By Terna Chikpa
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, on Friday said collective unity among the various religious and ethnic groups towards developing the state was the reason he was advocating for “A United State of Taraba.”
While addressing citizens on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Taraba State, the governor also declared that the projects being undertaken by his administration were not more important than the unity of the citizens.
According to Kefas, his administration was building a Taraba where Christians and Muslims, as well as people from the northern, central and southern parts of the state and various ethnic communities, understand that they share one destiny.
“No religion, political party or ethnic group can develop Taraba alone. No local government can permanently prosper while another part of the state collapses.
“Our diversity should be our strength; it must never become a weapon against us. Of all the projects we are undertaking, none is more important than our unity, and that is why I advocate for ‘A United State of Taraba’,” Gov. Kefas explained.
The governor also insisted that politics must never destroy the unity and peace of the state, urging political associates and opponents not to recruit young people into violence.
“As political activities increase, let us compete with ideas. Let us campaign and disagree, but let us not recruit young people into violence.
“We must not weaponise ethnicity and religion. We must not introduce dangerous weapons into our communities. No one’s ambition is worth the blood of a Taraba citizen,” Kefas insisted.
The governor urged security agencies to remain professional and impartial, just as he called on traditional rulers to remain fathers to all, political leaders to act responsibly, and young people to refuse to become instruments in the hands of politicians.
Governor Kefas also explained his decision to shift from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor disclosed that his decision was a strategic step designed to strengthen Taraba’s engagement with the Federal Government, widen development partnerships and position the state to benefit more effectively from national opportunities.
“My decision to move to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, was not an abandonment of those who elected me. It was not an abandonment of my principles or a change in my commitment to Taraba,” he continued.
“My decision was a strategic step designed to strengthen Taraba’s engagement with the Federal Government, widen development partnerships and position our state to benefit more effectively from national opportunities.
“Political parties are instruments through which leaders pursue service. I did not change my commitment to Taraba; I strengthened the platform from which I pursue that commitment.
“We will work constructively with President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government, our National Assembly representatives, development institutions and responsible partners wherever cooperation advances our interests. Cooperation does not mean surrender. Where Taraba’s security, resources, dignity or welfare are involved, I will defend the interests of our people,” he assured.
Governor Kefas also disclosed that his administration had introduced a six-month Social Investment and Poverty Relief Programme, Taraba CARES, to tackle the effects of hardship on citizens.
According to the governor, the programme will provide targeted food assistance, household support, temporary community employment, agricultural inputs, livelihood equipment, health and nutrition outreach, school-family assistance, emergency water interventions, and assistance to vulnerable older persons and persons living with disabilities.
The programme will run from October 2026 to March 2027.
The governor assured that Taraba CARES would not become a political sharing programme, saying it did not belong to the APC, Christians, Muslims or any particular tribe.
He explained that the programme belonged to vulnerable Taraba citizens who genuinely needed intervention, adding that selection must therefore be based on verified need, transparency and community accountability.