From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
As Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas approaches his second anniversary in office on May 29, 2025, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused him of focusing on personal luxury projects while neglecting initiatives that benefit the public.
Alhaji Hassan Ardo Jika, former Nigerian Envoy to Trinidad and Tobago, claimed Kefas prioritised projects for his own comfort and that of a few cabinet members over the past two years, leaving residents in hardship. Despite the state government citing limited funds and seeking loans, Jika alleged billions of naira have been spent on unfinished projects.
Jika noted the governor’s focus on Suntai Airport in Jalingo for personal and cabinet travel, and the rapid completion of selected offices at TY Danjuma House (Government House) in Jalingo, TY Danjuma House (Taraba Government Lodge) in Abuja, and the newly commissioned TY Danjuma Lodge in Wukari, Kefas’ hometown, all for personal luxury.
“How many people from the state are capable of paying flight ticket of close to N200,000 from Jalingo to Abuja? The Namnai Bridge which collapsed since the last raining season has been abandoned by the governor, that is the road that common people are suffering to cross on daily basis, yet he has abandoned the bridge because he doesn’t drive on the road and can afford the luxury of following the longer route in the comfort of his luxurious cars, if it becomes necessary,” he stated.
APC’s Rikwensi Muri echoed these concerns, noting the governor has abandoned projects like the Jalingo Trade Fair reconstruction, Jalingo Trailer Park, Wukari International Yam Market, Jalingo Abattoir, Wukari Chinkai Road, and Jalingo Palliative Market, which have reportedly consumed billions of naira. Contractors have deserted these sites for over six months.
Muri accused Kefas of neglecting 2023 campaign promises and making new ones instead of governing effectively. “If you check round the completed projects executed by Governor Kefas, it is strictly for his luxury and his cabinet members, some selected offices at TY Danjuma House formerly known as Taraba State Government House Jalingo, the TY Danjuma House, Asokoro in Abuja, also formerly known as Taraba State Government Lodge Abuja, the TY Danjuma House in Wukari, which is the governor’s home town and the Suntai Airport in Jalingo.
“These are projects that are for his luxury and comfort. Other projects that have to do with the masses such as the Jalingo Trailer Park, Jalingo Abattoir, Jalingo Palliative Market, Wukari Chinkai Road, most of the General Hospitals he initiated across the state have been abandoned for over six months.
“All of the above mentioned projects, the contractors have abandoned the sites for over six months, the governor will complete his second year in office in the next few days, the projects are already abandoned with contractors leaving the sites. We are waiting to see which projects are earmarked for commissioning during his second year anniversary come May 29th,” Muri submitted.
In response, Governor Kefas maintained he has performed well. His Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communications, Hon. Emmanuel Bello, in a press statement titled “2 Years Report Card of Gov. Kefas,” said Kefas has continued to govern with “humility, transparency, fear of God and deep love for the people.”
Bello claimed the governor is “hovering, brooding and rebuilding the neglected broken walls of the state including provision of security to residents of the state, free education, good governance, prompt payment of salaries, construction of road networks, construction of airport, provision of tractors to farmers and improvement of the health of the people.”