The Acting Deputy State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Taraba State, Comr. A.D. Kitan, has said the 2027 gubernatorial election should be a conversation about the future of the state, not a contest of personalities.
Kitan stated this in an exclusive interview with journalists in Jalingo, where he outlined the party’s agenda for the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APGA chieftain said his involvement in politics was inspired by the need for good people to participate in leadership and bridge the gap between the enormous potential of Tarabans and the limited opportunities available to them.
“My decision to participate in politics was inspired by a simple conviction: if good people remain spectators, they leave the responsibility of leadership entirely to others. Politics should not merely be about seeking positions. Politics should be about solving problems, representing people and creating opportunities,” he said.
Speaking on APGA’s plans for the state, Kitan identified three most urgent problems the party intends to tackle as economic opportunity, basic infrastructure and public services, and security and agricultural productivity.
According to him, government cannot employ everybody, hence the need to create an economy where agriculture, small businesses, agro-processing, entrepreneurship and private investment can create sustainable employment.
He added that the party’s candidate, Hon. Danjuma Usman Shiddi, popularly known as Danji SS, has placed significant emphasis on comprehensive water programmes, improvement of healthcare and education, and rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in line with APGA’s manifesto.
On security, he noted that no economy can grow where farmers cannot access their farms safely, stressing that APGA proposes stronger cooperation among government, security agencies, traditional institutions and communities, alongside intelligence and early-warning mechanisms.
On how APGA intends to contest against established political parties in the state, Kitan said the party’s strategy is “people before politics, grassroots before rhetoric, and issues before insults.”
“We are not going to build our campaign around attacking individuals. We intend to take our message directly to the people, listen to their concerns, and explain clearly what APGA is offering,” he said.
He disclosed that APGA has already activated a campaign structure covering the 16 local government areas of the state, with dedicated responsibilities for mobilisation, youth, women, communications, and community engagement.
Kitan stated that APGA’s representation will not treat youths simply as tools for election mobilisation but as the workforce, entrepreneurs, and future leaders of the state.
He said the party’s approach will focus on skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, agricultural value chains, small businesses, and private-sector investment.
For women, he said the party will pursue programmes beyond symbolic empowerment by providing access to skills, productive assets, financing opportunities, markets, and training to build sustainable businesses.
“Our objective should be measurable: how many young people acquired skills? How many businesses were supported? How many women moved into sustainable enterprises? That is how empowerment should be measured—not by the number of ceremonies held,” he added.
On what Tarabans should expect if the party is elected, Kitan said the first 100 days will not be about making unrealistic promises but about establishing direction, fixing urgent problems, and demonstrating seriousness about results.
He said the proposed approach under Danji SS is to undertake an evidence-based assessment of critical sectors including water, schools, primary healthcare, roads and bridges, security, agriculture, government finances and ongoing projects, and then establish measurable priorities with timelines.
He maintained that government money is public money, and citizens have a legitimate right to demand accountability.
In his closing remarks, Kitan called for peace, unity, and responsible leadership, adding that Taraba needs leadership that will harness its agricultural potential and hardworking population for development.
“Our message is one of peace, unity, development, and responsible leadership. We want a Taraba where every citizen—regardless of ethnic, religious, geographical, or political background—feels that government belongs to them,” he said.
