Phenomenon as a noun simply means that which strikes one as unusual, extraordinary or very remarkable person, thing, or occurrence.
It is in the light of the above that I will try to x-ray governance of Gombe State under the leadership of Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who took over the reigns of adminstration on 29th May 2019 and looking towards the finishing line of the first four years.
This is by no means a scorecard of sort but an honest assessment of a traversing public affairs observer.
If your opponents agree that you are better than them in performance indices, and you can soar in an atmosphere of ardent mediocrity unto a lofty height of excellence in most spheres of influence then you are a phenomenon.
Have you ever been very close to Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State at anytime? He is a remarkable personality by many parameters.
Though his voice is calm and mercurial yet it is absolutely reassuring.He means what he says.And says only what he means all the time. He is a politician who doesn’t ‘politrick’.
He is in a different class of his own.The kind of personality that is divinely released at an auspicious moment in the history of a people and a generation. In Yoruba land such a personality is referred to as ‘ akanda eniyan’ a uniquely created for purpose persona’.
Among the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former Premier of Western Nigeria is seen in this light.Two classic examples readily come to mind here in Northern Nigeria .Late Sardauna of Sokoto & Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would have merited the list perfectly, but he carries too many baggages of controversy that often times negate the merit of the unique classification.
Back to Inuwa Yahaya.First you will agree with me that the two Northern personalities are national leaders who have impacted on Nigeria as a nation, recognized nationally and International.They are visionary and exemplars, institution builders, leaving legacies that cannot be wished away in the anals of history.They were celebrated while still alive and honours continue to trail them long after their demise.
Meritoriously, Inuwa Yahaya, the fourth Executive Governor of Gombe State is fast evolving in the mold of these revolutionary leaders. Inuwa Yahaya was adjudged in the passing year by three Nigerian reputable Newspapers as Governor of the Year.
Regardless of what foundation is in place, visionary leaders always see new paths and chart new heights and courses that take their generation to an unprecedented position in history and make their names indellibly etched on the sands of time.
They always know what to do,how to do and when to do, getting done what other other leaders failed at.They are essentially leaders of leaders.
Inuwa Yahaya falls fittingly into these mold of homosapiens.A gift to a generation.
Let me leave rhetorics to factual. Like Malam Aminu Kano of blessed polical memory once said, “I have seen light at the end of the tunnel, I am ready to go farther with as many people that are ready to go with me”.
Aminu Kano was a visionary leader who saw far ahead of his contemporaries in his days. He was a highly respected politician in Northern Nigeria. He symbolized democratization, women’s empowerment and freedom of speech. An airport, a college, a major street and many structures are also named after him in Kano.
Like Malam Aminu Kano, Inuwa Yahaya was undeterred at the slow momentum of socioeconomic fabric of the Gombe State he met on assumption of power as a governor.He had a mindset.He came handy with a blue print.
Like a determined caterpillar desirous of blooming into a beautiful butterfly, Inuwa handed Gombe State its first ever Development Plan, tagged DEVAGOM.It is a 10-Year Blueprint that all naysayers were in unison that for real, Gombe State will truly be transformed into a cosmopolitan state that will not only be the envy of Northern Nigeria, but will attract massive investment that will make the United Arab Emirates desirous of partnerships.
Already, the Chinese and Indians are courting the business friendship of the State also known as the Jewel in the Savannah. A jewel indeed, the Qatar Charity is asking for more space of operations. The Charity is already supporting rural water projects and gearing up for more areas of engagements. Ditto the Saudi Arabia. Development Agency.
Inside the Devagom is a sectoral embryo for the overhaul of all areas of growing the economy of the state. Devagom is not a mere academic exercise concocted by an attention seeking polical neophyte.Rather,it is a product of a man that wants the best for his people.
Right from his childhood,Inuwa has always been a lone ranger, who like the eagle, doesn’t flock with the crowd of nonentities, he was focused and serious-minded, committed and dedicated to progress of whatever he chose to do.
In his almost four years first term in office, he has transmorgrified the fortune and future of the state unarguably as the safest and fastest economic development hub in the Northern Nigeria today.
Last year, Gombe was rated as number 1 state in the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.
