Ikenya’s emergence as Taraba LP guber candidate rattles politicians

Tarabans from all walks of life, yesterday, put aside their differences to celebrate the emergence of former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen. Joel Ikenya, as he emerged the governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) for Taraba State.

His emergence has reportedly sent shivers down the spines of politicians in the All Progressives Congress APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which, before the Obidient Movement that popularised the once sleeping LP, had been the two dominant parties all over the country.

Ikenya, who was among the numerous aspirants that kicked against the outcome of PDP’s governorship primary, moved with his teeming supporters to LP, where he emerged as the governorship flagbearer.

Describing Ikenya as a “grassroots politician”, chieftains of the two political parties, who bared their minds to The Guardian, admitted his emergence as a threat to their political parties ambitions in the state.

Ikenya, according to a PDP chieftain, who craved anonymity, is a household name in Taraba politics. “We all know him as a grassroots politician. So for us to actualise our dreams of retaining our number one position in this state, we have to go back to the drawing board,” he added.

Citing the various political offices Ikenya had contested and won, including House of Representatives and Senate, he said defeating him would be difficult under LP.

Also, an APC chieftain, who preferred anonymity for fear of being sanctioned for anti-party activity, noted Ikenya as a hard nut to crack politically. “I must confess to you that his emergence as LP governorship candidate is a big blow for us in APC.”

Speaking after he was declared the party’s flagbearer, Ikenya vowed to nip in the bud the current security challenges in the state, if given the mandate to preside over the affairs of the state come next political dispensation.

Vowing to carry all the people along, irrespective of religious, ethnic and political differences, he admonished eligible voters to distance themselves from overzealous politicians.

The former senator for Taraba South also beckoned Tarabans, especially youths, to desist from making themselves available as tools of destruction in the hands of moneybag politicians.

While calling on aggrieved members of the party, especially his co-contestants, to join the leadership of the party to take it to the heights.