Favour Ishember, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday flagged off its campaign for Southern Taraba, in Abuja, with two candidates promising jobs, peace, agriculture and massive infrastructure renewal as the antidote to years of division and neglect.
Speaking a day after INEC opened the campaign season on August 19, Dr Jesse Adi Ashumate, PDP Senatorial Candidate for Taraba South, and TPL Mukhtar Usman Galadima, PDP House of Representatives Candidate for Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency, said their focus will be legislation, collaboration and direct empowerment.
Dr Ashumate said his agenda starts with the young people who he described as the engine of the zone’s economy.
“That will ensure that our young men are reached by programs that will empower them either financially, or that will boost their businesses,” he said. “Taraba South is a Nigerian region, and I believe that agriculture-related activities, if they are promoted, the youth of the Southern zone will be economically empowered.”
He cited his record as former Honorable Commissioner of Finance in Taraba State, saying the office delivered tangible results.
“We have empowered the youth. We have employed a lot of our youth into different government agencies. I think on my record we have over a hundred people employed into different agencies. Some of them are even federal agencies. And by so doing, we do not have people that roam the streets that will even create problems in our society.”
Ashumate added that he will “sponsor bills that’ll bring about the development of Southern Taraba through a collaboration,” with the goal of an egalitarian society “where people can work freely, where people can engage in their different economic activities, and also where people can benefit directly from government projects.”
A major plank of Ashumate’s message was reconciliation. Southern Taraba, he noted, is home to diverse tribes where past divisions have fueled lingering crises.
“We will make sure that there is unity among the different tribes, because they are diverse tribes in the Southern zone… over the years, people have perpetuated the different divides so much that the crisis that has been lingering has not been able to be resolved. But I hope that by the grace of God, if I get this position, we will blur this line to ensure that we live in harmony with one another.”
Speaking for Wukari/Ibi, Galadima said the campaign is a direct response to constituents demanding representation.
“This is a response to a clarion call by the people of my constituents, that based on antecedents of my experience, competence, and network in the field, and they believe so, that I stand a good chance to represent them,” he said. “The voices of the people of Kade at PDP has not been heard. So they need a credible alternative to the existing situation.”
Echoing Ashumate, he said his vision rests on “legislation and collaboration” to deliver “peace, unity and stability in our area,” plus “empowerment to our youths, empowerment to our women, as well as job availability.”
Healthcare and infrastructure topped his list.
“Through legislation and collaboration again, there should be provision for affordable healthcare to our people,” Galadima said, adding that the area suffers “deteriorated infrastructural deficit.”
“All roads to Southern Taraba are in poor condition, taking from the Plateau State, and Angbo is the center, and from Plain as. So the issue is how we can improve the living condition of our people through legislation.”
He was clear on the role of lawmakers: “Yes, we are not executives. We are legislators, Inshallah. But through dialogue, collaboration, consultation and cooperation, we will attract development to our area by the special grace of God.”
Galadima disclosed two immediate intervention areas: a health facility and road/bridge links that have been left uncompleted.
“To be completed, because for now it has been abandoned. To be completed so that the state and part of the state is linked through Plateau State, Bauchi State, as well as FCT Abuja,” he said.
On health, he said after completion the facility will be linked to the National Health Insurance Scheme “so that our people can afford the facility, afford and also access the facility.”
“In a nutshell, health first, then the bridges,” he concluded. “These are my priority areas for now.”
Both candidates said the August 20 declaration was deliberate, coming right after INEC’s August 19 start date for campaigns.
“Why we are making this declaration today is a response to the INEC guidelines that the campaign should start from the 19th. Today being the 20th, we want to just mention that our constituents know that we are ready to go and we are competent to be there,” Galadima said.
For a better society
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
