By Uhuru Samuel Jalingo
As the political atmosphere in the country is beginning to gather heavy clouds ahead of the all-important 2027 general elections, and with the emergence of the new political coalition as a formidable alternative force to engage the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), political pundits are beginning to calculate the strengths and weaknesses of prospective candidates for various elective positions in order to make necessary alignments and re-alignments.
This nationwide charged political atmosphere is gathering even more momentum in Taraba State as there are growing calls from the people of the State for a better leader who will provide the required dividends of democracy to the people rather than a leader that prioritises his luxury and comfort as well as very narrow interests that serve a rather small clique.
Governor Agbu Kefas, who hails from Wukari Local Government Area of Southern Taraba, the same zone as his predecessor former Governor Darius Ishaku, came to power with lofty promises and high expectations from the people as he is a younger person and a pastor.
However, Two years down the lane, his tenure has been characterised by more promises than actions, remodeling of existing projects and renaming same after his political godfather, General TY Danjuma.
Till date governor Agbu Kefas administration cannot pride itself with a single project that it initiated, completed and commissioned in the last two years.
Even his supporters now described Governor Kefas as a person that makes promises that he never fulfils.
His lack of performance has created untold hardship for the people, creating the room for any serious political candidate to easily beat him in the 2027 general elections.
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State Alhaji Hassan Jika Ardo describe Governor Agbu Kefas as “a political liability to any serious political party to the extent that his power of incumbency which is supposed to be a major advantage counts as a stumbling block instead”.
Ardo noted that his first Two years in office have proven to be the worst of any administration in the history of the State.
“I am aware that the governor Agbu Kefas is making moves to join the APC. This is to be expected. He has already failed woefully and knows for sure that any serious opposition political party will defeat him in the forthcoming general elections. As such he is looking for a soft landing.
“For Two years, the only thing one can commend the governor about is security. Otherwise, there is no road constructions going on anywhere, no serious activity in the health sector. The education sector is in a deep mess because of the free education policy that he introduced without planning. So his thinking is that, once he moves to the APC, he gets automatic ticket and would be able to secure a second tenure easily”.
Consequently, there is an emergence of prospective candidates who may be running for the seat of power in the State, all of them with their pros and cons.
Chief David Sabo Kente
Chief (Dr ) David Sabo Kente remains an APC man whose political ideology and pedigree is unique as he maintains that the ruling party is the only alternative for 2027. He has no reservation about the Ability of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to change the fortunes of the country wherever he goes.
Chief Kente’s overwhelming influence as a major factor in APC in Taraba State is giving opposition PDP sleepless nights. Most especially when the hope of the people of the state is dashed the euphoria and great expectation from the government of Governor Agbu Kefas remains a mirage with unfulfilled premises for the past two years.
Now that the chips are down, Chief Kente has assumed and remains the only hope, providing succor to the less privileged and the vulnerable through his philanthropic outlet, the DSK foundation.
In the past few weeks, Chief Kente has contributed to spread the gospel of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to all the nooks and crannies of Taraba, so much that many have come to the conclusion that Tinubu’s Presidential ambition for 2027, is a walk over in Taraba State.
Understandably, the present Governor of the State Agbu Kefas and Chief Kente hail from the Southern Taraba where it was expected that the Two terms from the zone should be completed after 2027 elections, but the people are yearning for Chief Kente to complete the remaining term.
It is a known fact that the major obstacles against APC in Taraba State has been the internal wranglings of who should be the governorship candidate of the party. This has robbed the party the governorship of the State over the years even when there were clear chances for the party’s victory. If the current story making the rounds in Taraba State is anything to go by, especially that most of the key factors in APC have resolved to step aside from aspiring for the number one position in 2027 and ready to support the most acceptable and popular candidate, then the party may sing the victory song for the first time come 2027.
There is no doubt, Chief Kente has assumed the sustenance of the soul of the party in the State after the 2023 elections and considering him for the party’s ticket might be a good decision for the party.
As a grassroot person and an astute politician, Kente was able to bulldoze and secure the Senatorial seat and Two House of Representatives seats for the APC from the zone where the governor comes from. Though a collective responsibility, the people believe that it was the political cunning of Kente that gave the APC the Victory in 2023 election.
Another point is that the people of Southern Taraba will not vote for APC if the the party gives the ticket to candidates from Central or Northern Taraba. The reason is the zone believes that the governor, Agbu Kefas tenure is theirs, though he has failed them, but they prefer DSK as a more appropriate to complete the tenure of the southern zone.
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha is another astute grassroots politician from Southern Taraba. He was the candidate of the APC in the 2023 general elections where he came a distant Third in the race.
A very popular and strong politician in his own right, Bwacha hinted recently that he will be contesting the 2027 general elections, citing the poor performance of governor Kefas that has inflicted pains on the people as his reason.
Just like Kente, Bwacha is a seasoned and grassroots politician, there is no doubt in the minds of the people that Bwacha is a factor to reckon with in APC, though he lost out woefully after securing the ticket of the party in 2023 governorship elections.
However, his followership seems to suffer greatly after the 2023 general elections. He is believed to have lost the elections because some of his closest associates betrayed him at the last minute. His inability to see the betrayal coming now haunts him as those who trusted in his sound political calculations now have reservations about his capacity to make sound judgements that could secure victory for him.
Again, while most of those who aspired for the ticket of the party in the 2023 general elections and lost have joined other party stakeholders and are working together to unite the party and chart a way forward, Bwacha seems to distance himself from the group and is working more like a lone ranger.
Consequently, it will be tough for him to secure the ticket of the party. There is also the tendency that even if he secures the ticket, other stakeholders in the party will work against him.
Political observers within and outside Taraba State are unanimous that one of the major Challenges facing candidates nomination in the state is the interference from the national Secretariat of the APC. The surest way for victory of the party in Taraba is the guarantee of free and fair nomination process in producing candidates.
Once this obstacle of interference is surmounted, APC can be rest assured of occupying the Jalingo Government House come 2027.
Another major factor that worked against the APC in Taraba State in the past was that those entrusted with funds to deliver the state ended up diverted such fund to private use leaving the party to look like an orphane during the main general elections.
While there are other candidates in the Central and Northern zones of the State who will also strive to claim the governorship seat in the State, the unwritten rule is for the Southern zone to complete the second leg of their Eight years slot. As such, most political parties will be reluctant to give their ticket to any candidate outside the Southern zone.
As PDP now finds itself in a dilemma, the Governor of the State, Agbu Kefas is at a cross road and is rumoured to be planning a defection to the APC himself. However, whether he will be welcome and given special consideration remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the ADC remains a valuable resort to any of the contending candidates in the event that they fail to secure the ticket of the ruling APC.
Our Correspondent gathers that most of the leading aspirants are working surreptitiously to secure a place in the ADC and take over the structure in the event that their plan “A” does not work.
As the days draw closer, one can not help but sit back and watch as political events unfold in the State in readiness for the 2027 polls.
While the polical drum beats from the sides, Chief David Sabo Kente continues with his message, which is the “Gospel According to President Tinubu ” in all the noocks and crannies of state. //////