Hardship has deepened, our people suffering – Bwacha
Former Senator Emmanuel Bwacha Raises Alarm Over Living Conditions in Taraba State
JALINGO, Taraba State — Emmanuel Bwacha, the former senator for the Taraba South Senatorial District, voiced concerns on Thursday about the deteriorating living conditions in Taraba State. He claimed that hardship among residents has intensified significantly.
During a speech in Jalingo, Bwacha announced his intention to run for the governorship in the 2027 election as a candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He criticized the silence of leaders in the face of these hardships, suggesting that such inaction could be seen as complicity.
“Hardship has deepened, and the suffering of our people has increased,” he stated. His comments come amid rising anxiety regarding economic conditions and governance in the state, prompting calls from various stakeholders for effective solutions to the challenges residents face.
Bwacha pledged to emphasize transparency, accountability, and development if elected. He expressed that his initial hesitance to run again stemmed from a hope for improved governance, but noted that conditions have only worsened in recent years. He criticized the current administration for a lack of transparency, fiscal irresponsibility, and an apparent disregard for the rule of law.
He also raised alarms about the state’s increasing debt, claiming it has escalated from approximately 237 billion naira in 2023 to over 1 trillion naira.
Reflecting on the past, Bwacha cited the administration of the late former governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai as a time of progress for Taraba, attributing the state’s decline to subsequent political instability. He lamented the state of infrastructure, an underfunded education sector, rising insecurity, and diminishing agricultural productivity.
“This is not the Taraba we deserve,” he emphasized. He called on the people of Taraba to reject divisive politics based on ethnic and religious lines, urging a united front for collective progress.
“Our future must not be shaped by division, but by shared responsibility,” he stated, echoing sentiments attributed to former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Bwacha characterized his candidacy as both a political and moral obligation, inviting citizens to join him in restoring trust, dignity, and prosperity to the state.
Bwacha previously contended for the governorship in the 2023 election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