He has secured Gombe as the safest place in the North East, a wise business man,Inuwa Yahaya settled the issue of security first.He knew with security, peace is inevitable.And businesses thrive well in a safe and secure environment.
Both the State Commissioner of Police and the Commandant of the Civil Defence attest to the commitment of Governor Yahaya to security matters.”He is very supportive of our operations which he has helped with both vehicles and funds.He is in tune with the Community Policing model in the state.He has mobilized the traditional leadership in the state to cooperate fully with all our joint operations which has yieled the fruits of peaceful coexistence in the state”, said CP Etim.
Recently, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was in Gombe for his campaign.
This is what he said about Inuwa Yahaya.
“Inuwa is a man of unquestionable integrity.He is a man who is not selfish but has the love of his people at heart.
While riding with me on arrival into the state. He made three requests from me.None was a personal favor, all were for the development of Gombe State.
He asked me for the development of the Kolmani Oil Field, he asked me for agricultural sector development and education as well as the industrialization of his state. I will do all for Gombe when I become your President”.Tinubu told the audience at the Emir’s Palace.
Industrial development is already a done deal with Inuwa Yahaya.He has commenced the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park in the State.
By the way, an industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development. I am not sure of how many states in Nigeria have an industrial park.
With industrial park comes the propensity to produce more jobs, improve the tax base and business retention, as well as reduce development costs.Gombe will never remain the same with the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park. The youths are hopeful of being gainfully employed.
The Kolmani Oil Field development which is being celebrated today as historic achievement of the Inuwa Yahaya’s phenomenal success did not come easy for Gombe State. Like they say, before glory comes guts and grits.Inuwa Yahaya has both in quantum. He criss-crossed the NNPC and the Presidential Villa in Abuja several times until the President not only gave assent to the request of Inuwa Yahaya’s incessant visit to the Villa. For his dogged commitment to the Kolmani Oil Field Project which will enlist the state among the elite oil producing states in Nigeria with the attendant revenue sharing benefits from the Federal Government Revenue allocation, President Buhari personally graced the flag off ceremony.
Today, Gombe’s chances of progress and prosperity have been adjudged as more than 500 times better than what they were before Inuwa Yahaya took over the leadership of the State.
Aviation has enjoyed the Inuwa Yahaya’s unique touch. The Gombe State Governor is not a man to leave unturned, anything that will make his state better and progressive. Hitherto, the Gombe International Airport seemed like a dying horse that could not be helped back to life.Now it is livelier than it used to be and days of better glory appear in sight.
It was a beautiful scenery last week as about 6 aeroplanes conveying APC party members landed safely and took off back to their destinations.
Yet, the real boom is just about to start. What has Inuwa done. As always, he headed to Abuja and tabled his desire to the President and Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika. Pronto! Federal Government bought into Yahaya’s argument of a turnaround and real Internationalization of the airport. Gombe Airport is now a federal government jointly operated venture. The federal might and visionary leadership of Governor Inuwa Yahaya have returned vibrancy to the dying airport. A deboniare young Engineer Muhammed Kabir who has had a hugely rewarding private sector aviation and travel logistics experience was brought in as the Airport’s Sole Administrator.
He is full of idea.Engineer Kabir says Gombe Airport will soon become a huge tourist hub in the Northeast Nigeria. “We are also looking at the possibility of agro-cargo services to take care of the huge agricultural products of the state to all our trading partners both in the south west and south east Nigeria”. Engineer Kabir said with beaming optimism.
Health has a loving attention of Governor Yahaya.All the three Senatorial Districts now boast of a State of the Art multi-billion Naira Hospitals. Those not completed are receiving final finishing touches. On his way from an event in Kaltungo last Thursday, Governor Yahaya made an unscheduled stop by at the Kumo Hospital under construction.
‘ What I saw was absolutely good. It met my expectations and I challenge anybody to come and verify whether it has met international standards or not. I am convinced of the quality; I am convinced of the speed, especially; I am confident that before 29th of May this year, this hospital will be completed and handed over for use by the public”, he said.
Inuwa remarked that his intention is to make it work with Lincoln University which is supposed to partner with the State, to operate the Science and Technology University; It will have a medical faculty and eventually turn to a Teaching Hospital by all standards because all the equipment needed are ready.
