The Gombe State Governor, and Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum, Muhammadu Yahaya, has sought for more collaboration between Federal and State Governments.
Yahaya made this known in a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by Director-General Press Affairs Gombe Government House Ismaila Misilli, the governor used the visit to intimate the Nigerian leader on the developments in his state as well as the northern region.
He also brought the President up to speed with the achievements recorded by the State under his leadership as Governor, assuring that his government is ready to put more words into action in order to bring about faster development.
Yahaya emphasised the need for more collaboration, adding that it would better the lot of citizens, as well as help a great deal in achieving development in all sectors.
The statement partly said, “There were several engagements between us towards the end of 2023 particularly pertaining healthcare and enabling business environment reforms and many more. Without the economy picking and doing well, we will continuously be where we are or even worst of.
“Collaboration of the states and the federal government; infact including the local governments is very key and fundamental for us because if there is any disconnect, we may not deliver on what we have to do for the people.”
Commenting on the importance of agriculture to human development and attaining food sufficiency, the Governor said there is need for farmers to embrace modern techniques in order to boost their production.
“The way it is now, people have to understand that we must modernise. There is need for machine tools, there is need for processing and luckily Gombe is among the States that have been approved to be part of the Special Agric Processing zones.
“We have set up an industrial park where we can process all the raw materials or the agricultural produce that we have in the State. I think if all States will key-in and work in tandem and work with the federal government, we shall easily reach the desired destination for Nigeria,” Yahaya added.
Yahaya also commented on security challenges troubling some parts of the country.
He however commended President Tinubu for sending Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kaduna and Plateau States, in order to get the details of what transpired at Tudun Biri, as well as Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas.
“In my capacity as the Chaiman of Northern States Governors’ Forum, I praise the steps taken by the President in order to get to the root of what happened in these two States and the pledge he made that the right action would be taken to prevent future occurrence of those incidents. Above all, I thank him for the support given to victims or survivors,” the Governor stated.
Speaking specifically on the Plateau crisis, the Governor said there is need for a review of the immediate and remote causes in order to find a lasting solution.
“Despite the fact that this matter has been there for long, it is time for stakeholders to have a roundtable and tell each other the truth and then take deliberate steps toward loving each other. Before now, the people were living in peace and going about their normal businesses.
“Some of the major issues that seem to allow the problem to persist include issues like farmer-herder clashes, the clamour of indigenes versus settlers. But the world over, if any society or country doesn’t welcome visitors, such a nation will not progress. Afterall, we here are one and the same family.
“Therefore, we are commiserating with those who lost their loved ones. There should be no reason why anyone should go and kill or take the life of a fellow human being since it is not a war situation. Reprisal attacks have not taken us anywhere so, what we need to concentrate on doing is to understand ourselves and know that we have leaders at all levels whom we can lodge our complaints to. We should imbibe the habit of loving one another and living in peace for the progress of all of us,” the statement added.
