Senator Emmanuel Bwacha has declared his intention to contest the Taraba State governorship, citing deepening hardship, rising debt, and what he called a “lack of transparency” in governance.
Bwacha, who was on the ballot in 2023, made the declaration in a statement on Wednesday, saying the decision followed “wide consultations and repeated calls from across the state.”
“I would not contest again if the dividends of democracy were truly reaching the people of Taraba. Sadly, that is not the case. The hardship has deepened. The suffering has increased,” he said.
*“Governance Driven by Self, Not Service”*
The former senator said Taraba “stands on the brink,” accusing the current administration of fiscal irresponsibility, waste of public resources, and poor economic planning.
“What we see goes beyond challenges. We see a lack of transparency. Disregard for the rule of law. Fiscal irresponsibility. Waste of public resources. Poor economic planning. Broken promises,” he stated.
He said the state’s debt profile had risen from about N237 billion in 2023 to “over a trillion naira today,” raising “serious concerns about prudence, accountability, and leadership capacity.”
Bwacha noted that under the late Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, Taraba was “on a clear path of progress” before October 2012, but began to decline after the governor’s plane crash.
“Today, governance has drifted away from the people. Public service has been replaced with self-serving interests. Poverty has worsened. Infrastructure has decayed. Insecurity has spread across our communities. Agriculture has weakened. Scandals have become frequent,” he said.
*Six-Point Agenda*
Bwacha unveiled a policy agenda focused on education, agriculture, economy, healthcare, digital innovation, and civil service reform.
He pledged to invest in teacher training and staff welfare, build agricultural value chains to connect farmers to markets, and “responsibly harness” mineral resources for the benefit of all.
On healthcare, he promised functional health centres in communities and stronger delivery systems. In the digital economy, he said his administration would partner with telecom providers to expand internet access and create opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
He also committed to building sporting hubs, connecting communities with roads, and carrying out civil service reforms to ensure fair compensation and restore “pride in public service.”
*“Not Ethnic or Religious Answers”*
Bwacha said his vision is to restore Taraba to “a place where every citizen feels a sense of belonging” and where leadership serves the people.
“We will welcome accountability. We will encourage constructive criticism. And we will reject divisive politics,” he said.
“Let us not seek ethnic answers or religious answers. Let us seek the right answers. Our future must not be shaped by division, but by shared responsibility.”
Quoting Abraham Lincoln, he added: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
*Truth be told*, Bwacha said the road ahead would not be easy but insisted that “with courage, transparency, and inclusiveness, we will overcome.”
“This is more than a political journey. It is a moral responsibility,” he said, calling on Tarabans to join him to “rebuild trust, restore dignity, and create a future defined by justice, prosperity, and hope.”
