Open letter to Gombe State Gov Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya
By Ben Ngwakwe
The 2023 Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections in the country, there is no gain saying that a frontline Newspaper, Vanguard gave the the polls adequate coverage needed as part of its civic and social responsibilities to the people of Nigeria.
In Gombe State, an ace reporter, Chief Ben Ngwakwe, did the needful in the spirit of the elections by giving residents unbiased reportage through the print media; Vanguard and live coverage with Vanguard TV, the first of its kind in reportage with the newspaper but the whole story is for another time.
While congratulating Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, in his victory in the just concluded Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, I have few pieces of advice which sections of Gombawa (residents of Gombe State) have asked me to inform you.
First, judging from the massive infrastructural development put in place in Gombe State in your first tenure, you didn’t deserve the stress and pains you went through in the elections. You suffered pains because you allowed political hawks to surround you and after the 29th May, 2023 some of the good people of Gombe State have asked me to tell you to drop them so you don’t land in jail after your second tenure.
Even some Governors who didn’t do half of what you did had it smooth and painless because the developmental strides speaks for them but your case was different which I stand to be corrected.
The same cross section of Gombawa people also asked me to tell me that you should go with the few members of your political appointees in your second tenure to sustain the developmental strides you had started in the first tenure and carry it over but this time your focus should be towards building manpower that will sustain those legacies and facilities put in places in both tenures first and second terms.
They allegedly canvassed that the political appointees you gave positions were using such positions to build their personal political nests that was one of the alleged reasons that you suffered but to the Glory of Almighty God you won. it would have been surprise upon surprise if the case was otherwise but God mercifully saved you from the shame.
Also, this time around you should not wash with one -hand rather with two hands by carrying the press along not few selected but all because you don’t know the womb that carries the king.
Finally, they asked me to tell you to carry the present Secretary to the State Government; Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, the Commissioners of Finance; Hon. Mohammed Gambo Magaji, Barr. Zubair Muhammadu Umar, Justice and Attorney General who is also DG Campaign Council; Dr Habu Dahiru of Health, Dr Aishatu Maigari of Education, Engineer Abubakar Bappah of works; Hon Nasiru Mohammed Aliyu of Commerce, industry and tourism while SSA on Information Management and Strategy, Alhaji Shuaibu Gara Gombe, Associate professor Shehu Muazu and others.
These pieces of advice and suggestions came barely 51 days to form the new Government on 29th May, 2023 and His Excellency should as a matter of urgency, not throw it over board but reflect on it because an eye sees not itself but by reflection, as a watchdog, I now serve as your eyes to tell you what the people asked me to tell you.
Ben Ngwakwe, is a veteran Journalist, with over three decades of experience. He wrote from Gombe.
