Gombe 2015: Dankwambo And The Rest Of Us DAHIRU HASSAN KERA — Jan 14, 2015 | 1 Comment It is God-ordained and natural that leadership exists both in the animal and human kingdom. In the animal kingdom, leadership generally belongs to the strong, valiant and courageous, those who possess the right attributes and can aim to protect the weak of the clan, feed and train the young while promoting discipline and well-being among the herd. Among humans, the burden of leadership naturally falls on the charismatic, selfless and vision-driven individual whose power is rooted in the transparent determination to use his wisdom and God’s endowed knowledge to design viable policies and strategies geared towards the entrenchment of good governance and socio-economic development for the benefit of the human race. Therefore, it is obvious that a society which exists without a leader is bound to collapse. Since its creation in 1996 by the then Gen. Sani Abacha’s military administration, quite a number of military administrators and civilian governors have ruled and governed Gombe State but, until recently, there has been no conscious effort to develop the state, restore the lost glory of human value system and transform the infrastructural-cum socio-economic potentialities of the Jewel of the Savannah for the better. The military administrators did little or nothing to deliver the dividends of governance to the people and the state did not witness considerable development, as her key socio-economic sectors remained stagnated and deteriorated to the disaffection and disenchantment of the state’s citizenry. However, with the advent of civilian rule in 1999, anxious and hopeful Gombawa expressed confidence that it would be different. They were bent on electing their own leaders who would be accountable to them and act in consonance with the wishes and aspirations of the people. Thus, Alhaji Abubakar Habu Hashidu of the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) was elected and sworn in as the first civilian governor of Gombe State amidst fanfare, pageantry, hope and high expectations. A lot of promises of rapid developmental and progressive change were made by Hashidu and his cabinet and the people felt that, indeed, they were in for good times as never before. Alas, mid-way into his tenure, Hashidu was carried away by politics and an undying need for an undeserved second term in office, resulting in a derailment and non- performance. In the end, Hashidu’s bid for second term crashed on the rocks and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was voted into office in a dramatic finale which rang through the entire state. That was how Danjuma Goje came to power. Sadly, Hashidu’s single four-year term tunred out to be a comfort when compared to the eight-year waste which Goje and his ilk perpetrated in the state. Goje’s pillaging was merciless and remorseless. He used the Yan Kalare to instill fear in the minds of ordinary citizens and scare potential political opposition. The state was virtually cowed and stakeholders in the state chose to remain silent and alive than criticize his style of leadership and face the wrath of the ruthless young people at Goje’s beck and call. According to the time of all things, Goje’s days in office came to an inglorious end when he was replaced by a vibrant and forward-looking Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo who has, so far, brought succour and hope to the people of the state and, to a large extent, ushered in a refreshing era of a people-oriented government. To be candid, Dankwambo’s ascension into office has brought with a cause to rejoice for the people of Gombe – all within three-and-a-half years of modest stewardship and dogged concentration. To chronicle the landmark achievements and milestones of the achieving Dankwambo may take quantum space and time. It is only pertinent, therefore, to recommend a visit to the Jewel of the Savannah to appreciate the scope and breadth of the Talban Gombe’s transformational policies and programmes which have continued to draw deserved honours, awards and accolades from far and near. Better still, while the electioneering processes have since begun, the Dankwambo administration has continued to deliver the dividends of democracy to our teeming population, the most recent being the presentation of the N750m soft loan to Gombe Traders and Farmers Association. The recent presentation of his ‘score card’ has equally demonstrated his political commitments to the welfare of his people and, if achievements and performances are anything to go by and also remain the quest for the electorates, Dankwambo has no match in 2015 general election.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 08:13:59 +0000
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