Opening up Taraba for development through peace

SAMUEL OGIDAN looks at the relative peace being enjoyed in Taraba state and the effort of acting Governor Garba Umar at ensuring speedy development of the state

For some time now, the health challenge of Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai of Taraba state, caused some moments of disquiet in the governance of the state. The trend was almost disrupting the peace of the state as well as hindering its development. But there came an intervention by Taraba Peace Initiative(TPI), led by Bishop Charles Yohana. The group is made up of men of noble character drawn from the two faiths.

The peace move became imperative following believe in some quarters that some people or group were being denied and deprived of their position as the number one citizen of the state.
Briefing journalists at the  media awareness tour organised by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) led by Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau state, Bishop Yohana explained that the state House of Assembly mandated the deputy governor, Garba Umar  to act pending when  Suntai fully recovers.

He said: “Taraba state has been peaceful because the acting governor has been going round to ensure there is peace between the ethnic groups. The peace initiative has been going round to encourage our people to live together. There is understanding between Christians and Muslims. The acting governor never rested, he has invested so much in peace. We have no problem, no violence, no war.

“People misunderstood the situation. When the executive governor came back from treatment, the House of Assembly mandated the deputy governor to act pending when the governor recovers.

“The initiative has been going round telling the Christian brothers and sisters that they were not deprived, though some people have whipped up sentiment. As part of our responsibility, we have been going round to enlighten our people that we must live together and tolerate one another.”
Sharing similar position, the state Commissioner of Police, Kafafite Adeyemi, confirmed the peace in the state, adding that the story of Fulani attacks were no longer there as the security agency is fully in control.

This subsisting peace in the state  has made it possible for the acting governor to embark on some developmental projects, which in a way led to an increase in the state’s revenue base.

Umar who emerged acting governor on November 14, 2012 by what could be described as sheer providence , was appointed deputy governor barely three weeks before his boss got involved in the unfortunate air crash. His appointment followed the impeachment of the former deputy governor.
However, within 509 days he took over as the acting governor, Umar has demonstrated his capability as a man of uncommon character, completing all projects put in place by Suntai.

A visit to the Jalingo airport attests to his determination to  bring the dividends of democracy to people of the state. Explaining to journalists the position of the airport, which was started by the administration of Jolly Nyame, the airport manager, Joshua Dauda assured that by April this year, the airport will commence operation.
“Very soon the airport will start operation. The state government has acquired two planes for commercial purpose. We are going to expand the runway to 3.5 kilometres. Right now the runway is 2.4 kilometres and we will add additional 1.1 kilometres. This is the first time we are going commercial,” he said.

Also  revitalised was the College of Nursing and Midwifery, a project which started in 2008 and still ongoing and to be completed before the end of the year. Briefing newsmen, the project quantity surveyor, Judge Fai explained that the acting governor revisited it to accommodate about 1,600 students last year. It was observed that the work on the project started within the period the acting governor commissioned 500 bed capacity Hon. Haruna Tsokwa Memorial Hospital in Takum local government.
Fai explained that the vision behind the enormous size of the nursing school, which he described  as one of the best in the country, was to attract students from other parts of Nigeria.

Explaining the functionality of the school, the project quantity surveyor said the nursing school has two blocks of lecture theatres for male and female that would accommodate 1000 students each, adding that the school, which will be completed this year with immediate commencement of school activities has four blocks of study classrooms that would accommodate 400 students each.

He said: “The acting governor revitalised the project that was abandoned last year. The project is intended to be completed ending of this year.”
Speaking on the 500 bed capacity hospital named after the late Speaker, the principal medical officer in charge of the hospital, Dr. Ubanus Ezekiel, revealed that the hospital project was abandoned until the acting governor intervened, pointing out that the last medical facility that happened there was in 1992.
Asked what has been the driving force for peace in Taraba state in the midst of insecurity in some part of the North, the acting governor, while briefing journalists disclosed that dialogue with stakeholders has been the secret.

“In actual fact, we were able to involve dialogue. Stakeholders were really involved, the emirs and chiefs. Recently we had a little problem- the Tiv /Fulani conflict that was on last week.
“Some of the Tivs were driven down to Taraba from Benue state by the Fulanis but luckily enough we were able to sit with the Fulanis and the Tivs and they were able to understand themselves. That shows that in Taraba we need peace and we are living in peace and everyone is involved really,” he said.
On his efforts at ensuring development of the state, he recalled: “While I was in Saudi Arabia, I was able to have a chat with the Saudi/German hospital and they have assured me that as soon as the project is on stream they are going to site about 200-bed hospital here.

“So for Nigerians to go to Saudi Arabia for medical care will be a thing of the past by the time this hospital is on stream.”
On the Taraba airport, Umar said “I don’t know whether you are aware that we have been able to procure two aircrafts- Embrayo 145. Each of them is a 50-seater aircraft and we are trying to put these aircrafts to use. Very soon they will start operating.

“Our problem has been that we have 2.4 kilometer runway and these are jets that require 3.5 kilometer runway. I have started extending the airport runway and we are making arrangements with Overland airline that is operating in Bauchi and hopefully, by April they will start operating from here.” “By the time we are able to finish the runway our own aircrafts will be ready. Of course with this development, our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) will really improve and our economy will stabilize,” the acting governor assured.
With these developmental efforts put in place by the acting governor and more so as 2015 is around the corner, it shows that sky is the limit for Umar, who has demonstrated absolute loyalty not only to President Goodluck Jonathan but also his ailing boss.