The Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas, has called on the peoples associated with the historic Kwararafa Confederacy to use their shared heritage as a platform for unity, development and a stronger contribution to Nigeria’s progress.
Kefas made the call at the Kwararafa Peoples Assembly 2026 in Abuja, where traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders from across the Kwararafa heritage converged to discuss their common future.
The assembly was convened by the Kwararafa Development Forum and brought together prominent traditional institutions and representatives of communities associated with the Kwararafa Confederacy. Organisers had described the gathering as an opportunity to develop a common framework around unity, security, economic development and national contribution.
Kefas, who is Co-Convener of the assembly, said the gathering was not a political rally or an attempt to advance a political or regional agenda, but an effort to deepen unity and consciousness among the people and begin a process of renewal.
According to him, the objective is to ensure that the history of Kwararafa translates into practical action capable of improving communities and contributing to Nigeria’s development.
“Our history must not end in books,” Kefas said, stressing that the gathering should mark the beginning of a renewed effort by the people to deploy their human and economic resources towards development.
He noted that Kwararafa people are found across different parts of Nigeria and have made significant contributions in virtually every field of human endeavour.
The governor said the assembly was not established to compete with any ethnic group or target any section of the country, but to provide an avenue for people connected by a common historical heritage to identify areas where they could work together.
He particularly drew attention to the challenges confronting farmers and local communities, calling for greater support for agriculture, promotion of trade and stronger local economic activity.
Kefas also urged the people to join hands in confronting insecurity, stressing that peaceful and economically viable communities were essential to sustainable development.
He emphasised that the Kwararafa identity should be a force for strengthening Nigeria’s national unity rather than creating divisions.
The governor’s position reflects his broader emphasis on unity and cooperation as a basis for development. In recent remarks on Taraba, he has similarly argued that diversity should serve as a source of strength rather than division.
The Chief Host, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ishaku Adda Ali, Matakhitswen, CFR, the Aku-Uka of Wukari, also called for collective action, noting that the people of Kwararafa had contributed immensely to Nigeria’s development.
He urged people of Kwararafa heritage who have distinguished themselves in different fields to rise to the challenges facing their communities.
The Aku-Uka described the Abuja gathering as the beginning of a wider process, announcing plans for a subsequent grand assembly in Wukari.
“If you want to go far, you must go together,” he said.
Former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, commended Governor Kefas for facilitating the coming together of stakeholders from across the Kwararafa heritage.
She described the participants as the “lions and lionesses of Nigeria” and said the gathering offered an opportunity for the people to build stronger bonds and pursue common development objectives.
Other traditional rulers and representatives, including the Och’Idoma, the Attah of Igala, representatives of the Ohafia traditional institution and the Bekwara traditional institution, also called for unity and progress.
A major highlight of the assembly was the unveiling of the Kwararafa Compendium by the Andoma of Doma and Chairman of the Central Organising Committee, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ahmadu Aliyu Oga Onawo, OON.
Speaking on the sidelines, prominent Kwararafa son and former Director of the Development Control Department of the FCT Administration, Alhaji Mukhtari Galadima, described the gathering as a long-awaited event.
He urged stakeholders to leverage the assembly to advance the objectives of the Kwararafa Confederacy through practical development initiatives and constructive engagement.
The Abuja assembly is expected to serve as the starting point for further consultations, with the proposed grand assembly in Wukari providing another platform for translating the renewed emphasis on shared heritage into cooperation, community development and broader national contribution.
