SPECIAL ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ALH. IBRAHIM HASSAN DANKWAMBO (OON) ON THE OCCASION OF HIS SWEARING-IN AS THE GOVERNOR OF GOMBE STATE ON SUNDAY 29^TH MAY 2011, AT THE PANTAMI TOWNSHIP STADIUM GOMBE

Your Excellency 

The Deputy Governor 

Mr. David Miyims Albashi 

Your Excellency the immediate past Governor 

Alh. Mohammed Danjuma Goje 

(Sarkin Yakin Gombe) 

Your Excellency the former Deputy Governor 

Hon. John Liazarus Yoriyo 

Distinguished Senators here present 

Hon. Members of the House of Representatives here present 

Honourable Ministers both serving and former 

Your Excellencies serving and former Ambassadors 

Honourable Speaker Gombe State House of Assembly 

Honourable Chief Judge and Grand Khadi 

Honourable Members  

Gombe State House of Assembly 

The Chairman PDP  

Gombe State 

Honourable Commissioners 

Honourable Judges and Khadis 

The Secretary to the State Government 

Head of Civil Service 

Chief of Staff  

Special Advisers 

Chairmen of Boards and Parastatals 

Permanent Secretaries  

Special Assistants 

Your Royal Highness  

The Emir of Gombe 

Alh. Shehu Usman Abubakar CON 

Chairman State Council of Chiefs 

Your Royal Highness 

Alh. Saleh Mohammed 

Mai Kaltungo 

Deputy Chairman State Council of Chiefs 

Other Royal Highnesses Emirs and Chiefs 

Heads of Federal Security Agencies and other 

Federal Establishments in Gombe State 

Chairmen of Local Governments  

Our elders and well-wishers here present 

Distinguished Invited guests 

Members of the Press 

Ladies and Gentlemen 

      I begin in the name of ALLAH, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful, Who gave me good health and this opportunity to address you today on this historic and unique occasion. 

2.    When I took the decision to contest the election for the governorship of Gombe State, the first thing on my mind was, and still is “How can I contribute the talents and wisdom Allah (SWT) Has endowed me with in raising the standards of living of our people”.  I reached the decision to contest, and having won the election, God willing, I have now been sworn-in as the governor.  What we would do therefore is to lead the people of Gombe State to the best of our abilities, and with absolute fear of God.  Ours is a leadership fully committed to the defense and promotion of the welfare of the entire people of Gombe State. 

3.    Before I go further, I wish to express our sincere gratitude to the good people of Gombe State for giving us the mandate to lead them.  Beginning with the nomination, electioneering campaigns where we went round to every community to solicit for your support, it was indeed a worthy battle.  The struggle was by all the people of Gombe State and the victory is for all of us, old and young, male and female.  I extol your patience and perseverance throughout our trying moments, and I am humbled by the tremendous support we received from the people of Gombe State. 

4.    In the same vein, I want to commiserate with all the families of the people who lost their lives and property in the aftermath of the crisis that followed the April general elections.  In particular, I want to use this medium to once again condole the State PDP Chairman, Mr. Jack Gumpy, and all other families that lost their loved ones and properties. May Allah (SWT) grant the souls of the departed eternal rest, and the relations the fortitude to bear the painful and irreparable loss.  We would endeavour to find ways to alleviate the suffering of all victims in every possible way, God willing, and within the limits of resources available to us. 

5.    Having said this much, I want to urge you all to remain calm and exercise self restraint.  The elections have been won and lost. I wish to congratulate all those who won the elections and plead with those who lost to accept their defeat in good faith.  What is left now is for us to put heads together in the spirit of brotherhood irrespective of party affiliations in re-uniting and reconciling the citizenry.  This is by no means an easy task, because all of us have made sacrifices, and we should continue to do so, in equity and justice.  We pledge to lead by example, thereby re-engineering and re-energizing the institutions of governance towards a more prosperous and greater Gombe State. The confidence you reposed in us by giving us the mandate will definitely not be betrayed, and we will not disappoint the good people of Gombe State In-sha-Allah. 

6.    Let me at this juncture pay special tribute to our out-going Governor, Alh. Muhammad Danjuma Goje (Sarkin Yakin Gombe).  He has made tremendous efforts in turning the State from a rural one to a State we can all be proud of in terms of infrastructural development and social amenities.  There is still a lot more to be done and we are equal to the task.  I therefore on behalf of all of the good people wish him success in all his future endeavours.  I am confident that his election to the Senate of the Federal Republic Nigeria signals many more good things coming to Gombe State, in view of the numerous developmental projects he executed here in Gombe State. 

7.    Needless to emphasize, Government is a continuous process and I would like to assure all of you that this administration would operate an open door policy.  We are ready at all times listen to constructive critism, advice and good counseling from all well-meaning individuals and groups.  We would deploy our God given visionary leadership talents to make Gombe State greater than what it is now, God willing, and within the limits of available resources. 

