2019: Time to turn new chapter in Gombe

By 2019, Nigeria will mark twenty years since the return of a successful, un-truncated democracy, but for the northeastern state, the two decades of the ruling under the universal suffrage only pass by like a whirlwind phases, with little or no efforts to tap into the huge talents and potentials the state is blessed with.  […]

By 2019, Nigeria will mark twenty years since the return of a successful, un-truncated democracy, but for the northeastern state, the two decades of the ruling under the universal suffrage only pass by like a whirlwind phases, with little or no efforts to tap into the huge talents and potentials the state is blessed with. 

That is why I deem it timely for the people of Gombe to turn the new page and look for the right, credible and, of course, youthful and energetic candidate, who is ready to take the bull by the horn and institutionalize innovations in the state.

Like in many other states, Gombe state is also blessed (cursed?) with multitude of aspirants, cutting across all the political parties, with the two heavyweights of APC and PDP recording the eye-popping number of aspirants. And as the state prepares to bid farewell to the incumbent governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo (who declares to run for the office of the president), analysts are casting an exceptional interest as to how both parties will fare, given the seeming level playing field. 

But looking at the aspirants jostling to clinch the ticket of the APC in the state, one is left to wonder whether the sterling exploits of Umar Farouk Bamusa, who stands out as a businessman, with no taint and blemish of a political office gimmicks would go unnoticed when the part sets out for its primary election and subsequently the general election, should he clinched the ticket of his platform.

Having contested (and never loses hope) in the past two general elections in the state, and seeing his unwavering philanthropic gestures spreading like a wildfire, the Kwami-born Lagos-based business man has certainly proved his mettle to pilot the affairs of the state and open it for the local and international business community for the first time in its history.  Bamusa is a successful businessman who has never looked back since when he ventured into the business environment in faraway Lagos. With people like Bamusa in the saddle of the state’s affairs, expect a flurry of entrepreneurial activities, trading boom, business dawn and international limelight typical of a state that is ready to stand on its feet via IGR, like Lagos and with a touch difference to what used to be the business as usual in the state.

Bashir Aliyu Kabir, Bauchi