By Queen Kunde
The Emir of Muri, Alh. Abbas Njidda Tafida has called on the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas to be open and transparent about the World Bank funded project Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, ACReSAL been implemented in the Nineteen Northern States, including Taraba State.
The Emir made this call at the just concluded Acresal Hybrid Implementation Support Mission and Stakeholders Consultative Forum held in Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital
He stated that ACReSAL programme implementation is been abused in the state, urged the Government to ensure monies meant for special projects were not diverted into personal coffers of bigwigs of the administration.
“I want to say this without apology to any one that the ACReSAL programme was seriously abused in Taraba State”.
We were disappointed because somebody was selfish. Everybody was taken his share including highly placed officials were beneficiary of the money so it became practically impossible to question anyone”.
“A governor of a state is a judge in a way. A judge takes a look at the past, the present and the future before taking a decision. There is no way the governor will make a good decision without looking at the past, the present and the future.
“Therefore, I want to call on governor Agbu Kefas to ensure that he gets everything right by asking questions on the previous activities of the program. The wrongs of the past should be brought forward not to punish anybody but for the purpose of asking questions so as to know what needs to be corrected or improve upon”
“The wrongs were actually done but we now have a purposeful, performing and committed governor, His Excellency Dr Agbu Kefas. He is working with capable hands like his deputy, Alhaji Aminu Alkali and the SSG. Therefore, we expect the right things from now.
“I urge them to give the people of Taraba State the accurate account of the total money that was send to this state for ACReSAL project”. He concluded.
The monarch who appreciated the eco-system of Taraba State, urged the ACReSAL Team to consider the arable land of the people of Mumuye at Zing Local Government Area and that of Gembu, Sardauna Local Government Areas of Taraba State and provide them with related projects that would enable them gain maximally from the unique yams and potatoes they produced for the nation.
In his speech at the occasion, Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas said his administration would not relent in its quest to restore the ecosystem of the degraded environment for food security of the state.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Alh Aminu Alkali, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for the ACReSAL Projects in the state and assured of its continuous proper implementation in the state.
Earlier, the commissioner Ministry of Environment, Taraba State Hajiya Aisha Barde said Governor Agbu Kefas is committed to releasing counterpart funding for the full implementation of the project in line with the mandates of the World Bank.
On his part, the National project coordinator, Acresal, Dr AbdulHamid Umar said the project is community-driven and community situated which requires a multi-sectoral approach and support for the success of the projects in the state.
Dr Joy Iganya Agene, Task Team leader for the Acresal project, announced that $2.7million (US dollars) have so far been sunk into the projects in Taraba State and solicited for better collaborations for effective implementation.