“We are just waiting for the contractors to put finishing touches.They are at the last stages of the project”, he told newsmen.
A universal health sufferage program tagged GoHealth has been introduced in Gombe State. With this contributary scheme, both working class and retirees have been brought into the dragnet of affordable healthcare.
Every ward in Gombe State has a modern and well equipped Primary Healthcare Center with a pool of ambulances on standby for all emergencies.
The road network in Gombe is superb. Until I begin to spend weeks in Gombe I used to think that it is only in the Abuja metropolis that you can tell someone you will see him in 10 minutes and make the appointment. Yesterday, I called journalist friend, to pick me up to the Civil Defence Corps office, from where he came and the arrival time,I was thrilled.No pot holes.No traffic encumbrances.
Gombe streets are lovelier at night. The street lights are never out of power. They are solar powered with an array of colorful stem lights that make every evening look like a Christmas night.
It will come as a surprise that Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s road network program is not only in the city centres. He initiated a program called Network Eleven-100. This program targets to give all the 11 local government areas that makes up the state a hundred kilometers road each for seamless interconnectivity.
Why did Inuwa go through this route of development. He says that if the roads are good, movement of goods and services will be faster and productivity will be boosted.
The social life of the people will become stress free, including reduction of the wear and tear of both vehicles and human to the minimal levels.
– Saliu is a public affairs commentator
A man of all people.Inuwa places the youths permanently in his heart.Just two days ago, at the ECWA International Youth Conference with members drawn from the 36 States of Nigeria, and youths from Chad, Cameroon and Republic of Benin, he donated 10million Naira for their welfare.
He has employed over 1000 teachers in the state education sector. He has brought back to school more than 400000 out of school children within his four years in office. Over 20000 youths have been employed in both formal and informal sectors with more than 5 tranches of empowerment programmes held.
His educational reforms are as meaningful and impactful as should be expected. The first thing he did was to declare a state of emergency on the education sector which was in comatose, disinterested and at the lowest rungs of the success rating index.
By the time Inuwa was celebrating three years in office, many students were already back to school. The State Academic success rating in GCE, WAEC and NECO has climbed up from 27% to 87%.
How did this happen? Inuwa built new classrooms, made the school environment appealing and conducive for both teachers and students.Teachers salaries are paid promptly on 25th of every month. He owes no teacher salary likewise every other civil servant.They are all promptly paid every 25th of the month.
Retirees are on a special list of preference in Gombe State. Inuwa declared at the inception of his administration that the era of a retiree dying without enjoying the fruits of his service to the state and the children coming to chase entitlements are over.And so has it been. He also said he will not owe any retiree a single Kobo during his time.
As at last week, a total of 9.7 billion Naira has been paid out of the 29billion retirees debt left behind by his predecessor including serving civil servant salaries especially local government employees.
He is equally managing well the diversity components of his State. While Inuwa Yahaya is a Muslim,he has a Christian Deputy,Dr. Manasah Jatau.In his cabinet is an Igbo man, Prince Chidebelu Cornelius Ewunze SA on InterCommunity Relations, while Dr. Lanre Daniel, a Yoruba man, heads the State Sports Commission.
Last week a new female judge, Justice Halima Muhammed was sworn as the State High Court Judge.
Like many other great leaders of distinction, Inuwa is not all gloss without a tint of dross. His critics have pinned him down for his frugality.He does not scatter the cake as expected from various quarters. They have taken his frugality for stinginess.But the Dan Majen Gombe is always quick to respond. “I am an accountant. I get full value for my money, and our money”
You really cannot blame a man who met a debilitating debt of 128billion, unpaid salaries, a demoralized citizenry, a deluge of abandoned projects and a cacophony of groaning sounds from everything developmental sphere.
It is not a time to share the booty yet. It is a time to birth the goodies.
As the gubernatorial elections draw near, it is not unlikely that Gombawas will reward Inuwa Yahaya for his selflessness of the last four years and vote him in again for a more handsome and all-benefitting accomplishments in the midst of lean resources. Time will tell.
– Saliu is a public affairs commentator.
