By Aga Samuel Imoter
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has commended the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, for marking his 58th birthday with a medical outreach designed to provide free healthcare services to vulnerable residents across the state.
Kefas gave the commendation on Friday when he received Yilwatda at the Executive Council Chamber of the TY Danjuma House in Jalingo during the APC chairman’s visit to the state as part of activities marking his birthday.
The medical outreach, organised by Yilwatda in collaboration with the Taraba State Government, is targeted at residents across the state’s three senatorial districts, with particular attention to indigent and vulnerable people in need of medical care.
The governor described the initiative as a “noble gesture”, saying Yilwatda’s decision to dedicate his birthday to humanitarian service demonstrated compassion and concern for the welfare of the less privileged.
According to Kefas, the intervention was particularly significant at a time when many vulnerable Nigerians continue to face challenges in accessing affordable healthcare.
He commended the APC chairman for choosing to celebrate his birthday by giving back to society and assured him of the state government’s support for initiatives capable of improving the wellbeing of residents.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for discussions on healthcare interventions, development projects, security and other issues affecting the welfare of Taraba residents.
Kefas, who reiterated his support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said ongoing Federal Government projects in Taraba were contributing to infrastructure development and strengthening security in the state.
He specifically cited the establishment of a Nigerian Army Division in Jalingo, describing the military formation as a strategic intervention that would enhance security in Taraba and contribute to stability across the North-East.
The governor also expressed confidence in the continued support of Taraba residents for the Tinubu administration and APC candidates in forthcoming elections.
He urged Nigerians to pay greater attention to development initiatives at both federal and state levels, particularly programmes addressing infrastructure deficits, insecurity and economic challenges.
Earlier, Yilwatda explained that he deliberately chose a medical outreach as part of activities marking his 58th birthday because he wanted the celebration to deliver tangible benefits to vulnerable members of society.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Kefas and the Taraba State Government for partnering with him to extend the intervention to residents across the three senatorial districts.
The APC chairman said political parties should not be defined solely by their participation in elections but must also demonstrate practical commitment to the welfare of citizens.
“Political parties should not only be about elections. We must also identify with the people and respond to their needs, particularly the poor and vulnerable,” he said.
Yilwatda said the medical intervention was part of his efforts to demonstrate the APC’s responsiveness to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
He recalled that he organised a similar medical intervention in Plateau State the previous year, adding that he intended to sustain the initiative and extend it to other parts of the country.
The APC chairman also commended Governor Kefas for joining the APC, describing the development as significant to the party’s political strength in Taraba State.
He highlighted various Federal Government projects across the state and said the Tinubu administration was implementing development programmes aimed at addressing infrastructure and other socio-economic challenges confronting Nigerians.
Yilwatda urged citizens, particularly those in the northern states, to take note of interventions in infrastructure, security and economic development and support programmes aimed at improving their living conditions.
As part of his engagements in Taraba, Yilwatda later visited the newly constructed Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) House in Jalingo, where he formally commissioned the facility.
The project was executed by the Taraba State Government,
the commissioning formed part of activities marking the APC chairman’s visit to the state and his 58th birthday celebrations.
The medical outreach is expected to provide free healthcare services to residents across Taraba’s three senatorial districts, with emphasis on indigent, vulnerable and less-privileged members of the population.
