption of office in May, 29 2023, his administration deliberately placed education at the centre stage bearing in mind that no serious government can defeat poverty, insecurity and underdevelopment while leaving large number of it children behind, prompted the introduction of free and compulsory education.
On the health care policy, the Governor pointed that poverty should not become a death sentence to its citizens, to this end he said government expanded attention to vulnerable citizens thereby resulted for undertaken intervention in health facilities across Jalingo, Wukari, Karim-lamido, Bali, Zing, Takum, Warwar and other part of the state respectively.
Apart from infrastructure deficits and water shortage in the state, Governor Kefas said his administration has taken a holistic approach to ensure that the government does not abandon both new and old projects in the state before exiting office in 2031 if gets reelected in by 2027.
He assured Tarabans that many communities need roads, bridges, drainage, public facilities as well as market and social services which he said will continue to witness interventions.
He also stressed that the water system plan and intervention will receive the desired attention, promising that agriculture, mining energy and sport development will receive more boost.
He stated that the present administration has also addressed issues bothering security, traditional institutions, civil service reforms, retirees welfare as well as local government and rural development.
On politics, Governor Kefas said, “It was not an abandonment of my principles. It was not a change in my commitment to Taraba. It was a strategic decision designed to strengthen Taraba’s engagement with the Federal Government, widen development partnerships and position our State to benefit more effectively from national opportunities. Political parties are instruments through which leaders pursue service. They must never become walls between leaders and the people. I did not change my commitment to Taraba. I strengthened the platform from which I pursue that commitment”.
