Destined To Develop Taraba, The Story Of Gov. Agbu Kefas @ 53

Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, was born on November 12, 1970, in Wukari, Taraba State (the then Gongola State) to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Kefas. His family is renowned for great strides and achievements in the military and public service.

Agbu is a younger brother of the late Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas, who served as the military governor of Cross River State between December 1993 and September 1994. Ibrahim also served as the military governor of Delta state in 1996 during Gen Sani Abacha's military rule.

The Kefas family from Wukari, the ancient city of Kwararafa Kingdom, has been recorded as the first family that ever produced two governors in the history of Nigeria, after the Adeleke family of Ede in Osun State.

Agbu Kefas is a product of some of the most reputable institutions of learning in Nigeria, namely, the Nigeria Defence Academy in Kaduna where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Defence Studies in 1994; the University of Ibadan in Oyo State, where he bagged a Master's degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology in 2005; and Delta State University Abraka, where he obtained a Master's degree in Public Administration in 2008. Also, he has a number of prestigious 'executive' education certifications from global institutions like Harvard Kennedy School in the US.

Kefas Agbu is married to Patience and they have four children. He served in the military for 21 years before retirement and was appointed the chairman, Governing Board of Directors of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) between 2013 and 2015.

He capped his foray in politics as the State PDP Chairman. During these periods, he was able to prove his mettle.

Therefore, when the primaries of 2023 came, he emerged the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having got the nod for this position. Dr. Agbu did not leave any stone unturned to sell his candidature to the people of the state as he traversed every nook and cranny of the state, talking the people about his policies and programmes for them.

In the gubernatorial election of March 25, 2023, the people of the state came out in their large numbers to cast their votes for him, particularly against the background that they knew he was capable of transforming their lives and the state.

He was announced winner of the poll, having beaten the other contestants hands down. And, in accordance with the Electoral Act and the Constitution of Nigeria, he was sworn in as other state governors who were sworn in on May 29, 2023.

At his inaugural speech at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, venue of the swearing in, the governor reiterated his campaign promises that he was going to meet up with the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state in the area of Education, Security, Agriculture, Health, Water Supply and Sanitation, Rural Development and Employment.

For the fact that a tree cannot make a forest, the governor has painstakingly appointed his principal officers and member of the state Executive Council who are ready to support him to succeed, with these men on his team, the People's expectations have been high with a conviction that he is going to match his word with action, being a principled man.

For instance, the issue of illegal Minning which has been a source of worry has been drastically tackled since the governor set up a powerful task force headed by retired General Jeremiah. A. Faransa to combat illegal mining and illegal felling of rose trees in the state and setting up of a mobile court to try offenders which has already arrested 3,500 illegal miners.

In the area of Education, Governor Agbu Kefas has declared free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school. He has also provided free uniforms, Sandals and writing Materials for pupils of primary schools, slashed school fees for students of the school of nursing and midwifery and the Taraba State University by 50% which other state governors are emulating. He has also remobilized contractors handling the school of nursing and midwifery projects.

In the area of Agriculture, the government of Agbu Kefas has procured 950 tractors for farmers in collaboration with Czech Republic to enhance Agriculture.

In the area of Sanitation, the governor has engaged the services of 10,000 women and youths who sweep the whole streets in Jalingo metropolis to keep Taraba clean.

In a related development, the governor, being a security expert, with his military background, has visited all the security agencies' headquarters in Nigeria, soliciting their support and cooperation. He has also revamped the Taraba Marshall to enhance security in the state.

In his determination to improve the economy of the state, the governor has set up a committee to carry out an independent assessment of the assets of Taraba, both movable and immovable, either in the hands of people or abandoned across the country to recover them for the government.

Kefas was also able to convince both the rural and urban citizens in the state of his ability to make education free and compulsory for every child in the State, while promising quality healthcare for women and children as well as provisions of good healthcare services.

While recently hosting the Nigerian Youth Council, he promised 95 per cent of fresh and young people in his administration. That promise is a reality as the Governor has made history by becoming the first to appoint more women in his cabinet and a majority of his commissioners are young people.

With his youthful age and timely opportunities in the Nigerian politics, it is expected of the governor to tackle the challenges being faced by the people of the State headlong in order to shape his political future.

It is, however, a known fact that Kefas inherited huge amounts of debt from his predecessor, Governor Darius Ishaku, ranging from domestic and foreign debts and loans accumulating to over N200 billion.

Other areas of concern are non-payment of pension, local government salary arrears, unemployment, unsettled communal crises and disputed appointment of traditional rulers, which recently sparked crisis in Karim-Lamido, resulting in killings and destruction of properties in the area and other chiefdoms. It is important to state that Governor Kefas is already handling it with the debt reschedule strategy. Already, local government staff in the State have received their salaries with their minimum wage, what looked impossible some years ago. History was made when he ordered for enrolment of those not captured in the local government pension. Check shows that within the little above five months in office, Kefas has enrolled over 300 people and the smile on the faces of elderly people has no bounds. 

The Governor is already writing his name in the good book of politics and appears ready to accomplish his promises made during the campaigns by providing healthcare, returning internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes, revamping the agricultural sector, and introducing free education for all children in the State.