Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Agbu Kefas emerged as the winner of the Taraba gubernatorial election held on March 18, 2023. He contested on the platform of People’s Democratic Party. Kefas was born on November 12, 1970 in Wukari Taraba State. He attended Nigeria Defense Academy in Kaduna where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Defense studies in 1994. He proceeded to the University of Ibadan for his Master’s degree in Legal Criminology and security psychology. He also got another Master’s degree in Public administration from Delta State University. He attended Harvard Kennedy School where he earned a certificate in Executive Education Senior Executive in National and International Security. Kefas served in the military for 21 years before retiring. Upon retirement he was appointed Chairman Governing Board of Directors Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency between 2013 and 2015. In 2020 Kefas became the State Chairman of the PDP in Taraba State. In 2022, he became the flag bearer of the PDP for the 2023 gubernatorial election. In March 2023 he was declared winner of the election with 257,996 votes, defeating close rival parties NNPP and APC. In this interview, he said Taraba will find every available means to pull out of any labeling. He also sheds light on the age long challenges facing the state as well as his government’s resolve to ensure lasting peace returns to Takum town which has been without a traditional ruler for some time. Excerpts:
Since you became governor, you have been in the news as an active and almost revolutionary figure in the state. What is the motivation?
Well, I’m committed to good governance and democracy. My strong conviction is that good governance is only possible with the support of the people.
After all, democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. So our policies are centered on the people. Everything we have been doing is for the citizenry. Free education policy for instance is to open up the space so that every child can access qualitative education that will release their potential. We are building people and re-energizing the state. Every policy comes with its own challenge but we keep improving on it with good leadership and technology.
Free Education at the lower levels is complemented with slashed tuition fees at the tertiary level. This has greatly cushioned the effect of the current economic downturn as wards and parents are really grateful. Leadership exists for this kind of thing: improving the lives of people.
Some will say all these require heavy funding…
Yes but then Taraba State is not a poor state. We refused to be on a lockdown like when COVID locked the world down. We managed to come out of that lockdown.
In Taraba State, we refused to be locked down again and will find every available means to pull out of any labeling. We reject the appellation of a poor state. We are tapping into our God given natural resources. With the type of diligent work we are doing in mineral resources and agriculture we believe we can earn more to be able to meet our commitments.
Our focus is very clear, opening up the state for investment drive. And our seriousness is starting to yield fruits. Investors have seen our sincerity of purpose and are showing strong interest. It is only a matter of time we shall start seeing the dividends.
Recently, security agents in the state spoke of the support they received from you…
Yes we need to support their work. My overall goal is the peace of the state and its unity. When we came in, it was easier to start trading blames but we did not. Ours is to conceptualize an idea and begin to find creative ways to achieve it. Not a cheap way. I believe in conflict resolutions.
Peace and unity is one way to achieve many things. So while we have law breakers, we also have law enforcement agents. Funding their activities and providing tools for them to work well is very key and we have been doing our best. We carry everyone along because security is a collective thing.
Why are you intervening in a matter many past administrations have largely ignored or glossed over to avoid trouble; that is the Takum local government Chieftaincy?
Well past governments, I believe, did not ignore it. I think it is safe to say they saw the problem and tried to micro manage it as best as they could. To be clear, here is a problem that has lingered on for over two decades and is hindering any meaningful development of Takum.
Basically since the last traditional ruler passed on, Takum local government has remained a town without a first class ruler. And traditional institutions are very important. They are the natural rulers that we go to for advice and even to pass on government policies that affect the local communities. We also partner with them for overall security in their domain. The current situation of Takum is there is no such ruler. Who do you hold responsible for any breach of peace? Who is the custodian of the people’s culture and heritage?
But since Takum seemed to have managed well without a paramount ruler or a first class ruler, why change the situation?
No, Takum hasn’t been fine without a well-defined traditional institution. I disagree with you. Today, the people have been displaced from their homes due to banditry attacks. I want to return IDPs to their ancestral homes. Only peace can make this happen. If you knew Takum before these entire crises, you will agree it was a beautiful place.
Takum was so full of life that many people flocked there but what do you find now? Hatred and mutual suspicion. That’s at a personal level. At a general level, Takum is going through a serious insecurity crisis, creating refugees everywhere. When I came on board, I started making my findings.
