Power not with stranger, Gombe Gov tells Igbo Community Welfare Association
…nobody knows the exact year his grandfather migrated into the state
Chima Azubuike
The Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, on Monday evening told Igbo Community in the state that power is not with a stranger, stressing that nobody within 100 years can tell when his grandparents migrated into the state.
Yahaya made this disclosure while addressing Igbo Community Welfare Association who visited to register their support for the continuation of his administration.
The governor stated that they should be careful of whom to vote, noting that the spirit of Nigeria constitution places premium on the choice of location barring tribal, religious differences.
According to him, if over a century he is considered a stranger nobody amongst the non indigenes would be safe, should a wrong person be voted into the office.
Yahaya said, “Nobody in Gombe that is 100 years can tell you when my grandfather came to Gombe State, but yet somebody went to Kaltungo and started telling people that now power is with strangers. So I don’t know who he is going to govern, if you elect him to be a leader what do you expect of him, I’m not that type and I will never be, I will continue be myself.
“If he had gone further to history, he would have found out that my grandfather came before his own to Gombe, if he has any grandfather. I stand to be challenged by anybody if I can be (governor) anybody can be that is the spirit of Nigeria’s constitution and I thank you for identifying with me.”
The governor who announced a donation of N10m to the community to enable members access credit to finance small scale medium enterprises, approved land for the construction of its secretariat and additional N5m for the members present.
Speaking Earlier, President-General Dr Egwu Onuwabuchi said the Association has planned to give maximum support towards making the re-election bid a reality.
Onuwabuchi lauded the development strides of the present administration saying that “this is out of the meagre resources that the state earns that it has done well in roads construction, and other human capital development in the state.”
Also speaking, Director-General of All Progressives Congress Gombe State Campaign Council and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state Zubair Umar, saluted the patronage of the Igbos in the state, assuring that the government would be more rewarding in the next four years.
He apologised for perceived lapses, adding that it was not deliberate but following the exigences of governance.
