A former federal lawmaker, Danjuma Usman Shiddi, has called on Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, to urgently reassess governance priorities in Wukari following a recent fire outbreak at the Catholic Cathedral of the Wukari Diocese.

Shiddi made the appeal in an open letter to the governor on Thursday, describing the incident as a painful reminder of what he termed systemic neglect of basic emergency infrastructure in the area.

While expressing relief that the cathedral was not completely destroyed, he lamented the absence of functional firefighting equipment, describing it as a serious lapse in the government’s responsibility to safeguard lives and public heritage.

The incident occurred in Wukari and comes less than two months after another fire outbreak in January 2026 that damaged sections of the Wukari Local Government Secretariat.

According to Shiddi, the recurrence of such incidents raises concerns about the community’s level of emergency preparedness.

“How many more buildings must burn before the government recognises that emergency response infrastructure is not optional?” the former lawmaker asked, warning that repeated fire incidents may indicate deeper gaps in public safety planning.

Shiddi also questioned the state government’s development priorities, referencing the January 13 flag-off ceremony of a flyover project in Wukari.

He argued that while large-scale infrastructure projects are important, they should not overshadow urgent safety and economic concerns affecting residents.

He noted that several business owners around the proposed flyover corridor remain uncertain about compensation arrangements and project timelines, a situation he said is creating economic anxiety in the town’s commercial areas.

The former lawmaker urged the state government to focus on practical, people-centred development, stressing that governance should go beyond ceremonial project launches to deliver measurable outcomes that directly improve citizens’ welfare.

“Leadership is defined not by promises made at ceremonies, but by visible action and fulfilled commitments,” he said.

Shiddi further called on the administration to “retract its steps, re-evaluate priorities, and restore public trust,” emphasising that residents of Wukari deserve governance that prioritises safety, stability, and sustainable development.

For many residents, the recent cathedral fire has become more than an isolated incident, reflecting wider concerns about the adequacy of public safety infrastructure and the direction of development in the historic community.