Jesse Adi Challenges Jimkuta Over N350m Bete Road, N500m Women Training Funds

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Taraba South Senatorial District, Dr Jesse Adi Ashumate, has challenged the incumbent senator, David Jimkuta of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to explain the status of N350 million reportedly provided for the construction of Bete Road and N500 million earmarked for women’s training in Southern Taraba.

Adi raised the issues on Sunday in Wukari while formally flagging off his campaign for the Taraba South Senate seat.

The PDP candidate also alleged that his political opponents were using anti-corruption agencies to harass and investigate him, insisting that his business dealings were legitimate.

“They will continue doing that and will get tired. They will suffer and get tired because I did not eat anybody’s money,” Adi said.

He challenged those questioning his activities to investigate his businesses, which he described as clean.

Turning to government-funded projects, Adi asked Jimkuta to account for the N350 million he claimed was provided for the construction of Bete Road.

“Ask them, where is the N350 million that was provided for the construction of Bete Road?” he asked.

Adi also questioned the implementation of a women’s training programme in Southern Taraba, alleging that N250 million was budgeted twice for the project.

“For the women in Southern Zone, there was a budget of N250 million times two that was supposed to be used for their training. Was there any training for the women in Southern Taraba?” he asked.

He further alleged that official records indicated that the project was ongoing despite what he described as the absence of the corresponding training programme.

Adi said his decision to raise the issues was aimed at demanding accountability over public funds.

The PDP candidate used the campaign flag-off to outline his intention to contest the election on a platform of accountability, transparency and responsible leadership.

He said the event was “more than a campaign event,” describing it as a renewed call for accountability and an opportunity to highlight what he termed interventions that had directly affected constituents.

The campaign flag-off attracted supporters and party members from parts of Southern Taraba.

Adi said the turnout demonstrated what he described as strong public interest in the election, adding that his campaign had officially commenced.

Jimkuta, who is seeking another term on the APC platform, is the incumbent senator representing Taraba South Senatorial District.

The allegations concerning the Bete Road funds and women’s training programme could not be independently verified from the information available at the time of filing this report.