Former Southern Taraba Senator, Dr. Emmanuel Bwacha, has pledged to rescue Taraba State from what he described as “unprecedented indebtedness and bad governance” if elected governor in 2027.
He made this position known during a press briefing in his Jalingo residence on Tuesday, following the presentation of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship nomination and expression of interest forms to him by the Taraba Youth Vanguard.
The former senator lamented the deteriorating debt profile of the state, claiming it had risen to over N1.6 trillion in three years without any tangible projects to show for it.
“It is unfortunate that after three years of misrule, there is no single project one can point to that has a direct impact on the lives of citizens,” Bwacha stated. “The present administration has received more funds from the Federation Account, and from donor agencies, than the combined administrations of Rev. Jolly Nyame and the late Governor Danbaba Suntai, yet those leaders built hospitals, stadiums, and roads, and left lasting legacies.”
Bwacha warned that if urgent steps are not taken, the state’s future generation would be mortgaged through excessive borrowing. “It is high time we rescued Taraba before we mortgage the future of our children,” he said.
Bwacha, who is now a governorship aspirant under the PDP, also promised to reunite the party. He explained that he left the PDP in 2023 due to internal crises and contested under the APC without adequate consultation. “Now I have enough time for wider consultations with religious leaders and all party stakeholders so that Tarabans can decide collectively in 2027,” he added.
The governorship hopeful pledged to run a transparent and accountable administration, stating that all funds accessed by his government, whether from the Federal Government or international donors, would be made public. “Tarabans must know how their money is being used. We will be prudent in service delivery and ensure our mandate benefits the people,” he assured.
Responding to journalists’ questions on his area of focus, Bwacha outlined his priorities as agriculture, education, healthcare delivery, youth and women empowerment, and infrastructural development. “Agriculture will be the bedrock of sustainable development, education the cornerstone of progress, while health services will be improved to benefit all citizens,” he said.
On political leadership in the state, Bwacha called on the people of Taraba, both at home and abroad, to respect and honour Elder Statesman, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma. “He is the father of all Tarabans. Politicians must not disrespect him. In another sense, all politicians in Taraba are political sons and daughters of Rev. Jolly Nyame. Anyone who disrespects him risks attracting God’s wrath,” he cautioned.
He expressed gratitude to the Taraba PDP Youth Vanguard and urged young people in the state to join him in “rescuing Taraba from the burden of debt and bad governance.”
