2019: What Gombe State should not be

Gombe is a state created in 1996. It’s a product of an age long collective effort, hard-work, sacrifice and commitment demonstrated by our founding fathers whose strong passion and dedication to the cause of realizing the dream for a separate Gombe state was never in doubt.  No doubt, Gombe has become a model in state […]

Gombe is a state created in 1996. It’s a product of an age long collective effort, hard-work, sacrifice and commitment demonstrated by our founding fathers whose strong passion and dedication to the cause of realizing the dream for a separate Gombe state was never in doubt. 

No doubt, Gombe has become a model in state creation. And if the cardinal objective for the agitation is anything to go by, then Gombe has largely achieved its purpose. 

Ironically, Gombe is one of the states in the federation that has the least IGR (Internally Generated Revenue) index.  Painfully too, it ranked second to the last on the Federation Account Allocation table. Therefore, if not for the sheer luck of having selfless and development – oriented leaders that are exceptionally brilliant and tested in the field of proper financial management, Gombe’s destiny could have long been confined to the dustbin of history. 

The main import of this piece therefore is not only meant to appreciate what has so far been put in place, but also to give credit to whom credit is due and to make useful recommendations on how best Gombe should look like in 2019 and thereafter, knowing fully well Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo is on the last lap of his tenure in office.

Given the fact that our collective hopes and aspirations have been largely realized, we cannot make the mistake of folding our arms and allow our progress to be retarded. The destiny of Gombe must not be allowed to be at the mercy of a select few day dreamers who are working underground, holding nocturnal meetings and forming imaginary alliances simply to capture and retain power by all means.

As Gombawa, we owe it a duty to appreciate God for his wonders and for fulfilling our dreams of having those higher institutions of learning we yearned for. A state-owned University has been established in Gombe (Gombe LGA) in addition to another university of Science and Technology located in Kumo (Akko LGA). We cherish the foresight of establishing a College of Education at Billiri (Billiri LGA); State Polytechnic, Bajoga (Funa-kaye LGA); College of Legal and Islamic Studies Nafada (Nafada LGA); School of Basic and Remedial Studies, Daban-Fulani (Kwami LGA); College of Nursing and Midwifery in Dukku (Dukku LGA); and the College of Medical Sciences of Gombe State University in Gombe. 

In terms of basic Social infrastructures, Gombe has made a mark in the entire North east region. Numerous intra and inter town network of asphalt – layed roads have been provided and thus opened the state to outside world. Densely populated and highly inaccessible areas in the cities and towns have been well paved out for easy movement of people. Important agricultural and economically viable zones have been opened up and connected to outside markets. Goods and services are now daily being transported.

Almost all the eleven (11) Local Government headquarters in the state have been provided with asphalt – layed roads, electricity, hospitals and schools. Networks of township roads have been constructed in Bajoga town (Funa – kaye LGA); Nafada (Nafada LGA); Dukku (Dukku LGA); Malam Sidi (Kwami LGA); Gombe (Gombe LGA); Kumo (Akko LGA); Deba, Dadin-Kowa, Liji and Hina (Yamaltu – Deba LGA); Billiri (Billiri LGA); Filiya, Gwandum, Kulishin, Lapan (Shongom LGA); Kaltungo (Kaltungo LGA); Cham as well as Bambam and Talasse in (Balanga LGA).

In an effort to give Gombe a befitting state capital, quite a number of dual carriage ways have been provided dotted with street and traffic lights.

This is in addition to the bold and courageous steps taken in constructing those notorious and very costly mega bridges that previous administrations have failed to do, namely the Bello Sabon-Kudi (Gadan Malam Pela) bridge, Barunde, Yelwan Bogo, Maiguduma, Hayin Misau bridges, including one additional support bridge near GGSS Doma, all in Gombe metropolis. He has also rescued a number of communities hitherto neglected and almost forgotten. Worthy of mention were the construction of the half a kilometer long controversial Kuri bridge (Yamaltu – Deba LGA); the two multi – span bridges at Taliyawa and Dakkiti (Akko LGA), the Dogon Ruwa Community and its new mega bridge (Kaltungo LGA), the Maidugu Mega bridge (Akko LGA) as well as the reconstruction of the collapsed new Morom Mega bridge (Yamaltu – Deba LGA).

The Gombe International Airport and the Federal Medical Center, deserves special mention, as I make bold to say that these twin and significant structures are proudly being patronize by almost all the states in the North East sub region.

The multi-billion naira Gombe Regional Water Supply scheme has today become a project of national significance. Started by the Hashidu – led administration, completed and extended to Gombe by Danjuma Goje, the project now inherited by Governor Dankwambo has been modernized and expanded. More than a hundred settlements within Gombe metropolis that were hitherto neglected, have been covered including an on – going expansion to the distant towns of Kwami, Gadam and Bojude, a distance of about 64km. 

Furthermore, the prevailing peace in the state has led to widespread increase in economic prosperity and commercial boom, giving rise to the establishment of more banks and other financial institutions, Super Markets and Shopping malls, Private International Schools and Hotel businesses, the most prominent among which are the Ja’iz Bank, Heritage Bank, Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, Matrix International Academy, Duwa Plaza, Dadaka Flour Mills, 3go Mould Tiger Gate POP Cement and Paint processing factory Ltd, the famous Tudun Hatsi (Grains) market as well as the ever growing Commercial Cluster Zone for Rice and Groundnut oil millers located at BCGA Gombe. 

To sum it up, Gombe is indeed a model in state creation. The culture of strict financial discipline, prudence and accountability must be sustained. 

To cap it all, the history of the struggle for the creation of Gombe State will not be complete without paying glowing tributes to the sacrifices, hard work and commitment shown by our respected elders who championed the cause of our dream, like the late Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Usman Abubakar, Alhaji Abdulkadir Baba Manu (A.B.M), General Timothy Shelpidi (all deceased); Alh. Usman Faruk, Jarman Gombe; Ambassador Yerima Abdullahi, Sarkin Bai Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Habu Hashidu, Matawallen Dukku and to former Governor Muhammad Danjuma Goje, Sarkin Yakin Gombe whose tenure saw to the provision of a number of infrastructures and the incumbent governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, for not only changing the social base and redirecting the course of events in Gombe, but also for his unmatched record of achievements.

Before 2019, we must start working to prepare ground for Gombe to fall into the hands of a leader with the requisite skills, accommodation and sound managerial capacity to continue to pilot our affairs. We must not allow people with doubtful characters and sheer incompetence to turn Gombe into what it should not be.  

Yidikawu wrote this piece from Gombe.