By Remi Johnson
Muktar Galadima, an aspirant seeking to represent the people of Wukari and Ibi constituency, has pledged to use legislation, collaboration and consultation to address the major development challenges confronting the constituency if elected.
He identified improving the living conditions of constituents, strengthening peace and stability, creating economic opportunities and addressing infrastructure and healthcare needs as key components of his proposed representation.
Galadima, an Urban and Regional Planner by training, and former Director FCT Department Development Control made the commitment while declaring his intention to contest the election in Abuja.
He said his decision was in response to calls from people of the constituency who believe that his experience, competence and network could provide effective representation .
He explained that the major concern motivating his aspiration was the zeal to bridge the inadequate representation of the voices and interests of the people of Wukari and Ibi, especially in social amenities, Youth Empowerment and affordable Healthcare delivery.
According to him, “The voices of the people of Wukari and Ibi has not been heard. So they need a credible alternative to the existing situation. That is why we are here.”
Galadima, who also disclosed that he had attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, said his vision for the constituency would focus on peace, unity and stability, while ensuring that the needs of young people and women receive greater attention.
He listed youth empowerment, women empowerment and job creation among the areas he intends to pursue through appropriate legislative interventions and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
He also promised to work towards improving access to affordable healthcare for constituents, stressing that legislation and cooperation would be central to achieving his development objectives.
On roads,Galadima who described the region as suffering from serious infrastructure deficits, pointed out the poor condition of roads linking Southern Taraba with neighbouring states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Our area is suffering infrastructural deficits. All roads to Southern Taraba are in poor condition.”
Galadima explained that although legislators do not directly execute projects, effective representation could attract development through dialogue, consultation, cooperation and collaboration with government agencies and other stakeholders.
“Yes, we are not executives. We are legislators, Inshallah ( by the Grace of God) . But through dialogue, collaboration, consultation and cooperation, we will attract development to our area by the special grace of God,” Galadima said.
Galadima also linked his declaration to the electoral timetable, saying the exercise was intended to formally inform constituents that he was prepared to commence the political process following the commencement of campaigns.
He said the declaration was “a response to the INEC guidelines that campaigns should start on the 19th,” adding that the purpose was to let constituents know that he was “ready to go and competent to be there.”
The PDP candidate also pledged to champion legislative initiatives aimed at facilitating the completion of the Ibi Bridge project, which was awarded in 2020 but remains uncompleted.
He also promised to strengthen community security through an inclusive approach that would localise security frameworks and enable communities to respond effectively to emerging threats affecting residents, farmers and businesses.
Also speaking, the Taraba Southern Senatorial Aspirant, Dr Jesse Adi Ashumate corroborated that
their vision is to improve the living condition of the good people of Taraba through legislation and collaboration as well as , promote peace and stability of the area.
Yes, we are not executives. We are legislators, Inshallah. But through dialogue, collaboration, consultation and cooperation, we will attract development to our area by the special grace of God. Dr Jesse said.
The aspirants urged constituents to consider their experience, competence and network as factors that could help advance the interests of Wukari and Ibi through effective legislative representation.
[8/21, 11:19 AM] RemiJohnson: Ashumate, Taraba South PDP Senatorial Candidate Unveils Roadmap
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.