By Saidu Adamu
The pioneer Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC in Taraba and former Envoy to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Alhaji Hassan Ardo, on Thursday, said that the visit of President Bola Tinubu to Taraba has shown that the State Governor Agbu Kefas has failed woefully in the first two years of his administration.
During an interaction with journalists, Ardo said it was a shame that the President, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, had no project to commission as part of the working visit that comes just a few days to the second anniversary of Governor Agbu Kefas in the State.
He noted that while presidential visits to other states are usually marked with the commissioning of the plethora of people-oriented projects, in Taraba State, the only thing the President had to commission was the renovated airport that was built and commissioned over a decade ago.
“Let me say that as a critical stakeholder in the Taraba project, a staunch member of the All Progressives Congress and an astute politician, the visit of Mr President to Taraba is very significant. I am so happy that he was represented in the State, although I wish he were personally on the ground to see things for himself. Taraba is a purely APC State even though the party has been robbed repeatedly.
“I wish the President was personally on the ground to see things for himself. Even at that, I must say that the Vice President is more than an equal representation. You will notice, sadly, that there were no projects for the President to commission, even though the visit is coming just a few days to the second anniversary of the administration in the State. That is to tell you that the governor has nothing to show for the last two years.
“So we are happy that the President was there to encourage investors to consider Taraba as an investment hub, especially in agriculture. But the visit has also exposed the emptiness of this administration. It has vindicated some of us who have maintained that this governor has nothing to offer.
“When we talk, people say it is because we are opposition, but I challenge people to show me any projects that the governor initiated and completed within these Two years. Even the renovations he is doing are focused on areas of his luxury rather than people-oriented projects.
“So far, what he beats his chest about is the renovated Government House, renovated Government lodges where he stays when he is in these locations and stuff like that.
“Namnai bridge that collapsed last year has been there, and the people have continued to suffer. I remember sometime in March, he said that the contract was awarded for the reconstruction of the bridge, but there is nothing to date. Is that bridge not more important than the airport? Is not like the airport was not in use. But the bridge is completely cut off, and you can’t imagine the hardship and economic losses people face on that road,” he lamented.
He observed that the palliative market Governor Kefas boasts of was built and commissioned by former Governor Jolly Nyame several years back.
Ardo called on the President to consider special interventions in the State to ameliorate the hardship that the people are going through due to poor governance under the Governor Agbu Kefas-led PDP government in the State.
