Taraba State Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, has challenged Governor Agbu Kefas to identify a major project executed by his administration, saying he would withdraw from the 2027 governorship race if such a project could be shown.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Bwacha warned against Taraba State’s proposed new loan from the ECOWAS Bank, expressing concern that the funds could go the way of previous borrowings while accusing the state government of failing to deliver visible development despite receiving hundreds of billions of naira in allocations and loans.
“I made it clear at the commencement of my campaign that if I can see a project of $10 billion in place in the state, I was going to step down from the race.”
He questioned the management of state funds under Kefas and outlined his plans for Taraba if elected governor in 2027. “We are aware that in the history of this nation, this is the very first time that a lot of money has been released to the foreign state.”
Bwacha said his decision to contest was driven by what he described as a lack of development rather than personal ambition. “Because my focus of coming to the race is not for my personal gains. It’s to ensure that the evidence of democracy is in the state.”
He challenged the administration to account for its spending across key sectors, including agriculture, health and education.
“Go on. If there is any, I should be told. And I said to him, show me a project worth 10 billion, from the hundreds of billions that I put to you, all the sectors, agriculture, health, education, and what have you.”
Bwacha clarified that he had not specifically said a $268 million loan disappeared. “What I intend to do differently is to instil an honest, transparent government in place. That nothing will be done under the wraps. What we receive from federal government will be publicised.”
He also said his government would work to increase internally generated revenue by developing the state’s economic potential and reducing its dependence on federal allocations.
“We will intensify inclusive, internally generated revenue. We want to ensure that we explore the potentials of the state and see how we’ll be able to live as a state without depending on federal government.”
Bwacha criticised the state government’s free education policy, arguing that the programme could not be considered a major achievement if pupils lacked adequate classrooms. “When students are learning without a roof on their heads, and you call it free education, to me it is an embarrassment, a humiliation.”
He also called for better roads to connect farming communities to markets, saying. “We need roads that will open up communities to market that will add value to their product, agricultural product. But this is not happening.”
Bwacha further accused Kefas of making promises without delivering results. “He is known for promises that don’t really work. He speaks and doesn’t mention us where it works.”
Bwacha recounted that his proposed administration would prioritise inclusive governance and make room for advice from people with relevant experience. “You say you cannot be advised because you are a military man. You don’t need anybody’s advice. Then why do you appoint advisors?”
He disclosed that Taraba had the resources to grow through agriculture. “Taraba has potentials. Minerals, agriculture, all these areas are looking to explore. Even in mineral deposit, this is being done to benefit a few.”
Bwacha said he returned to the PDP and entered the governorship race because he believed the state needed a different approach to leadership and development. “The PDP, as I know, had been the only party in the state that had won the elections. When I became disappointed in the performance of the party, I had to leave and I decided to come back and contest, because you need to put a point.”
“I have a reason to believe that something can be done differently.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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