By Remi Johnson
Dr. Jesse Ashumate, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Taraba South, has unveiled a development roadmap anchored on unity, peaceful coexistence, infrastructure, healthcare, youth and women empowerment, and agricultural development.
Ashumate, who spoke during a press briefing, said his mission was to build a united Southern Taraba where residents could live in harmony and enjoy the dividends of democracy through improved infrastructure and economic opportunities.
“My mission for this journey is to ensure that we have a Southern Taraba that is united and that they live in harmony, and that the people of Southern Taraba enjoy the dividends of democracy in terms of infrastructure and also in terms of empowerment, to ensure that our women and young people are empowered economically to be self-reliant.”
He said his legislative agenda, if elected, would focus on attracting government institutions, projects and programmes to the senatorial district, particularly those capable of directly improving the lives of residents.
According to him, Southern Taraba has suffered recurring crises involving different communities and ethnic groups, making peaceful coexistence a major priority of his proposed representation.
Ashumate said legislation would also be deployed to improve security and strengthen social cohesion, stressing the need for policies that would protect all communities from domination or marginalisation.
He further promised to prioritise healthcare infrastructure, particularly in remote communities, while ensuring that existing health facilities were adequately staffed with qualified personnel.
“For instance, infrastructure development in terms of health services. We would ensure that we build health facility in the remotest areas of the Southern zone, and also we will strengthen the health facilities by ensuring that health manpower is available in this area.”
The PDP candidate also identified youth and women empowerment as critical components of his roadmap, saying government programmes should provide financial support and opportunities capable of helping young people establish and expand businesses.
He described Southern Taraba as predominantly agrarian and said agriculture remained a major avenue through which the region’s young population could achieve economic independence.
“Taraba South is a Nigerian region, and I believe that agriculture-related activities, if they are promoted, the youth of the Southern zone will be economically empowered.”
Ashumate also promised to advocate for government institutions, including research institutes, to be established in Southern Taraba, arguing that such institutions could improve agricultural productivity, increase crop yields and create employment opportunities.
He said his ultimate objective was to create an egalitarian society where residents could freely pursue their economic activities and have direct access to government projects and opportunities.
“So in a nutshell, we want a society that is egalitarian, where people can work freely, where people can engage in their different economic activities, and also where people can benefit directly from government projects.”
Ashumate, who is an indigene of Ukari Local Government Area, said his professional and public service experience had prepared him for the senatorial contest.
He said he studied medicine at Ahmadu Bello University, obtained a master’s degree in public health from the University of Nigeria and became a fellow of the West African College of Physicians.
He also said he had worked as a principal medical officer in Taraba State health facilities and served as Director of Health Services at the Federal University Wukari before becoming Commissioner of Finance in Taraba State for two tenures under the immediate past administration.
The candidate said his previous experience in government had demonstrated that youth empowerment and employment could be used to improve the economic wellbeing of communities.
He appealed to voters in Taraba South to support his vision of a peaceful, economically empowered and developed senatorial district, promising to use legislative representation to attract projects, institutions and opportunities that would directly benefit the people.