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Dr. Hilkiya Bubajoda Mafindi
By Yusuf Salihu Sansani, Jalingo
A governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State, Dr. Hilkiya Bubajoda Mafindi says his pedigree is what makes him stand tall among other aspirants in all the political parties in the state.
Dr. Mafindi who made this known in an interview with Apex News Exclusive in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.
He said considering his good relationship with the people and all the antecedence in his life, he is a real bridge builder.
According to him, “I am home grown, born by parents of Jenjo extraction, raised in Bambur among the Wurkum, grew up in Zing with the Mumuye and can speak their language fluently and above all I am married to a Jukun lady this means that I am a microcosm of Taraba State.”
He explained that “more importantly, I am humble and can relate very well with all the people across Taraba State. I have not worked outside the state, always been in the public service. So, in my opinion, my interpersonal relationships and skills cut across all religious beliefs and creed so for me this is an advantage that I can leverage on to ride smoothly to the Government House. In fact, I already have a head start.”
Dr. Mafindi said he is in a better position to make the difference because apart from traversing the public service he worked with all the Chief Executives of Taraba State since inception in 1991 where he faced challenges and resolved them, then saw opportunities and viewed the state in its true perspective.
On the zoning system of the PDP particularly in Taraba State, the Governorship aspirant said the founding fathers of the party conceived the idea of power rotation on the basis of their understanding of the heterogeneity of Nigeria to see how these centrifugal forces will be reduced to the barest minimum to give all sections of the country, the six geopolitical zones, states, senatorial districts and local government fair hearing.
He stressed that in Taraba State, the southern zone having been in power for almost eight years now, the baton should automatically shift back to the northern zone without any an issue and it is internal to the PDP to ensure that the nitty-gritty of implementing this shift is crystalized.
On consensus candidate, Dr. Mafindi told Apex News Exclusive it is a transparent process that will engage all critical stakeholders of the party in the state including all aspirants to understand and accept why the other aspirant should be the sole candidate not him.
He also said there should also be a parameter that should be clearly spelt out that will eventually draw up the candidates of the party in Taraba State and by that nobody will be opposed to that.
The aspirant advised all those who indicated interest to contest various elective offices in Taraba State to de-escalate violence and violent rhetorics and engage on issue-based campaign and deemphasized the use of thugs.
A technocrat per Excellence Dr. Mafindi, apart from his many years of experience, was Personal Assistant and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Jolly Nyame between 1999-2006, Executive Chairman, Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board, 2007-2015, Executive Chairman, Taraba State Planning Commission, 2016-2020, Taraba State Representative on Federal Government Committee on Non Oil Exports Agenda National “Zero oil plan”, 2017-2020 and member, Taraba State Boundary Commission, 2017-2020 among other responsibilities.
