By
Tochu Okorie
The mien of a rich luxurious smile with which you are greeted on your first encounter immediately cuts the image of a self-confident military strategist who suffuses himself with a rare but accommodating air of authority and sophistication laced with character and competence.
That aptly discribes Agbu Kefas, a retired Lieutenant Colonel whom I met first in his hotel room in Abuja’s highbrow Wuse II as we discussed Nigeria’s maritime and its peculiar challenges. Those were his days as the Chairman of the Board of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Meeting again as colleague Chairmen of different state chapters of the PDP was a refreshing coincidence but illustrated the degree of trust and confidence he had garnered from friends, family and political associates. It was the natural course of things for him to be quickly moved up the ladder of leadership as the good people of Taraba could not wait any longer to begin to tap into the repository of wisdom and intelligence which Kefas manifestly embodies.
No one should be deceived by the disarming demeanor of his Excellency for there in lies the momentous spring board and soring of wisdom to propel a new and gigantic vision for the people of Taraba state. Vision already being actualized in dramatic leaps as the Executive Governor of Taraba State.
In less than 100 days in office as governor, Kefas has demonstrated emphatically and copiously his preparedness for the task of governance. He has effectively showcased upon arrival a thoughtfully articulated programme of redemption and redefinition of the life and livelihood of Tarabans.
Upon assumption of office, Governor Kefas declared education free for primary and secondary schools in Taraba. He must have been deeply irked by the sheer number of out-of-school children in the state. How on earth would Taraba place number one in the number of out-of-school children index? The governor must also have figured that insecurity which had bedevilled the state for so many years feeds on poor human capital development manifesting in a horde of out-of-school children, unemployment, crimes, criminalities and violent communal clashes. His decision to prioritize education clearly signals the governor’s resolve to end poverty and its attendant social malaise in Taraba forever.
For the first time perhaps, teachers in Taraba are coming to terms with the possibility of having their reward right here on earth. Who would have thought that it was possible for a state governor to hold an interactive session with teachers? Not only did Governor Kefas met and interacted with teachers, he took the opportunity to further reiterate his firm belief that teachers are actually the real drivers of development. Such a down-to-earth fellow and fresh perspective to confronting challenges.
In the meantime, Kefas, on record is the first state governor to roll out a state wide palliative programme to cushion the effect of petroleum subsidy removal. His 10-point Palliative Care initiative targets households directly in critical sectors including transportation, agriculture and food security, Small-and-Medium-Scale Enterprises and development of Social Support mechanisms for the most vulnerable. Kefas has practically re-introduced subsidy at the state level and it transcends petroleum.
Governor Kefas is implementing subsidy on food and agricultural products. Partnering with transport unions, he is subsidizing transportation. What is more? Kefas is hiring 10,000 women and youths for what he has tagged “Operation Clean Taraba and Waste Management”.
These vanguards of clean environment will be on NGN15,000 stipends for an initial period of 6 months. Who wouldn’t want to be a Taraban at this time?
To further demonstrate his firm understanding of the peculiar challenges of the state, Kefas is aggressively rallying investments at various levels. In agriculture for example, the governor appears to have his job cut out as he moves to mobilize investment in the agricultural value chain for the myriad of unprocessed produce. Coffee, Gum Arabic and sugarcane have been identified as some of the most viable.
This is not to mention livestock. The plains of the Mambila provides a natural pasture and can accommodate enough cattle to feed the subregion. Taraba State government is already seeking credible partnerships to develop livestock development and processing.
In solid mineral, Taraba is unarguably the most endowed in Nigeria. The uranium deposit in Taraba is said to be among the largest in the world. If harnessed, Nigeria may well be shifting its attention away from crude oil. There are over eleven other essential mineral deposits which exist in commercial quantity in Taraba. What about Gemstones? The entire Mambila belt is saturated with gems including Diamond, Sapphire and aquamarine.
Developing agricultural and industrial value chains for these resources will definitely put Taraba on the global map and Governor Kefas appears to be determined to make it happen. Little wonder he has been building formidable partnerships across the globe in the last few weeks since assuming office as Executive Governor.
Today, Tarabans generally affirm that, with Agbu Kefas, Taraba horizons are dotted with gold strips and there has never been a better time to be called a Taraban.
Tochu Okorie, a financial and public affairs analyst writes from Abuja and can be reached on toksokorie@gmail.com
