Professor Umaru Pate hails Njodi over Madakin Kaltungo title
….the joy of appreciation of service
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
The Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Professor Umaru Pate, says the honour done to Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, the Secretary to the State Government is based on exceptional personal performance .
Speaking at the reception and turbaning ceremony organised by Kaltungo Community, weekend, Pate who is the Guest Speaker said, “this is one of those rare moments of honour, given to few, based on exceptional personal performance, public perception and community appreciation.
“Today, we are gathered here to celebrate an illustrious scholar and a distinguished gentleman, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi who was reappointed as the Secretary to the Gombe State Government (SSG) after a successful first tenure of four years. Equally, today, he is being highly honoured by his beloved community with a civic reception and the upgraded title of the Madakin Kaltungo.”
According to the Professor of Media and society, the title of, “Madaki is a highly respectable title in the traditional governance system in Northern Nigeria. The position is mostly reserved for the trusted and resourceful elder in the community.
“Professor Njodi is a deserving celebrant at today’s occasion. His reappointment as the SSG calls for special expression of joy and gratitude to the Almighty for making it possible for His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to renew his appointment for a second term. The Governor’s action is a clear testimony of the government’s satisfaction and expression of confidence in the conduct, behaviour and performance of Professor Njodi in the first term.
” Obviously, His Excellency must have observed how Professor Njodi was able to expertly manage the complex duties of the office of the SSG which is the engine room of the government. It is an office that requires a trusted leader equipped with broad knowledge, excellent interpersonal skills, measured speed and gifted drive to coordinate its complex and sensitive activities of governance.
“The obvious verdict is that Professor Ibrahim Njodi had done well, and like the saying goes, the prize for hard work is more work,” Pate said.
He explained that many of them that were reappointed did not come as a surprise because they have always known him as a strong man of determination who is a strategic treasure in any place of service.
” Indeed, I have always known Prof Njodi as a firm, resolute and an astute pro-action scholar ever focused on results. I know that for him, there is no small assignment; every assignment or task is very important for him to devote all his energies. In summary, he is a fabulous achiever and a strategic tactician.
“Thus, on behalf of the University of Maiduguri Alumni Association, I heartily express our gratitude to His Excellency on appointing and reappointing one of our distinguished alumni the SSG of Gombe State. Without doubt, the initial appointment of Professor Njodi might have been informed by his sterling performance as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri where he left his imprint as an iconic pathfinder, campus builder and an architect of victory. Little wonder, his community is gladly celebrating and honouring him with a civic reception and the exalted title of the Madaki,” Pate added.
The Vice Chancellor continued stressing the joy of appreciation that over the years, he said, “the Kaltungo Municipality has developed into a notable Community in the affairs of the country. Its illustrious sons, daughters and leadership have been contributing significantly to the growth and development of the nation. Quite importantly, Kaltungo is an enlightened cosmopolitan community that has effectively and admirably united itself in diversity. It is a community that has utilised its multicultural composition as a foundation of strength instead of being a bedrock of conflict.
“I see Kaltungo as a progressive community living in peace and thriving in spirit of togetherness, devoid of retrogressive ethno-religious conflicts that have devastated some communities with similar characteristics across the country. Certainly, the good story of Kaltungo would not have been possible without quality community leadership from the Royal Father, HRH, Mai Kaltungo, Engr Sale Muhammad, OON and his Council.”
He said that the Kaltungo Community is blessed with a royalty that has identified itself with the people, their interests and their problems while the Royal Father who is am accomplished professional Aircraft Engineer has successfully piloted the affairs of his Community with humility, grace and good nurture.
The evidence is visible in the steady growth and development of the Community in peace and tranquillity. Truly, the Kaltungo Community and its people have numerous lessons to teach many communities in Nigeria and across Africa on tolerance, good neighbourliness and unity in diversity.
“I join millions of people in praying for many more years of the reign of Mai Kaltungo, Engr Sale Muhammad with piety and elegance. Similarly, I pray and urge the people of community to continue to uphold their community’s positive image and respectable co-existence for assured peace and development,” the astute academic said.
Professor Pate noted that Conflict and peacelessness are retrogressive drawbacks that could arrest the development process in communities, adding generally,”Gombe State is a very safe and comforting State in the Nigerian context”, hence majority of the people are committed to peaceful coexistence and averse to criminal tendencies.
“But, more importantly, we must acknowledge the commitment of the State government under Governor Inuwa Yahaya to sustaining peace and fighting criminality in all nooks and crannies of the State. Thus, today, one can confidently declare that Gombe ranks among the safest and fastest growing States in the country. I salute the Governor, his government and the Gombe people for the feat and urge them to sustain the tempo in the second term. We are hopeful on the transformative spirit of the state government under Governor Yahaya.I cannot end my remarks without urging for increased involvement of the traditional leadership in the security system of the country. I believe that with the strategic linkage between our Royal Fathers and the people in their domains, they can do far more than what they are doing now if they are constitutionally enabled to do so.”
He noted his confidence that their increased involvement can help to strengthen the security system in the communities as well as fight criminality at the grassroots levels, while reminding Njodi not to waver on his commitment to deliver more in the service of the State by actively working to actualise the vision and mission of the government in the next four years.
“Equally, he cannot afford to slow down in his huge, even if silent contributions, in the Kaltungo community because the title of the Madaki is exalted but also demanding,” Pate added.