I then noticed the cause of the problem. In fact the youths themselves helped me with an answer. They said in a press statement that the problem of Takum emanated from this Kingship issue.
That it is because the place has no paramount ruler that Takum has become a very dull place to be and scattered by insecurity. So all the crisis could be traced to this one phenomenon, empty throne.
Now solving this problem won’t be easy. The years have come and gone. And three different tribes are genuinely convinced that it is their right to ascend the first class throne. The Kuteb in particular have latched into history and records to continue to make a case that they “own” Takum. Don’t forget that the Kpazon and Chambas also made a good case.
It was then clear to me that they all could not agree and that has been the basis of this problem. Everyone has his own history to tell. Histories are great but they are basically meant to help in solving problems. We cannot be stuck in history in the face of prevailing realities. So while history will guide us with relevant information, we have reality to also contend with. And the reality now is that the government needs to intervene to end the merry go round problem.
The Kutebs are alleging that you want to favour the other tribes over and above them.
This is no longer an issue of favoring one tribe against another. We had to find a creative solution to the crisis. The tribes themselves cannot find a solution as they are all fighting each other over the issue. What to do? Decision making! First and foremost, we decided the three ethnic groups should first have a third class chief each. Then the government will decide on the first class position among them on a rotational basis. We have since passed a law at our state House of Assembly on the issue. All these are geared towards finding amicable resolutions to conflicts.
“In Taraba State, we refused to be locked down again and will find every available means to pull out of any labeling. We reject the appellation of a poor state. We are tapping into our God given natural resources. With the type of diligent work we are doing in mineral resources and agriculture we believe we can earn more to be able to meet our commitments”
But is this the best solution?
Do you have another? Only the government can solve this problem and the rotational system is one that can do it. All the three contending tribes will have a third class chief and the government will decide among them who to make the paramount ruler. When the King passes on, another tribe will ascend the throne. No one will be marginalized.
Oftentimes, we have to make sacrifices to be able to solve problems. This time calls for greater sacrifice and I’m calling on everyone to be their brother’s keeper. Let’s be sacrificial.
But were the stakeholders carried along on this solution?
Very well. We have consulted widely. Like I have been saying, I owe the elders respect and the youths an explanation. But as a governor, I have a problem to solve. I have been having a series of meetings with them.
In all my meetings, I tell them these things. They all agreed with me that we must find a solution to the problem. And I have told them that peace and security is very central to the development of Takum. Many things are taking place in Takum. A university is coming up. An airport and a three star hotel are being planned. The Kashimbilla dam is there and many other things. The town needs peace and security.
It would be irresponsible for the government to sit back and not do anything about it. We now have a solution backed by the laws and historical facts. I have been saying that let us give this solution a chance. If it doesn’t work, we can actually redo it. It is within our powers to do the right things.
Moreover, development is above all: jobs, facilities and progress. Takum local government can be revived again to be the center of peace and unity.
My aim is to foster this and restore Takum to what I used to know about the place in my childhood days.
Kutebs are alleging marginalization and persecution because they did not vote for the PDP in the last election.
No. But let us assume that they did not vote for us, we still won the election. That also tells you a lot. That is politics for you but now it is the time for governance. Government belongs to all. Like I said, the problem has lingered over time and a solution is needed. The people themselves cannot be left with the crisis alone or the management. Government must wade in and that is what we have done.
As for marginalization, I have Kutebs in my government and we are working together. I have a commissioner from Ussa local government. We have many highly placed Kutebs sons and daughters in government. This is not vendetta or ethnicity.
I have a problem to solve and I’m solving it to the best of my knowledge and abilities. I said in one of my meetings that I should be given the benefit of the doubt. No need to take up arms to fight when aggrieved because the law will take its full course. No one has been denied their natural rulers but the first class office is a decision by the government and we are taking it.
On a personal note, this is not the first time I’m encountering these issues in my work.
At the Niger Delta, I met such a crisis with tribes at loggerheads. Today, largely through our interventions back then, they are relatively living in peace together to make way for development in the region. Unity and peace are very essential for development. That’s my mission in Takum.
