Gombe gov laments poor pace of development in Nigeria
…..says Nigeria still grapples with situations, issues that caused civil war
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has decried the poor pace of development in Nigeria, despite overcoming the challenges of civil war, saying that the country has remained backward.
Yahaya lamented the situation of things on Wednesday when he received new board of the North-East Development Commission at the council chamber, Gombe State, Government House.
According to him, religious extremism birthed insurgency, noting that it has led to displacement of people, and grounded resources.
Yahaya who doubles as Chairman Northern States Governors’ Forum noted that Nigeria having attained independence 63 years should be emulated, adding that the opposite remained he case.
He said, “Nigeria has come of age, it’s 63 years old now. As you know religious extremism led to insurgency, which subsequently led to the dislocation of our people and their livelihood which made the people to become displaced persons within their own country; some within their own states. Farming was grounded, we have no reason to be in such a situation in this country. The country’s constitution provides that we be our brother’s keeper unfortunately where are we today?
“Despite the land and resources we have in this country, for us as a people sharing common destiny. There is no reason why we shouldn’t be our brother’s keeper and why we shouldn’t do our best to see that Nigeria compared with the rest of other countries of Africa, being the mother of Africa should be in this situation other countries are supposed to copy from us not we copying.”
While lamenting the failure of the country to take her deserved place, Yahaya recalled that Rwanda that recently emerged from civil war has recovered while Nigeria battles those issues that caused the war, adding “Of recent Nigeria Governors’ Forum went on a visit to the Republic of Rwanda, Rwanda just came out of civil war but for Nigeria by 1970 civil war was over but issues and situations that triggered the Nigerian civil war are still emanating like IPOB and others that wants to break out of the country. Rwanda has learnt to be a model to the extent we go to copy, it’s sad, you can’t be in this country and be happy.”
He commended NEDC for bridging the infrastructural deficit and yielding dividends of democracy, “but I want to say that the purpose the NEDC was established has been actualised as its has been able to intervene in so many lives, be it the food we gave to people as palliative, or infrastructural development. We are happy you returned as you will be implementing the master plan that you developed,” Yahaya added.
Also speaking, General Paul Tarfa (retd.), said the purpose of vising the state was to introduce the new board that has three reappointed members, with the rest being new, adding that “it is an honour to introduce to you the second members of the second board.”
He disclosed that the board was also in the state to see projects currently sponsored by the Commission.
On his part, Managing Director Mohammed Goni, noted that NEDC works with relevant stakeholders in ensuring development, adding that the essence of the meeting was to harmonise its work for better reach.
