Bt Godwin Agia
The Agbu Kefas Continuity Movement has criticised a recent video by former Senator Abubakar Tutare, describing his remarks as evidence of a self-serving ambition and an outdated approach to governance.
In a statement issued on Monday in Jalingo, Taraba State, and signed by its Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Ardo, the group said the video exposed what it described as Tutare’s real motive for seeking the governorship of the state on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.
The group said the former lawmaker’s comments suggested he viewed public office as an avenue to reward political associates rather than serve the wider interest of the people.
Tutare, in the video, compared the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas with that of former Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, alleging that contracts under the previous administration were awarded to people outside Taraba instead of friends and associates within the state.
He said his administration, if elected governor, would ensure that the state’s resources were used to develop Taraba and benefit its people.
Reacting, the Agbu Kefas Continuity Movement said the comments reflected frustration rather than leadership.
The group noted that Tutare had served as a member of the Taraba State House of Assembly, commissioner, Secretary to the State Government and senator, but argued that he had little to show for his years in public office.
“What Tarabans saw in that video was not leadership. It was frustration, the frustration of a career politician who has spent decades in power but struggles to point to enduring impact,” the statement read.
It added that a politician with such a long record in public service should be able to point to tangible achievements rather than rely on criticism of the current administration.
The movement also dismissed Tutare’s assessment of the state government, insisting that the Kefas administration had recorded measurable progress in education, payment of outstanding gratuities to retirees and completion of abandoned projects.
It warned against a return to what it described as an era in which public resources were allegedly controlled by a privileged few, insisting that Taraba had moved beyond such politics.
The group further defended the state’s security record, saying the situation had improved significantly under Governor Kefas.
It recalled that there was a period when many communities, including those linked to prominent political figures, were difficult to access because of insecurity.
According to the group, the current administration has made notable gains in restoring security across parts of the state, adding that such progress should be acknowledged rather than distorted for political purposes.
