A pressure group, Taraba Central Zone Youths Coalition For Peace, Justice and Social Development has allege that the central zone of the state has been marginalized in appointment of ministers since the return of democracy 1999.
Leader of the group Alhaji Bakare Dorofi alongside his members while addressing journalists in Jalingo, the state capital urged President Bola Tinubu to break the jinx by considering the area for ministerial appointment when he would be appointing news ministers into his cabinet.
Dorofi noted that the central zone was the first geopolitical zone in the state to have identified with the All Progressive Congress (APC) and has since remained the area where APC used to garner more votes for all presidential elections since the inception of the party in 2015.
Dorofi further revealed that out of 13 ministers appointed from Taraba state by successive presidents, 9 were appointed from the southern zone while 4 of them were from the northern part of the state, leaving the central zone with no single ministerial position.
“Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, Obadiah Ando, Selome Jankada, Idris Waziri, Joel Ikenya, Baba Adi, Bako Zaku and the recent past governor of Taraba were appointed ministers from the southern zone of the state.
“Dr. Muhamed Shata, Senator Aisha Arhasan, Engr. Saleh Mamman and Sambo Jaaji were all from the northern zone of the state, we the people of the central zone have not for once benefited from the post while we give the highest votes to the party in the state.
“Going by analysis, the central zone have produced APC senator for two terms, (Sen. Abubakar Yusuf) currently, we are the only zone in the state that have produced 4 APC members at the state house of assembly, figures never lied, we gave the highest votes during the recent presidential election from the state.
“The people have reasons why they vote; if their aspirations are not attended to, they may be tired of coming out to cast their votes in coming elections, we have Mambilla Hydro Power Project unattended to, is our hope that if a minister is appointed from the zone, the project would be given a priority.
He pleaded with the Tinubu led administration to appoint a minister from the zone to motivate the populace and balance the power sharing.
