2015: Umar will run for Taraba gov, aide says

Special Adviser to Taraba acting governor on political affairs, Senator Ibrahim Goje, has expressed confidence that Acting Governor Garba Umar will spring surprises in the state come 2015 with his level of grassroots followership and political strategies.

Goje, who said this in an interview explained that the acting governor has continued to win the acceptance of the people by the day, emphasizing that the swelling crowd of people around him in recent time was overwhelming and a sign of his popularity.

He said Umar is still taking his time to plan things well and equally wait in compliance with INEC’s approved timetable before he hits the ground running adding that the acting governor has so far been able to prove his capacity to govern the affairs of the state especially his ability in managing the ensuing political and communal crises as well as prudent management of state resources.

“His background is from the private sector; anybody who has worked in a company such as UTC must be a good manager. If you can manage resources well, you can equally manage people well, so I believe when he becomes a substantive governor of Taraba State, Tarabans are going to see wonders”, he said.

On the call for zoning of the governorship position to southern zone of the state, Goje said there was no provision for such constitutionally but rather on mutual understanding, adding people should put aside religious and ethnic sentiments and go for someone who will bring peace and development to the state.