Dr Yakubu Tor-Agbidye is a grassroots emancipator and indefatigable tribune of the marginalized, the distressed and dispossessed of society who has traversed the political, professional and public service realms of the nation anthus emerging as a moral, proactive and benevolent force for the advancement of society in all positive ramifications. Having risen to the highest levels of academic, administrative and professional attainment as pioneer Head of Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University, Wukari, Dr Tor-Agbidye knows his onions and his words as the proverbial saying goes can be taken to the bank.
As a political avatar, Dr Tor-Agbidye has taken the electoral stage by storm, delving into partisan politics with the stated objective of transforming the lives and livelihoods of his beloved people for the better while kick-starting a revolution of sorts in the infrastructural, developmental and socio-economic fronts.
However, a bold reformer like Dr Yakubu Tor-Agbidye will definitely have adversaries, naysayers and ardent opponents who are hellbent on distracting and even derailing his populist project to take his people to the next level in the crucial scheme of things.
In this regard, those forces of reaction may have binded together to deter his political ambitions fearing that Dr Tor-Agbidye, the grassroots emancipator par excellence is on an irreversible path to demarginalise the people and jumpstart a social and moral rejuvenation that would threaten the ramparts of the oppressive cabal.
However, despite the shenanigans of the ‘powers that be’, a resolute Dr Yakubu Tor-Agbidye is not deterred from his historic mission and continues to plod diligently and relentlessly in his pursuit of the overall welfare of the denizens of society not caring whose ox is gored in the process.
As a staunch advocate of peace, unity and tolerance, Dr Tor-Agbidye has gone the extra mile in calling for a more balanced approach in tackling the ongoing inter-communal crises in parts of Taraba State including the southern zone where the Tivs and Jukuns have been engaged in violent clashes that have claimed the lives of many innocent souls over the years.
While hailing the dynamic Executive Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency, Dr Agbu Kefas for taking the bull by the horns to address the volatile situation, Dr Tor-Agbidye maintained that more ground needs to be covered before normalcy can return to the troubled communities: ‘On the recurring inter-communal crises, l have been looking forward to having a one-on-one meeting with our amiable governor particularly to raise the concerns of the Tiv people on those who have been displaced in lDP camps since 1st of April 2019, which includes many Tivs and other Taraba indigenes. We are concerned for all Tarabans in IDP camps and our wish is that they should be able and be allowed to go back to their homes to continue with their farming activities. lt is not right in this era of high food prices, for farmers to be displaced with no where to go and farm, further escalating the soaring costs of food prices. So l am making this solemn appeal to Governor Agbu Kefas on behalf of the Tiv people who are displaced in lDP camps and also urging the state government to curb the practice of herdsmen herding their cows to farms to eat up food and cash crops. This leads to the destruction of crops and formenting of crisis here and there. The government should introduce the modern system of cattle ranching were cattle are reared in an enclosed place for better beef products and secure food and cash crops’.
Indeed, Dr Yakubu Tor-Agbidye, former Distinguished Member of the Governing Council of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has said it all, he is as solid and dependable as the Rock of Gilbatrar and as constant and consistent as the Northern Star and as a brand new year, 2025 ushers in, we wish him, his family and associates the blessings, protection and divine guidance of the Almighty God in the crucial days and years ahead.