Groups hail ex-Taraba acting governor at 70

The Taraba Peoples Assembly (TPA) and youths in the state have facilitated with its former Acting Governor and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Garba Umar UTC on his 70 birthday, saying he epitomise a model of good governance.
TPA coordinator, Martins Andekin in a press statement described Umar as an apostle of peaceful coexistence, whose influence cut across ethnic and religious divide because of his contribution to development of the state.
He said residents of the state will continue to acknowledge his wonderful contribution in stabilising the state during one of its most difficult moments in its history.
He said the state is in dire need of Garba Umar’s experience in delivering good governance to the people.
Andekin maintained that no amount of acrimonious and atrocious political hatred against Garba Umar UTC can remove the reality and achievement of his tenure in the state.
Andekin noted that if only for recruiting staff after many years of embargo on employments into the state civil service distinguished him as a worthy leader to be celebrated.
Also Spokesperson of the 2015 Taraba State PDP delegates, Bala Gassol said the people of the state are still mesmerised with his golden touch of governance witnessed in his two years administration.
“One thing you hear on the street is that the present administration is owing workers salary, in fact local government workers and primary school teachers are owed more than five months, this was not the case with UTC who prioritised the welfare of workers across board.
“How will workers in the state not celebrate the man who implemented 18,000 minimum wage for local government workers and paid backlogs of pension arrears in the state.”
He said his good gesture towards workers in the state recently earned him an award of excellence from RATTWU
He describe the former acting governor as a political colossus whose contribution to the state is immeasurable.