Ishaku Rekindles Hope On Tea Producing Community In Taraba

THE history of Kakara community in Taraba State, a community which is richly endowed with one of the most sought after tea beverages (Highland Tea), would be incomplete without mentioning about the tea production.

Located in Mambilla Plateau of Sardauna Local Council Area, the tea company which was in the past relegated to the background by the previous governments has not only bounced back, but has as well begun to put smiles on the faces of the people of the community, the local council and the state at large.

The efforts to bring back to life the moribund tea company which had ceased to operate in the past due to lack of power, was initiated by the incumbent governor of the state, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, when he was the Minister of State for Power in the last political dispensation.

In collaboration with the United Nations High Commission For Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Ishaku, was said to have ordered the immediate resuscitation of the Tunga Dam which was lying waste in the said Kakara community.

The 400KW dam which was recently commissioned by the governor, is now not only supplying 24-hour power to the community, but has engaged hundreds of youths.

During his inaugural speech, Ishaku pleaded with the people of the state: “Give me peace and I will give you development”.

It would be recalled that the question that arose when the immediate past governor of Taraba State, Danbaba D. Suntai was leaving office as the number one citizen of the state, was whether the incumbent governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku would tread his (Suntai) path by giving the state the much needed growth, especially in the area of peace and employment.

During the commissioning of the dam, the governor who was visibly elated said the project is not only strategic to his agenda towards pulling the state from the dungeons of poverty to abundance, but vowed to judiciously make use of the numerous waterfalls available in Mambilla Plateau to generate power for the people.

When reached for comment, the governor through his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Slyvanus Y. Giwa, said the abandoned tourism potentials in the state, especially in the Mambilla Plateau, would be harnessed as that would boost tourism and the revenue base of the state.

The dream of the governor to make the tea beverage company a reality, Giwa said, “is based on his quest to catapult the state to great heights”, stating that “the governor whom you and I know has human feelings believes so much in human empowerment.”