By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Gombe state governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Inuwa Yahaya on Tuesday paid a visit to the Vice President, Kashim Shettima at the Precedential Villa, Abuja with a request to assist in find a lasting solution to the problem of flooding and other socio economic problems of the country.
Speaking to StateHouse Correspondents after a closed doors meeting with Shettima in his office, Yahaya he was at the seat of power to solicit for the support of the Vice President to find solution to the various issues confront the country especially the Northern region.
According to him the problems bedevilling the nation especially the Northern states, where he is the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum requires all hands to be deck to bring them to an end.
On what he discussed with the Vice President, the governor said: “as a politician, we did discuss some politics. But all these issues are those that are bedeviling especially the Northern states, where I’m the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum.
“And mind you, himself was a governor, a Senator, and now the Vice President, so he knows in and out of all these problems, we touch on them, and I believe, together with other of our colleagues, and the federal government, Inshallah, this time around, the strategy will be different, and we’ll find a lasting solution to the problem of flooding and other socio economic problems of the country”.
Reminded that he comes from the state surrounded by other states where there are security challenges but your state has been very peaceful, he said there is peace in Gombe for so many reasons.
Said he: “Thank you very much for that question and you rightly said maybe because you are a Gombe man too, you were in Gombe at some time. There is peace in Gombe for so many many reasons. One, the nature of our people.
” One, we are sort of a mix of several ethnic groups, and several religions join together and living peacefully. So within a family, you could find people of different faiths but sharing the same parents. So because of that the background is so okay that we now build on it and coordinate the relationships.
“Secondly, government get focused and is working day and night with the security agencies to ensure that there’s compliance with law and order and there is compliance to a reasonable extent.
“But the issues that have to do with resources, especially the land resource, because our people are peasant farmers, and farmers means those involved in crop production and livestock.
“So in between, because of the encroachment of our greasing reserves, forest reserves, and even the cattle routes, issues have started to spark off, and those issues are those that catapulted to become a result into rustling banditry and kidnapping for ransom, which is very, very prevalent in in the North West and North Central.
“So at the moment, we’re focusing on doing that maintaining the peace by providing for each and everybody and each and every sector in a way that we understand and cooperate with one another. And we give chance so that as you do unto yourself, you do same to the other person for the purpose of obtaining peace and tranquility in the state.
“That is why Gombe has made some difference and that’s where we are. another Chairman of the Northern And as a chairman of Northern Governors Forum, I will ensure that we get to the root of all those problems through the support of the various state governments and the federal government itself will come up with the solutions, since that will trigger positive action and reaction, not the negatives, and very soon, the narrative will change by the grace of God the narratives will change, we will have a peaceful north that is contributing to the development and prosperity of Nigeria”.
