On Thursday, the Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Governor used the visit to update Nigeria’s leader on the developments in his state and the northern region.
He also briefed the president on the achievements recorded by the state under his leadership as governor, assuring that his government was ready to translate words into action to bring about faster development.
While interacting with State House correspondents soon after meeting behind closed doors with the President, the governor emphasized the need for more collaboration between the federal and state governments to improve the well-being of citizens, stating that such collaboration would significantly contribute to development in all sectors.
He said, “There were several engagements between us towards the end of 2023, particularly pertaining to healthcare and enabling business environment reforms and many more. Without the economy picking up and doing well, we will continuously be where we are or even worse.”
He added, “Collaboration between the states and the federal government, including the local governments, is very key and fundamental for us because if there is any disconnect, we may not deliver on what we have to do for the people.”
Commenting on the importance of agriculture in human development and attaining food sufficiency, the Governor said farmers need to embrace modern techniques to boost their production.
He said, “The way it is now, people have to understand that we must modernize. There is a need for machine tools and processing; luckily, Gombe is among the states that have been approved to be part of the Special Agric Processing zones.”
“We have set up an industrial park where we can process all the raw materials or the agricultural produce that we have in the State. I think if all states will key in and work in tandem with the federal government, we shall easily reach the desired destination for Nigeria,” he added.
Inuwa Yahaya also commented on security challenges troubling some parts of the country.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for sending Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kaduna and Plateau States to get the details of what transpired at Tudun Biri, as well as Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas.
“In my capacity as the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, I praise the steps taken by the President to get to the root of what happened in these two States and the pledge he made that the right action would be taken to prevent future occurrences of those incidents. Above all, I thank him for the support given to victims or survivors,” the Governor stated.
Speaking specifically on the Plateau crisis, the Governor said that there is a need for a review of the immediate and remote causes to find a lasting solution.
The Governor stressed that, “Despite the fact that this matter has been there for long, it is time for stakeholders to have a round table and tell each other the truth and then take deliberate steps toward loving each other. Before now, the people were living in peace and going about their normal businesses.”
He said, “Some of the major issues that seem to allow the problem to persist include issues like farmer-herder clashes, the clamor for indigenes versus settlers.
But the world over, if any society or country doesn’t welcome visitors, such a nation will not progress. After all, we are one and the same family.”
“Therefore, we are commiserating with those who lost their loved ones. There should be no reason why anyone should go and kill or take the life of a fellow human being since it is not a war situation.
Reprisal attacks have not taken us anywhere, so what we need to concentrate on doing is to understand ourselves and know that we have leaders at all levels whom we can lodge our complaints to.
We should imbibe the habit of loving one another and living in peace for the progress of all of us,” the Gombe State Governor advised.
