Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, has asked residents to set politics aside and join him in praying for the quick recovery of his deputy, Aminu Alkali, who has been ill for several months.
“This is not a political matter; it is a human one,” Kefas said in a statewide broadcast on Monday, calling for collective intercession. “We must lift him in prayers.”
Quoting from both the Bible and Qur’an, the governor cited Galatians 6:2, “bear one another’s burdens”, and Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:32, “whoever saves one life, it is as though he has saved all mankind”, as guiding principles for the moment.
Kefas, a retired military officer, likened the situation to the esprit de corps he experienced in service, stressing the need for unity and compassion above political manoeuvres.
While acknowledging constitutional provisions for replacing an incapacitated deputy, the governor said he would only take such steps “if the need arises,” insisting that, for now, the focus must remain on care and support.
But Jalingo-based lawyer Bilyaminu Maihanci argued that sympathy should not delay lawful action. “This is not about removing the deputy governor out of malice; it is about ensuring governance continues within the law,” he said.
He reminded the governor and the State Assembly of their obligations under Sections 189 and 191 of the 1999 Constitution, warning that “conscience cannot substitute the constitution.”
The appeal has drawn mixed reactions across Taraba, with many residents holding prayer sessions for the deputy while others press for clarity on the state’s political future.
