Gombe State remains one of the safest states for investors in the country, according to the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, who said that his three-month-old administration has been able to address security challenges and other distractions that could discourage investors.
Speaking yesterday when he led some top officials of his administration on a courtesy call to LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group, Governor Dankwambo attributed the peaceful co-existence in Gombe State to the calm nature of its citizens, more so that the members of the Kalare group which hitherto threatened the peaceful coexistence of the state are being rehabilitated and channeled to productive ventures.
“Gombe is a relatively peaceful state because we have, for a long time, overcome the differences that existed in some other states. These are differences of discrimination which could be ethnic, religious, social, etc. And the fair share of equity, justice and fairness that drives any equitable society is the secret that drives Gombe State. Since coming into office, I have tried to maintain these three things. And anywhere – not just in Gombe but across Nigeria – if we take it as an onus on us to be fair and just, there won’t be any bomb anywhere. In fact, hardly will there be accidents because, then, we would be a law-abiding,’’ the governor stated.
Speaking on his first 100 days in office, the Gombe governor said that, on assumption of office, he embarked on a meticulous long-term planning that will outlive his government and shape his desire to situate Gombe State as a pace setter in the country. In the long run, he said, he was optimistic that the state would be turned around and have good prospects in all strata.
He said: “On May 29, we came in with a lot of campaign promises but as soon as you are sworn in, the challenges come in folds. For you to succeed you have to plan and plan very assiduously. So when I came, we set out to work and started planning for the long term. There must also be consensus because, for any plan to succeed, you must have the understanding of the people whom you invited to work with you. We invited people irrespective of their religious and political beliefs and they came together and we asked ourselves what we wanted to do in the short, medium and long term. The result is a well-mapped out development policy that encompasses virtually all sectors of the state’s economy, especially as regards longtime investments.
“For instance, if I want to provide water for Gombe, is it a now, now, now remedy that would entail me using tankers and supplying them, or would I use boreholes to supply the water, or do I build or construct a dam that would last us for 15, 20 years? So we sat down and defined parameters for development. Same applies to the education sector as well as other infrastructural development areas. I am only sure of the four years I’m to spend in the Government House in Gombe State. I am clear on what I want to do. I don’t want somebody that will come and be guessing. I need people who would help me entrench my vision for the state. We have defined the parameters and so, if you are a commissioner, you exactly know the drive of the administration.’’
?