Gombe Gov’s aide Gara-Gombe decries Gov Yahaya’s exclusion from National Honour
The Special Adviser Strategy and Information Management to the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, has decried his boss exclusion from the list of persons awarded National Honours by the Federal Government recently at the State House, Abuja.
Reacting to the list, on his verified Facebook account Gara-Gombe said it was unfair to exclude Governor Inuwa Yahaya from the list, which he said comprised some governors who had not achieved half as much in their various states.
Our Correspondent reports that Yahaya, has maintained good relationship with the President Muhammadu Buhari, as he is one of the frequent guests in Aso rock.
“In terms of primary healthcare, Governor Inuwa Yahaya is the only governor in Nigeria who has renovated all of Gombe State’s primary healthcare centers in every ward. I saw people who are selling whiskey and engrossed in nightclubbing on the list. Why exclude one of the best governors in Nigeria?” queried Gara-Gombe.
Among the awardees are politicians, public officers, security officers, businessmen, traditional rulers, members of the academia, retired public officers, religious leaders, and musical artistes who received the prestigious national honors in 2022.
“I feel it is unfair to exclude Governor Inuwa Yahaya from the list. I have seen the list, which has governors and many others who have not achieved half of what Governor Inuwa achieved. It is unfair,” Gara-Gombe added.
According to Gara-Gombe, impeccable sources indicates that this year’s nomination process was jointly handled by the Justice Sidi Bage Committee and the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, headed by Senator George Akume, adding “a former governor and senator expected to know better.”
Some serving state Governors who received the CON award were Mai Mala-Buni of Yobe State, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Simon Lalong (Plateau), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Babagana Zulum (Borno), and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).
Other awardees in this category included Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase; Minister of Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed; and Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede. Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Bishop Ignatius Kaigama; and a legal scholar, Dr. Muiz Banire, were shortlisted for an OFR award.
National Assembly members, include Hon. Alhassan Doguwa, Hon. Muktar Betara, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, a former Permanent Secretary, Sunday Echono, and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Yakubu Maikyau. Grammy winner Burna Boy and late DIG of Police Joseph Egbunike (posthumous) bagged the MFR award, while Innocent 2Face Idibia, Shehu Othman, and another entertainer, Teniola Apata, were in the category of those who received the MON award.
