The Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Inuwa Yahaya, visited President Bola Tinubu in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, where he sought stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments to better the lot of Nigerians.
Yahaya, who is also the governor of Gombe State, spoke to newsmen after he met behind closed doors with the president, lauding the federal government’s steps towards ending the crisis in Kaduna and Plateau states.
He said: “Collaboration of the states and the federal government, including the local governments, is very key and fundamental for us because if there is any disconnect, we may not deliver on what we have to do for the people.”
According to him: “There were several engagements between us towards the end of 2023, particularly on healthcare, enabling business environment reforms and many more. Without the economy picking up and doing well, we will continue to be where we are or even worse off.”
Commenting on the importance of agriculture to human development and attaining food sufficiency, the governor said there is a need for farmers to embrace modern techniques to boost their production.
“The way it is now, people have to understand that we must modernise. There is a need for machine tools, and there is a need for processing and luckily, Gombe is among the states that have been approved to be part of the Special Agric Processing Zones.
“We have set up an industrial park where we can process all the raw materials or agricultural produce that we have in the state. I think if all states will key in and work in tandem with the federal government, we shall easily reach the desired destination for Nigeria,” he added.
Also commenting on security challenges troubling some parts of the country, the governor commended President Tinubu for delegating Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kaduna and Plateau states to get the details of what transpired at Tudun Biri in Kaduna, as well as at Bokkos and Barikin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
“In my capacity as the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, I praise the steps taken by the President to get to the root of what happened in these two states and the pledge he made that the right action would be taken to prevent future occurrences of these incidents. Above all, I am thanking him for the support given to victims or survivors,” the governor stated.
Speaking specifically about the Plateau crisis, the governor said there was a need for a review of the immediate and remote causes to find a lasting solution.
“Despite the fact that this matter has been there for a long time, it is time for stakeholders to have a round table and tell each other the truth and then take deliberate steps towards loving each other. Before now, the people were living in peace and going about their normal businesses.
“Some of the major issues that seem to allow the problem to persist include issues like farmer-herder clashes and the clamour for indigenes versus settlers. But the world over, if any society or country doesn’t welcome visitors, such a nation will not progress. After all, we here are one and the same family.
“Therefore, we are commiserating with those who lost their loved ones. There should be no reason why anyone should go and kill or take the life of a fellow human being since it is not a war situation. Reprisal attacks have not taken us anywhere so what we need to concentrate on is understanding ourselves and knowing that we have leaders at all levels with whom we can lodge our complaints. We should imbibe the habit of loving one another and living in peace for the progress of all of us,” the Gombe State governor advised.
He further told newsmen that his visit to the seat of power was specifically to inform President Tinubu of the achievements the state has made under his leadership.
He said his administration is ready to put more words into action to facilitate development in the state known as the Jewel in the Savannah.
Governors Forum seeks collaboration between states, FG
