Taraba Guber: APC’s Anger, Taraba’s Benefit -By Musa Hammidu Gassol

Once upon a time there was a Dickson in Taraba State as its chief executive. The man, Yohanna Mamman Dickson (now late) was the second military administrator to be posted to the state to lay the foundation for the speedy development of the new state. Though, a military personnel who hailed from Kaduna State, the army colonel indeed played his part and left the state with no specular footprint. What the late Dickson did, what he did not do and why are entirely different issues for another day

Today, history is being made again as the state boasts of yet another Dickson. This, unlike the late Dickson, is a stakeholder in the Taraba project and is dully and overwhelmingly mandated by the majority of Tarabans to preside over the affairs of their state.

Perhaps, this is why this Dickson is very cautious, meticulous and focused in his utterances and actions since he took over the mantle of leadership about 8 months ago.

Like he has often said, “Taraba is our own and for all of us” irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations and it is left to us to nurture and protect it for our common good.

For a man who was born into a relatively well to do family and had himself attained an enviable position in the country by being a minister of the federal republic. Ishaku Dickson is by no means one of the dependable and reliable stakeholders in the project called Taraba.

One is therefore not surprise by the way and manner Dickson is piloting the affairs of the state since he came in.

Like our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari, who has defied all the shenanigans of the opposition party warlords as led by its embattled spokesman, Olisa Metuh, he has remained focused and determined to pursue to realisation, the policies and programmes of his party, the APC and its government had set for the country and its people. And so, it is, in Taraba and Dickson. Governor Ishaku Dickson, to the admiration of many, has refused to be distracted by unnecessary attacks and criticisms mounted by the opposition parties, especially by the APC in the state. The APC led by a dogged political horse in the person of Senator Aisha Jummai Al-hassan, has declared an unprecedented political battle against his person

Consequent upon this disposition, today the residents of Jalingo, the state capital who, for over a decade had lived under a perpetual state of scarcity of water now breath air of relief as they now enjoy it. The taps which had become dry holes for reptiles now flow freely with water in every household. In addition, the government is building a multi-million naira water tanker along the Mile 6 Area of the town which will supply water to the city and the neighbouring communities. Water, it is said, is life, so, while the APC continues to beat the drums of war against the PDP led-government, the later and its administration on the other hand, has continue to beat the drums of peace and meaningful livelihood of its citizens in the state.

The statement credited to a community leader, Mallam Hamisu Ali Mayogwai aptly presents the mood of most residents of Jalingo, ‘‘For us in Jalingo, we are so happy and grateful to Governor Ishaku Dickson for providing adequate potable water to us. Water, which had become gold to us is now available to all of us to access’’. The force and easiness with which the taps ara flowing in Jalingo nowadays with water makes it look as if the water is from the spring mountain of the Kilimanjaro in the Cameroons republic.

Again to prove that he has nothing to worry about the unwarranted attacks from the APC, Governor Ishaku Dickson and his administration has brought the incessant disruption of electricity in the state to a stop.. Aware that stable and efficient supply of electricity is key to any efforts at energising the economic system of the state, the governor entered into partnership with some electricity generating and distribution companies. And, today the result is the near 24/7 electricity supply to major towns like Jalingo, Zing, Wukari and Bali. A visitor coming into Jalingo for the first time could forget that he is in the north-eastern part of the country due to stability of electricity.

Artisans such as vulcanizers, barbers and welders, who, for many years had shut their businesses, have suddenly bounced back into active business, while many other similar small and medium scale factories have all re-opened.

Furthermore, another area said to be giving adequate attention by the PDP – led government in the State, according to findings is the construction of rural road network. For example, while arrangement is being finalised, to re-commence the construction of the Mararaba-Baissa –Abong road and the Jalingo – Lau – Karim – Lamido road, already, the road starting from Jalilngo to Kona is being currently dualised.

Apparently aware of the importance of adequate road network in most of the major townships of the state, Governor Ishaku Disckson has embarked on massive rehabilitation and construction of urban roads across the state. Unlike in the past, when millions of naira were often spent on the rehabilitation and construction of such roads network, this time, works on such projects are carried out by Taraba Road Construction and Maintenance Agency (TARCMA), an organisation created by the defunct Danbaba Suntai’s administration to undertake such projects mostly through direct labour.

Perhaps, it may not be out of place to use this opportunity to appeal to Governor Disckson to open the doors of his administration to a wider section of Tarabans resident in the state and in those in the diaspora. While I do not speak for any one or group, my appeal is premised on the fact that there are lot of Tarabans outside the state who are renown professionals in their respective fields of human endeavour, who could be galvanized into partnering with the state government for the betterment of the state.

It is true that, often political office holders like governors have always narrowed their attention to resident politicians who might have contributed to their elections success and thus need to reward them. However, there is nothing wrong, if a governor of a state decides to widen the scope of his administration by inviting qualified indigene of the state to exploit their rich knowledge and endowment for the speedy development of the state. Governor Nasir El-Rufai has done that in Kaduna State.

Time, it is now, for all Tarabans to come together and join hands with the present administration to find ways to rescue it from its present state of underdevelopment. The train to the promised land is big enough to accommodate everyone in the rescue mission. Tarabans have suffered enough; Time, it is now that they should also enjoy the good things of life like it is in other states of the federation.

– Gassol sent in this piece from Jalingo