Vice President Osinbajo’s Working Visit to Taraba: Merits and Prospects

By Hassan Mijinyawa

 Thursday 24th August 2017, will remain remarkable in the history of Taraba State as well as a major notch in the ongoing Rescue Mission of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.

His Excellency, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo graced the state on a one-day working visit to commission three out of the numerous projects by the administration of Arc. Darius Ishaku.

Jalingo literally stood still for the august visitor as the people turned out in their numbers to welcome him from the airport and lined up along the streets as he waved in response to their gesture. Beyond the excitement, however, was the appreciation by the people for the great work the Governor has committed himself to do amidst them and the honored presence of the nation’s leadership in recognition of his humble strides.

The three projects on the itinerary of Mr. Vice President were the Greater Jalingo Water expansion scheme, Kona dual carriage road and the greenhouse project.

Once the Vice President landed at the Danbaba Suntai Airport and was received by the Governor, His Deputy, Engr. Haruna Manu, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah and other distinguished State dignitaries, the entourage proceeded straight to Mile Six, where two massive overhead storage water facilities are domiciled. The site is a symbolic representation of the expanded network of water facilities with its source from a mini dam over River Lamurde and traversing the length and breadth of Jalingo metropolis.

The water reservoirs located in Mile six, Roadblock, College of Agriculture and mount Jalingo have the capacity to hold twenty eight million litres of water to serve households within the metropolis and environs. Mr. Vice President acknowledged that it was a landmark project looking at the value of potable water to humanity and thereafter commissioned the project.

The second port of call was the commissioning of the road from Jalingo to Kona fully funded by the State Government, now wearing a new look due to the commitment of the administration of Governor Ishaku. What makes it even more appealing to the visibly elated people is the fact that a federal road will receive such attention from the Governor at a time when they never imagined the dream of a tarred road becoming a reality for them.

The Vice President also acknowledged that this feat by the Governor is a proof of a leader with the people’s interest at heart to embark on a project that has tarried for close to four decades.

At the Greenhouse, Prof. Osinbajo took a tour of the facility and saw assorted ready vegetables of the greenhouse, which include cucumber, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, and pepper. He acknowledged that he was impressed with what he saw and asserted that Nigeria’s potentials for becoming a major exporter of fresh farm produce was possible if more of such greenhouses would be established with the same passion as Taraba’s.

His excitement about the success story was visible and the crowd also caught the excitement fever as he led them to give Governor Darius Ishaku six thunderous acclamations for the feat. He promised the support of the Federal Government for Taraba to ensure the realisation of its vision for food sufficiency as we explore opportunities in agriculture.

The commissioning ceremonies were culminated by a meeting held with Osinbajo and stakeholders from Sardauna local government at the Council Chambers of Taraba State Government House before his departure for Abuja later that evening. The visit thus lasted for a day but the dividends surely span beyond the events recorded; it is a cornerstone for the ongoing building of an economically viable Taraba envisioned by the administration of Gov. Darius Ishaku. What then are the key matters?

First, the earlier appeal for support of the FG on the greenhouse project received a positive response from the Vice President. The completion of six more hectares of the greenhouse to cultivate other varieties of vegetables requires additional funds if the full output capacity will be realized. The Vice president noted that they were looking out for serious States to partner in exploring opportunities in agriculture and Taraba has proven itself to be one of such partners.

This is captured in his words, “I am particularly impressed with what His Excellency, the Governor is doing here, looking at the various opportunities in agriculture and trying to provide the facilities; even building the roads, linking one agricultural hot belt to another, moving from one to the other. I can assure you, Your Excellency, that the Federal Government will support you in every way”.

If anyone felt Taraba was obscure and the greenhouse project was insignificant, he should have a rethink, because a new dawn is here.

Secondly, the avenue for job creation, enhanced methods in agricultural practices by farmers and larger markets for produce is underway with the recognition gained by the noble policies of Gov. Darius Ishaku. This has been demonstrated by the success story of the greenhouse which many had hitherto perceived as an investment without prospects.

A third impact of the visit is the physical assessment of the road projects and the high possibility of prompt refund by the Federal Government so that the State can use the resources to embark on further projects for the benefit of Tarabans.

The Governor’s action has again proven that his administration has well mapped plans for the socio-economic transformation of the State. It is a call to all Tarabans to galvanize support for the Rescue Captain, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku and contribute in our individual ways to the realization of our collective goals. Moreover, it reinforces Federal Government confidence in the administration of Governor Ishaku, meaning it can be trusted.

At the end of the historic visit, it is indeed a moment for Tarabans to count their gains and look forward to the realization of more dividends of the rescue mission of Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku. If they were in doubt of his capacity to make a difference in his development agenda, this is the time to erase such doubts.

 Mijinyawa is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Taraba State.