Emmanuel Bwacha, the Taraba governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has faulted the planned privatisation of state assets by the state government.

Speaking with journalists, Mr Bwacha said the plans would only serve the interest of those in government to the detriment of the masses.

He said the Peoples Democratic Party-led administration in the state had failed in all sectors.

“In fact, the last-minute destruction is the most devastating because I am aware that even infrastructure that has been developed is now on the verge of being sold and the money taken by few individuals,” he said.

“Governance in the state has been thrown to the dustbin. The destruction is so much, and it’s still counting.”

Ezekiel Iliya, the managing director of Taraba Investment and Property Development, had said the government would privatise more of the state’s companies to build new ones.

The managing director also said the government intended to privatise its shares and equity to develop more companies.

Meanwhile, Mr Bwacha said his visit aimed to mend fences with APC stakeholders in the state toward a victory in the 2023 poll.

“Though I am in the state at the moment specifically for peace building among the aspirants who lost out at the primary election so that we can move forward.

“In Taraba now, our dear state, you will be in a tricycle and will not know that the rider is a

Special adviser to the governor,” he said.

Mr Bwacha lauded the release of the first civilian governor of the state, Jolly Nyame, following a presidential pardon by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Bwacha cautioned his supporters against thuggery and violence in the 2023 election.

“We cannot encourage thuggery because we are a people that have come to restore the glory of Taraba in the area of financial decency and good governance.

“All these are lost in the state. So we don’t want anybody to take us back. We shall define a new narrative where people will be happy and see governance as something for all,” he said. 

(NAN)