Emmanuel Bello
After a hiatus occasioned by humanitarian considerations, Taraba state strong man, Dr. Agbu Kefas finally moved to the All Progressive Congress (APC), effectively becoming its chief driver in Taraba state. The highly coveted title of the leader of the party in the state also goes to him. For a man who is seen by some as a young initiate in politics, Governor Kefas has continued to stun those who think they understand politics. Kefas, a well trained intelligence officer, has mesmerised those sneering and winking at his moves. His steps have been guided by wisdom and his utterances, balanced by understanding.
Characteristically taking everyone by surprise on a Sunday, Governor Kefas left the naysayers wondering what just hit them. Sundays are not normally known for political events, but then Dr. Kefas is an iconoclast. There is no decoding what his next move would be like a practised chess player. While everyone was looking to January 2026 for a grand event, the intelligent officer of a politician made the move on a quiet sunday afternoon at the Government House, Jalingo. In an instance, the brief ceremony rolled away doubts and restored confidence. No one saw it coming. These deft subterrenean moves are indeed veritable skills needed in the shark infested waters of politics.
Invariably, with Sunday’s defection, Governor Kefas takes the entire structure of the APC in the state. He is the leader who, alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be deciding the fate of APC in Taraba state. He is not a stranger to the ruling party. From his swearing-in to today’s official movement, the keen observer that he is, Governor Kefas, had sat in the front seat of politics carefully studying situations. While in the PDP, Gov Kefas had played pivotal roles in the party at the state and national levels. He was the leader of the delegation that led PDP to victory in the Bayelsa state governorship election, for instance. He was at the forefront of searching for solutions to many of the internal issues in the PDP.
However, a nationalist and pragmatist that he is, Governor Kefas, has always looked at the larger picture. Above all, he is more concerned about the state – what will benefit the citizens more and how he would attract development. One of the ways he intends to do this is to engraft the state to the centre.
Consequently, the sunday event has sealed that. Taraba is no longer a state in opposition. Our amiable governor is now a member of the powerful APC (Progressive) governor forum with all the implications of this new status. Moreover, Governor Kefas will now work harder to continue to benefit from the FG Renewed Hope agenda from an assured position than before. With all that is ahead, it is obviously clearly a new dawn for Taraba politics.
Bello is the Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communications to Governor Kefas
