THE CHAMBA NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA

 

 

Taraba Deputy Governor Replacement & Allegations Lacking Substance

The Chamba National Youth Council of Nigeria wishes to clarify some misrepresentations about when the position of the Deputy Governor should, peradventure, be declared vacant.

The apex socio-cultural youth organization of the Chamba nation in Nigeria seeks to address the misinformation, misrepresentation, and misinterpretation of the constitutional provisions regarding the powers of the Executive Governor of a state when a vacancy arises in the office of the Deputy Governor. This may occur by virtue of Sections 188 or 189 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and the process of replacement or filling the vacant seat as enshrined in Section 191(3)(a)(b)(c) of the Constitution.

We are deeply concerned by how some individuals and cultural or tribal associations have chosen to destroy the bridges and cordial relationships that exist in our state as brothers' keepers—by building walls of discord and sentiment—regarding the replacement of a seat that has not yet been declared vacant.

We wish to draw the attention of our brothers in the Central and Northern zones of Taraba, particularly the Mummuye Cultural Development Association (MCDA) and its youth wing, to the fact that the joint ticket of Kefas/Aminu was not based on tribal affiliations but on the popular will of the majority of Tarabans. If the reverse had been the case, they would not have emerged victorious. As mentioned, even if you count Yorro, Zing, Ardo Kola, Jalingo, and Bali LGAs as your strongholds, had other tribes and LGAs chosen not to align with the moving train, the outcome would have been different.

It is worth noting that the current No. 2 and No. 3 citizens of Taraba State—the Deputy Governor and the Honourable Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly—are both from the Northern zone, specifically Zing Local Government Area, and both are of the Mummuye ethnic group.

This leaves the Central zone at a disadvantage, as His Excellency Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas hails from the Southern Senatorial Zone of the state.

Therefore, the Governor, as the first citizen of Taraba, is from the Southern zone; the Deputy Governor and the Rt. Hon. Speaker, as the second and third-ranking officials, respectively, are from the Northern zone—Zing LGA and Mummuye by tribe.

We are calling on our brothers and sisters of Mummuye extraction not to heat up the polity by mounting unnecessary pressure on His Excellency, Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, or dictating when, where, what, and how he should discharge his constitutional duties as the Executive Governor of Taraba State. According to Section 191(3)(a)(b)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he reserves the right to nominate any qualified or suitable citizen of Taraba who possesses the capacity and charisma to function effectively as Deputy Governor whenever a vacancy occurs.

If the Deputy Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Hamman'Adama B. Abdullahi, is found suitable, fit, and proper to function as Deputy Governor in the event of a vacancy—considering his pedigree, vast experience, and exposure in governance spanning over two decades—so be it. What all Tarabans, especially our beloved Mummuye compatriots, should be concerned about is that whoever the Governor picks should be someone who brings value and benefit to all Tarabans.

It is also important to clarify the misinformation that nominating a Deputy Governor from the Central zone would affect the position of Secretary to the State Government (SSG), currently occupied by a son of the Central zone from Sardauna Local Government Area.

It is on record that this is not the first time that the SSG and other second- or third-ranking citizens have come from the same zone.

The office of the SSG is an appointment by the Governor and is not part of the state's political office protocol sharing formula.

For instance, if one of the longest-serving members of the Taraba State House of Assembly since 2003, Hon. Hamman'Adama B. Abdullahi, is nominated as Deputy Governor when a vacancy arises, it would serve to balance the political equation of the state and ensure fairness—rather than marginalization as alleged by the Northern Senatorial District, which already houses both the Deputy Governor and the Rt. Hon. Speaker.

As previously noted, the Central zone is currently marginalized in the state protocol ranking.

In light of this, we condemn the actions of fifth columnists in our midst and urge them to desist from using the Secretary to the State Government, Chief G. T. Kataps—an appointee of the Governor—as a bargaining chip or preference for the exalted office of Deputy Governor, should His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, decide to nominate Hon. Hamman'Adama Borkono Abdullahi as Deputy Governor from the Central zone.

We want the SSG position to remain in the Central zone, still held by Chief Barr. G. T. Kataps.

We, the Chamba National Youth Council of Nigeria, express our unalloyed solidarity and support for His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, to exercise his constitutional duties without intimidation or interference from any individual or group under any name or affiliation.

We also advise our beloved compatriots—the Mummuye Cultural Development Association (MCDA) and its Youth Wing (MCDAYW)—to join us in praying for the quick recovery of the ailing Deputy Governor and for the progress of Taraba State, rather than promoting division and interference in governance.

Long live Taraba State.
Long live His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas, the Executive Governor of Taraba State.