President Bola Tinubu has restated his administration’s commitment to inclusive national development, declaring that no part of Nigeria will be treated as expendable, following the formal defection of Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The assurance was conveyed by Vice President Kashim Shettima at a grand reception in Jalingo on Saturday, where he said the President views Taraba as a strategic partner in advancing the country’s growth and stability agenda.

“He has demonstrated that no region is expendable. No state is ornamental,” Shettima said, quoting President Tinubu, as he pledged a deeper development partnership between the federal government and Taraba State.

According to the Vice President, President Tinubu directed him to reassure Governor Kefas that his entry into the ruling party signals the start of a closer working relationship focused on infrastructure, economic expansion and social development.

“My dear brother, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked me to assure you of your place not only in the party, but in our shared commitment to prioritise the development of our people,” Shettima said.

He described Taraba as pivotal to Nigeria’s food and energy security, noting that its agricultural strength, vast water resources and mineral endowment place the state at the heart of the nation’s long-term economic resilience.

“What distinguishes us as a party is our belief that nations endure when they recognise their quiet strengths. Taraba is one of those strengths—a land that feeds, powers and steadies the nation without demanding applause,” he added.

Shettima said the APC was founded as a unifying platform that brings Nigeria’s diversity together around a common purpose, stressing that Taraba’s inclusion further strengthens the party’s strategic, political and economic outlook.

Welcoming Kefas into the APC fold, the Vice President said the governor’s decision reflects a conviction that partnership is the cornerstone of effective governance.

“Leadership is the courage to align destiny with reality. Governance is not isolation; it is partnership. Progress is faster when vision meets structure,” he said, adding that the APC grows “by conviction, not compulsion; by inclusion, not exclusion.”

Also speaking at the event, the President of the Senate, represented by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, said Kefas’ defection would open new opportunities for agriculture, infrastructure and economic development in Taraba, adding that the National Assembly supports initiatives that deepen cooperation between states and the federal government.

APC National Chairman, Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda, described the move as a catalyst for accelerated development, noting that alignment with the centre would enable Taraba to benefit more fully from federal programmes and ongoing reforms.

In his remarks, Governor Kefas said his decision to join the APC was driven by the need to reposition Taraba for sustainable growth rather than partisan rivalry.

He commended security agencies for maintaining stability in the state and said his administration remains focused on youth empowerment, infrastructure development and social welfare.

“This is about purpose. It is about the future of our young people, the dignity of our elders and the progress of Taraba State,” the governor said.

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, representing the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said Kefas’ defection would attract greater democratic dividends to Taraba, particularly in agriculture and infrastructure.

The event culminated in the presentation of the APC flag to Governor Kefas, formally installing him as the party’s leader in Taraba State.