By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, has raised concerns over what he described as the alarming level of borrowing by the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas.
Bwacha spoke during the flag-off of his campaign in Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State, where he called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
He said citizens had the right to know how government resources were being spent, particularly when the state incurred debts.
“When public resources are committed through borrowing, citizens are entitled to ask what lasting value is being created. The Debt Management Office has reported an alarming level of borrowing running into billions of naira in Taraba State,” he said.
Bwacha disclosed that in June 2026, the Taraba State Government and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development signed three financing agreements reportedly valued at approximately $268 million.
He said the agreements covered an integrated industrial park, 10,000 hectares of irrigated rice production and modern processing facilities, as well as a 50-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant in Jalingo.
“The appropriate questions are straightforward: What has been drawn? What has been spent? What value has been created? What jobs have been generated? What assets will remain for future generations? And what repayment obligations will ultimately fall upon the people of Taraba?
“Public borrowing must be accompanied by transparency, accountability, value for money and measurable public benefit. There is no meaningful development without a clear vision,” he said.
The PDP candidate said Taraba needed a government that connected with communities, strengthened public institutions, created opportunities and translated the state’s resources into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
He listed agriculture, infrastructure, security, education, healthcare, employment, enterprise and human capital development as key areas requiring attention.
On agriculture, Bwacha said the state needed to move beyond production by investing in infrastructure, processing facilities and other services that would enable farmers to benefit more from their produce.
“Taraba has enormous agricultural potential, but production is only the beginning. We must strengthen rural security, improve roads serving agricultural communities and facilitate the movement of perishable goods from places such as Lau, Karim Lamido and Sardauna.
“We must also invest in storage, processing, packaging, transportation and export.
“Our yam, rice and other agricultural products must receive greater value beyond the farm gate. We must develop agro-processing zones and value chains that enable local farmers to participate more fully in the modern agricultural economy.
“The farmer who plants the yam should participate in the prosperity created from that yam. That is how we move from an agricultural state towards an agricultural economy,” he said.
Bwacha promised that his administration, if elected, would prioritise good governance, quality education, functional healthcare services, job creation and accountability in public office.
He called for a renewed commitment to the development of Taraba State, urging residents to reflect on the state’s current position and the future they wanted to build.
The PDP candidate maintained that public office was a position of trust that required leaders to demonstrate responsibility, transparency and a commitment to delivering tangible results.
He added that governance should go beyond political promises to include effective service delivery, improved living standards and policies that directly addressed the needs of citizens.
“As we begin this political journey, we must refresh our dear state, Taraba. We must reflect on where we stand today and where we want to go,” he said.
On education, Bwacha emphasised the need to provide children with access to quality learning in a conducive environment, describing education as a vital tool for individual and societal development.
“I hear people talking about free education, and every time I hear it, I laugh and cry because they don’t understand what is really at play,” he said.
He also criticised the state government’s performance, alleging that public funds were being mismanaged.
“There is not a single sector that has improved in Taraba. They steal our money, take it through the window to Abuja, and then smuggle it to an island I don’t want to mention,” he alleged.
On healthcare, Bwacha said hospitals needed adequate facilities and medical equipment to attend to patients, particularly during emergencies.
He also stressed the need to expand employment opportunities, arguing that the government must use public resources responsibly and implement policies that improve people’s welfare.
According to him, public office requires leaders to prioritise governance, performance and responsibility to the people rather than politics alone.
Bwacha’s campaign message in Zing centred on accountable leadership and the need for a government that placed the interests of the people above personal considerations.
He called for a development-driven approach that would expand educational opportunities, improve healthcare delivery and create an environment where citizens could access meaningful employment.
He said candidates should demonstrate how their promises would translate into practical solutions to the challenges facing Taraba State.