TARABA STATE AND THE LUCIFER EFFECT

#BEYOND_POLITICS

 

(from grace to grass) 

According to the Holy Scriptures, Lucifer was created beautiful. He even led the Heavenly choir, which means he was one of God's trusted allies. And to be in God's kitchen cabinet, you must have unmatched potential. 

Lucifer became so impressed with his own beauty, intelligence, power, and position that he began to desire for himself the honor and glory that belonged to God alone. This pride represents the actual beginning of sin in the universe. 

Taraba State, like Lucifer, was created beautiful, had unbelievable potential, and was believed to be one of the few States that could carry Nigeria, should she break down in the future. 

And like Lucifer, Taraba State, despite all her beauty and glory, was cast away from the presence of God, and is now the worst amongst God's creations. Because of pride, greed, and an unbelievable degree of leadership ineptitude. 

Taraba is Nigeria's largest producer of cassava, yet does not produce starch or ethanol. 

Taraba has Nigeria's largest tomato belt, but does not produce tomato paste. 

Since creation, Taraba and Tarabans have been talking about potentials, but never able to realize our potentials. 

Could it mean that we were created to celebrate mediocre standards, and accept the same as the best? Or we are just a crop of people who do not have standards after all? 

Because if we did, many of those we assume possessed leadership qualities, would have spoken up on our fall from heaven, or taken a stand to reposition the State on a path to reclaim her glory. 

If we had good leadership, wouldn't we be exporting our potentials and increasing revenue instead of importing loans which the future generation may not be able to repay? But who am I to even tell a government what to do? 

I am appalled each time I see how our governments produce dossiers on what they have achieved, or giant strides they have made in certain areas. But where are the results? 

I was nearly nailed to the cross when I wrote that Taraba was poor, and Tarabans are one of the poorest in the country. But recently, the facts and figures were published nationally, and the carpenters are mute. 

Who is responsible for our poverty? 

God has blest us. 

The people pay their taxes. 

The FG releases allocations monthly. 

There are successful businesses and individuals in Taraba, who are succeeding despite the abject poverty. How are they doing it? 

Like Lucifer, Taraban government also have smaller demons whom it sends on errands. To steal, kill, and destroy. That's why the economy will never grow, the crises will never stop, and the people will never be freed from the shackles of poverty. 

We are destroying every beautiful thing God gave us, by ourselves. Becoming poorer by it, and get angry at those who tell us the truth? Common!!! 

Nobody knows the number of Tarabans who have died from the crises in the State. Because the government turned a blind eye or played lip service. 

Nobody knows the number of Tarabans who are homeless, hungry, in captivity, or dying as a direct result of the insecurity. But the government is trying to build a new government house. How does that affect the lives of the wounded? 

If Taraba wants to regain it glory, I suggest we do the following:

1. Elect leaders with capacity and a sound sense of duty. 

2. Tackle the insecurity head-on without waiting for directives from the FG. If we would have a security checkpoint within every single mile on our roads in the Southern part, bandits won't be able to move and attack commuters freely. And also empower local vigilante groups with vehicles to patrol the hinterlands. 

3. Limit the size of the government. Some appointments are useless. We are losing money and gaining nothing from some political appointees. Some Ministries need to be merged, and new ventures created to mop up redundant staff of the government. 

4. The government must hand over tourism to the private sector. We would spend billions on renovating Taraba Motels, but our politicians will still run it down like they've always done. Making it permanent accommodation for their mistresses, or using facilities without paying. 

5. Instead of borrowing money to build infrastructures, let's market our natural resources to the same foreigners who're in the state, illegally mining and stealing from us. China wants timber, lead, graphite, and many other minerals. We could enter an agreement for them to lease our mines for a period, then we can use the money to build the lives of Tarabans. 

6. There are too many smart, jobless, business minded youths in the State. Organize an annual event where the ten best business ideas get a #10m Naira grant each, to build their start-up. Teach them and monitor their businesses until they begin to export whatever they produce. China started this 30yrs ago, look at their economy now. 

6. We must locally register all businesses in the State, and shut down those without proper certification. People cannot come into our State, make money, and leave without paying taxes. It kills the economy and lowers our revenue generation. 

7. Computerize our revenue system. Politicians are stealing our taxes without a trace. It has to stop. If we cannot generate revenue, we ultimately cannot develop the State. And if we are not developed, we are poor. 

8. Create employment through the promotion of sporting activities. Delta State just started three years ago, many youths from the State now represent Nigeria on the international stage. They have been empowered for life. 

Unlike Lucifer, we can rise again. Be champions again. Be great and beautiful again. But we must always shun political sycophancy and religious bigotry. And make good governance our only tribe. Then Taraba shall become the envy of the world. 

©JBZ_2020