As Tarabans get a new governor, Col Agbu Kefas rtd, who emerged as the forth civilian governor of the state, ANDREW OJIH, Jalingo writes on the cusp of a new hope for Taraba state.
How Kefas emerged
On the 18th of Much 2023, Tarabans turned out in their large numbers to elect a governor who will pilot the affairs of the state in the next four years.
The election which was conducted in a relatively atmosphere of peace was won by a retired military officer who after his retirement from the Nigerian army became chairman the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) board.
After the expiration of his tenure from the NIMASA board, he was elected on August 13, 2020 as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba state.
Subsequently, he joined the race for the governorship seat and on the 26th of May 2022 at the party primary, Col Kefas Dantala Agbu scored 443 votes to clinch the PDP ticket for the 2023 governorship election.
After the 18th of March, 2023 governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Agbu Kefas as governor-elect having scored the highest number of votes.
The returning Officer for INEC, Professor M.A Abdulazeez, while declaring Kefas said he polled 302,614 votes to defeat the candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party, (NNPP) Professor Muhammad Sani Yahaya who scored 202, 277 votes.
On the 29th May, 2023, Dr Agbu Kefas was sworn in as duly elected governor of the state. He took the oath of office amid massive celebrations by the people of Taraba state.
Kefas’ passion for Taraba
Kefas, during the swearing in at the main bowl of the Jolly Nyame stadium said his government would create an enabling environment for all inhabitants of the state to succeed.
He maintained that he will lead by example, stressing that the task before him as governor of the state is enormous but expressed confidence that his experience before now has prepared him for the job.
“My passion for Taraba is driven by the commitment to social justice, welfare and equity. As such, one of my key priority will be to address the specific challenges faced by our youths, women and people living with disabilities.
“My administration will focus on addressing unemployment challenges, illiteracy, marginalisation and lack of access to resources.
“We will work to create an enabling environment for all people to prosper” he said.
Profile
Governor Kefas Agbu was born on November 12 1970 in Wukari Taraba State, he attended Nigeria Defense Academy in Kaduna where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Defense studies in 1994.
He proceeded to the University of Ibadan for his Masters degree in Legal Criminology and security psychology. He also got another Master’s degree in Public administration from Delta State University.
He attended Harvard Kennedy school where he earned a certificate in Executive Education Senior Executive in National and International Security.
He spent 21 years in the military before retiring.
And Upon his retirement, he was appointed Chairman Governing Board of Directors Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) between 2013 and 2015.
What Tarabans say about the new gov
According to a PDP stalwart in the state, Mr Victor Mayo-Dasa, “Kefas is a prudent resource manager who his administration will tremendously improve the economy of the state.”
“His achievements within his first year in office would soon become an envy to other states of federation. Transparency, accountability and comprehensive governance would be the watch word of the administration of governor Kefas Agbu”, he said.
He assured that the governor will manage the sixteen local government areas of the state where they will be respect for due process in governance.
He believed that with his experience from the military and other sectors, the rains of governance to the ordinary people of the state will guaranteed.
Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Yusuf Sanda noted, “Governor Kefas will take steps to reform governance in the state and re-orientate the people that it is all about Taraba state and is not all about any individual but for the good of the majority of Tarabans.
“The governor will make a good turn around in the his of those who has govern the state in the past.
His achievements within his 100 days in office would no doubt take the state to the international map that would earned the state international recognitions.”
In the same vain, a lawyer in Taraba state, Barr Neirus Johnson, while speaking said “it is stale that Dr Kefas Dantala Agbu is a man of great ambition, persuasive eloquence, and wide generosity.
“Tataba state has experienced considerable policy and political change over the past years, regardless, Agbu believes that Taraba still deserves the best any citizen can offer, needless to also add that he firmly believes he could make a difference and, undeniably, Taraba to see a difference.”
He stressed “Kefas is fired by the ambition to be allowed to diversify the state economy for all.
In a similar way, the former Special Assistant to former governor Darius Ishaku on Agriculture, Mr. Terence Joseph added “Kefas upon his assumption of on the 29th has worked out modalities to pursue increased and radical investment and revenue generation for the for the state.
“The governor has at the moment proposed some code of laws to break the shackles of poverty among youths and women in the state. He has equally introduced new methods to tackle insecurity and other related issues in the state.”
