By Eleojo Samuel Jalingo
What is happening in Taraba State today, no doubt is suggestive of a state whose resources has either been mismanaged or diverted by the Governor living the treasurery empty with no single kobo to run its Affairs.
It is observed that the epileptic absence of Dr. Agbu Kefas from the state for the past three months was a pointer to the fact that all is not well, an indication that there was no resources to work with.
Aside from this, all ongoing projects initiated by the Governor Kefas administration have come to a stand still as there are no funds to pay contractors.
The debt profile of the state is alarming and there is just no single project executed by the Governor since his assumption of office. The administration has not constructed even one kilometre of road since it came on board one and half years ago.
Indeed, the much celebrated achievement of the Governor within one and half years is in the area of free education. Even that is viewed by many as mere window dressing owing to the fact that all the other benefits attached to the policy were empty promises.
It is a known fact that within the past one and half years, Governor Kefas through the State House of Assembly collected Bank loans amounting to over N250 billion.
The loans were indeed, tied to some specific developmental projects which include, urban and rural roads, basic infrastructure, building of hospitals among others.
Also, the Governor promised to utilize the loans to uplift the standard of living of Tarabans including remodeling Jalingo township to a modern city, to be better than what he met on ground.
Ironically, the Governor had subverted every known process of governance to his personal advantage and at the expense of the state. For the past one and half years, the Governor has refused to implement budgets legally passed by the State House of Assembly and wilfully make litany of empty promises to embark on projects that were neither budgeted for nor approved by the legislature.
Most shocking is that the N250 billion loans which were strictly tied to specific projects meant to run for four years of his first tenure was said to have developed wings within one and half years, thereby rendering the state bankrupt.
It is noteworthy that the activities of the state, including some minor constructions have been abandoned by the contractors for lack of funds. These minor projects includes, re -modelling of government house, construction of Trade Fair complex, reconstruction of ALGON House.
Other projects include the reconstruction of the Presidential Lodge, Renovation and construction of Hostels at college of Agric Jalingo, Renovation and completion of school of Nursing Jalingo, Building of Government Science Secondary school, Jalingo.
Also the contract for the construction of Trailer park at Panti Navu Jalingo, Renovation of Green House often referred to by many as a conduit pipe for siphoning funds, construction of Wukari International Yarm market, and many others.
Already, over N2. Billion has been released to a fictitious contractor for work on the Green House. As stated earlier, many view the green house as a conduit pipe through which Billions of Naira were siphoned by the past administration of former Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.
The question on the lips of the people of the state that is demanding for answers now is why have these projects stopped and abandoned by the contractors?. Also the people are asking to know the whereabouts of the N250 billion loans meant to service the state projects for four years?.
Worrisome of all is that these Bank loans which are expected to be recovered from the monthly federation account to the state has made it difficult for the government to even pay monthly Staff salaries. The balance after the loan deduction is usually not enough to pay salaries.
It is uncovered that the State will have to wait and survive on monthly over- draft from the banks before payment of monthly salaries.
Investigation further reveals that Billions of Naira monthly allocations to the sixteen local government areas are also diverted monthly to service the bank loans.
More shocking is the diversion of N460 million each released recently to sixteen local government areas by the federal government as intervention funds and signature fees.
While some states like Nasarawa and others disbursed the money directly to the local government areas, Governor Agbu Kefas allegedly diverted that of Taraba totalling N7. 360 billion to pay lecturers of Taraba State University who have been on strike since November last year over non-payment of their six months salary arrears and other allowances while the rest of the money developed wings.
Again, the state government recently diverted the sum N2.3 billion Naira from the local government joint account with the Bureau for local government and Chieftaincy Affairs with the purpose of purchasing 10,000 metric tons of assorted grains for storage in the government Wharehuses.
Investigation reveals that no single ton of the said grains was purchased and found in the Wharehuses, while the N2. 3 billion allegedly developed wings.
Recently, the state government promulgated a law compelling traders coming to Taraba State to purchase grains to pay the sum of N1000 for each bag as revenue to the state.
It is discovered that since businessmen and women have been trooping to the state to purchase trucks of the grains, Government was expected to generate huge sums of money as internally generated revenue running to hundresds of millions monthly but such funds are allegedly diverted to private pockets by officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and board of internal revenue.
Also, at the state Ministry of Agriculture, over N2.billion was released for the purchase of Tractors to farmers during the last rainy season, but the said money was allegedly diverted while only about 30 numbers of Tractors were delivered to the state just as a diversionary tactics and cover up for the deals.
Another N2 billion Naira allegedly released to the Agriculture ministry for the purchase of fertilisers before the last rainy seasons equally developed wings as farmers waited for the fertilisers in vain.
To perfect all the diversions of funds, the office of the Accountant -General, in the State ministry of Finance and Bureau for local government and Chieftaincy Affairs have been accused and fingered as accomplices for the odd jobs.
The governor had engaged in an insidious process of cowing, marginalising and impoverishing the people, so much so that now no one has the confidence and the resources to fight back. Everyone looks at the government for survival.
Governor Kefas allegedly diverted part of the funds of the state to his personal use, thereby purchasing almost half of Jalingo, the state capital to himself.
At least the Governor within one and half years in office has purchased almost all the lands and houses around Muslims Council, Mallam Joda, and Technobat Quarters areas of Jalingo, including building hundreds of estates in Abuja, the federal capital.
The Governor has also mortgaged all sources of revenue of the state to payment of bank loans. He globetrottes frequently with some selected members of his cabinet, in the name of wooing foreign investors to the state..
It is most disgusting that Governor Kefas who shortly after assumption of office in may 2023 adjudged as transparent and promising by the people of the state is now rated as the worst Governor ever produced for Taraba State.
More disturbing is the allegations that Governor Kefas has allegedly refunded over N100 billion out of the Bank loans of over N250 billion to his political Godfather, a retired general from the state as part of the money he expended during the Governor’s elections in the general elections in 2023.
It is alleged that when the said political Godfather spends N50. Billion to bankroll elections for his political Godsons, he receives three times of what he expended.
As for the State House of Assembly, the Governor has already taken enough steps to pocket the members and subvert their activities, the executive Council is made of commissioners who are novists who without experience. Thus they are only seen as yes-boys of the Governor.
The fear by the people of the state now is, how will Governor Kefas run the Affairs of the state should the federal government commece direct allocation to local government areas in February.
But Governor Kefas appears to have provided answers to most of the questions when he recently declared during the presentation of award of Students friendly Governor by the National Association of Nigerian Students NANS in Jalingo.
The Governor while replying his critics said “I heard people complaining that I am not working and not executing projects, such people are just in a hurry. What I am doing now is to simply lay a foundation for in-coming Governors to build on” he said.
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Hon. Emmanuel Bello debunked all the allegations against Governor Kefas.
“Taraba is not broke. I don’t know how anyone can say that. Our IGR has improved considerably. This is due to the hard work of the sagacious governor and his team.
Besides, Governor Kefas is tapping into various sectors in the state to make it practically self-sustaining. We are blocking loopholes and reinvigorating the investment sectors.
Works on ongoing projects have not stopped. In fact, this is the year of infrastructural development in roads and bridges. Our 2025 budget shows just how.
If any project has stopped, it is only for technical reasons, which includes reevaluation of work done and reappraisal for further works. It is just a break and not an abandonment of work.” He said