By Ahmed Abubakar
Acting Governor of Taraba state, Garba Umar, has joined the race for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial ticket in Taraba state for next year general election.
Umar said the action is premised on the quest to consolidate on the achievement he recorded in office and to complete projects inherited from his boss, Governor Danbaba Suntai.
The acting governor made the disclosure when he returned his expression of interest and nomination forms at Wadata House, the secretariat of the PDP in Abuja at the weekend.
Umar, who took over from Suntai in an acting capacity following a plane crash in September 25, 2012 that involved the Governor, has been in charge of the affairs of the state; even as the Governor recuperates.
He explained that on assumption of office, he took inventory of all the projects initiated by his boss and ensured that contractors were mobilized to enhance speedy completion.
“Contrary to speculation, I did not abandon projects started by my boss; none of the contracts were terminated.
“I have continued projects by my boss before embarking on new ones” he added.
He however eulogized the National chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu for sustaining what he called internal democracy in the PDP, adding that Mu’azu has given all party members irrespective of geo political zones, a sense of belonging within his short stay in office.
He therefore called on party members to support the leader of the party and President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation agenda, which according to him, could trigger the development Nigerians have been yearning for.
On sectarian violence, Umar called on the citizenry to eschew violence, saying no meaningful development could be accomplished in an atmosphere of mayhem and upheaval.
The PDP governorship aspirant in Taraba state was among other aspirants who thronged the party secretariat at the weekend to beat the party’s deadline for submission of form.
It would be recalled that PDP had earlier fixed Saturday November 8 as final date for the return of forms for aspirants eyeing the party’s governorship and National Assembly seats.
But in dramatic turn of events, the party backed out; following a review of its timetable for the primaries and extended return of governorship/ National Assembly and presidential aspirant’s forms to November 14 and 15 respectively.
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