8.    We would take adequate stock of the situation within the next four weeks, and we will come out and tell the good people of Gombe State clearly the position of things. 

9.    We pledge to give adequate attention to the provision and maintenance of qualitative infrastructural facilities both in our urban and rural areas.  We would also pay attention to education and youth empowerment.  Agriculture, which is the main engagement of the majority of our populace, will also continue to receive the much needed attention through the provision of adequate farming inputs like fertilizer, seeds, and livestock production facilities.  This will no doubt go a long way in solving the unemployment problems especially in our rural areas, thereby discouraging the able bodied from migrating to urban areas in search of non-existent jobs and opportunities to make ends meet. 

10.      My dear people of Gombe State, education, as I said is on top of our priorities.  Our institutions of learning at all levels will receive a boost to enable them produce good results and the much needed manpower to move the State forward.  We would thrive to ensure that problems associated with the education sector are addressed with the seriousness they deserve. 

11.      The healthcare delivery system will also be addressed to avoid the frequent industrial actions by our Health workers.  We will continue to dialogue with them and understand their grievances, with a view to addressing them squarely.  We also intend to build more hospitals and improve and maintain the existing ones, to ensure that every part of the State is effectively covered. 

12.      We would also partner with the Federal Government and the private sector in the exploration of our untapped mineral resources and underutilized natural resources. For example the Dadinkowa Dam, in addition to providing potable drinking water and being used for irrigation purposes is also capable of generating enough electricity to service three States in the North-east Sub-region.  All these we intend to follow to their logical conclusions.  We will engage experts in the Power sector to advice us on how best to carry-out the job. 

13.      I therefore wish to call on the private sector both domestic and international to come and invest in Gombe State.  God has endowed us with numerous untapped human and material resources that remain untapped or underutilized.  On our part, we are fully committed to providing the conducive enabling environment for them to thrive. Gombe State has tremendous potentials in the industrial and commercial sectors, especially with our strategic location in the centre of the North-East Sub-region to our advantage. 

14.      We are all aware that the civil service is the backbone of every government at all levels, because without a strong, viable and motivated workforce, no administration can succeed in implementing its policies and programmes.  The civil service will therefore receive our special attention especially in the areas deployment, workers’ welfare, promotion, training and re-training, and the provision of suitable office and residential accommodation.  

15.      It is no secret that our State is at the bottom of the Federation Accounts Allocation list.  I should know better, since I am the immediate past Accountant-General of the Federation.  This therefore means that we have to explore all available means of generating internal revenue to service the economy, and complement whatever we are able to receive from the Federation Account.  Accountability and Transparency will be ensured at all times.  I must however warn that we would not tolerate imprudence, misuse of funds or corrupt practices in whatever form. 

16.      In the area of security, we will continue to carry the security agencies along in solving problems that may pose threat to security of lives and property.  We will also strengthen the highway security patrols, check points, continue to control the influx of Udawa cattle marauders who have been destroying farm lands and causing communal clashes, and deal decisively with the Kalare Boys’ menace, especially in Gombe metropolis.  It is our belief that no meaningful progress will be achieved if there is no adequate security.  Our citizens should be able to carry on their businesses without fear of the unknown and sleep with both their eyes closed, In-sha-Allah. 

17.      The Local Government is an indispensable third tier of Government, coming after the Federal and State levels.  They are therefore closer to the people.  We would thrive to harmonise, stabilize and re-invigorate this important tier of government to ensure that the dividends of democracy reach all parts of the State. 

18.    The Traditional Institutions play a vital role, as the royal fathers are the embodiment our rich cultural values.  We would ensure that the dignity of the Traditional Rulers is preserved so that they would be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of the State.  On their part, I would like to urge our traditional rulers to avoid all activities capable of eroding their exalted statuses or undermine their authority.  They should assist the government in ensuring harmonious coexistence in all communities, crime prevention and the advancement of education at all levels.  I therefore call on all our Traditional rulers, religious and Community leaders to pray for the success of this administration as we carry everyone along. 

19.      Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, this administration will respect and thrive to create a conducive atmosphere for an efficacious and healthy working relationship with the other two arms of government that is the Legislature and the Judiciary. We would ensure that they are well provided for so that they would be able to function effectively and efficiently.  I pledge my unflinching support to the Honourable Members of the Gombe State House of Assembly and urge them to cooperate with us in order to move the State forward. 

20.     Let me seize this opportunity to thank all of you who contributed in making this occasion a great success especially the Chairman and Members of the Inauguration Committee, security agencies and the general public.  I am grateful to all of you who traveled from far and near to come and share these glorious occasions with us.  Your support and prayers will really re-energise us to do our best for our young and promising State.  While we pray fervently for Allah’s guidance in all we do, I also pray for journey mercies to all of you as you return to your respective destinations. 

21.     I thank you for listening and May Allah Bless us all, our dear State and our great country Nigeria.  Ameen. 

22.     LONG LIVE GOMBE STATE, AND LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.