BY CHUWANG DUNGS
Normal activities have returned in Jalingo the Taraba state capital after Governor Agbu Kefas accompanied by former governor Jolly Nyame and the Minister of State for Steel, Uba Maigari address protesting youths in Jalingo the state capital.
The youths in their thousands march to the government house gate chanting end to bad government.
Recall hundreds of Nigerians, mostly children and youths took to the streets of Jalingo the Taraba state capital on Thursday morning, joining the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
Armed with placards and banners, the protesters converged at the Ministry of Works Round About marching towards the Roadblock Fly over.
The demonstrators were shouting in Hausa Tinubu-Shettima bamuyi, meaning we don’t want Tinubu and Shettima.
As the protest became intense the protesters moved to the state government house.
Addressing the protesters, governor Kefas called on them to support his administration’s effort in creating job opportunities for youths in the state.
Mr.Kefas, who acknowledged the fact that there is hunger and suffering in the land, said it is his responsibility to make sure that the youths get the best in life.
He assured them that everything possible would be done quickly to help them and urged them to organise themselves in groups so that assistance could reach them.
He disclosed that before the year runs out, 90 percent of the youths will be empowered and engaged.
“I am introducing the education trust fund to provide loans to students in federal tertiary institutions with the approval of the state executive council. I will commit N2 billion naira to the fund. They are expected to pay the loan after securing a job upon graduation
“Youths will be trained on block molding with the newly acquired machine from South Africa, and they will be empowered to participate in the ongoing reconstruction of schools.
“The electric cars bought from China will soon arrive in the state, with the youths being the major beneficiaries.
“I have you in mind and would do everything possible to improve your living conditions. I urged you to cooperate and support my government.
He then encouraged the people to be their brother’s keepers and extend a hand of fellowship to the needy.
After addressing the protesters, the governor later met with some leaders of the protesting youths at the exco chamber.
Some of the youths who spoke their minds after the meeting said they were happy with the Kefas’s leadership style and pleaded with him to create platforms to engage more youths to be taken off the streets.
Immediately after the meeting the youths dispersed to their homes and normal activities returned to the state capital.
As at the time of filing this report many shops that were earlier locked, including beer palours, liquor joints, provisions and boutiques were opened as people were seen engaged in their normal activities with the heavy presence of security agencies.
