IBRAHIM DANKWAMBO: JIBRIN GOT IT WRONG

Iwill like to categorically state that the Gombe Youth Development Foundation, under which auspices I am writing this article, remains a non-political, non-profit-making and non-partisan body, concerned only with safeguarding good governance and transparent democracy. We recently bumped into an article signed by one Muhammad Jibrin Barde condemning the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministries, Enugu (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka for stating that Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo is most suitable for the presidency come 2019. According to Jibrin, the reverend father got it wrong by recommending Dankwambo for the presidency, saying he would not be recommending him as a replacement for President Muhammadu Buhari if he is abreast with the state of affairs in Gombe State.

Jibrin went further to dish out all sorts of lies and falsehood about Gombe as his reasons for making this false analysis about the state. We will like to also point out here that if there is anybody who lacks knowledge about the progressive transformation in Gombe State, it’s Jibrin himself. We will like to give Jibrin a few words of advise; ‘please learn to keep your mouth shut, if you ain’t uttering anything useful’. In his article, Jibrin said that it is a well-known fact that Gombe town had battled with lack of potable drinking water since independence. That is false. In his quest to ensure potable water supply in the state, Governor Dankwambo rehabilitated and reticulated pipelines and extension to Kwami, Gadam, etc., and provided extension of water supply to Baure, Dangar and many more communities, not forgetting the construction of Earth dam at Boh, Shongom Local government area.

Jibrin’s next lie was that the Gombe State University and the entire education system is now in a shambles and that classrooms are playground for idle students without teachers who had left en mass due to unpaid salaries. Nothing is farther from the truth. It is on record that Governor Dankwambo Talban Gombe has done more for education than any other state governor. Even the National University Commission stated that Gombe State University is one of the most successful state-own universities in Nigeria. He has renovated/constructed over 502 classrooms, recruited over 1,000 Degree/NCE graduates apart from training over 5,000 teachers. He also established a School of Basic and Remedial Studies in Kumo, College of Education in Billiri, State Polytechnic in Bajoga, College of Legal and Islamic Studies in Nafada and the recent establishment of the University of Science and Technology, Kumo and sponsored 25 students in Maritime Studies in India and United Kingdom.

Jibrin also alleged that Gombe hospitals, which were modernised and fully equipped, are now mortuaries and consulting clinics. How can a man be this irrational? It may interest Jibrin to know that Governor Dankwambo has upgraded the Urban Maternity to Children & Women Hospital Idi, constructed a dialysis centre in the Specialist Hospital Gombe, constructed College of Nursing and Midwifery, Dukku; constructed a Snake-bite Centre in Kaltungo as well as supply and installation of four dialysis machines and two dialysis chairs.

Jibrin further added that the International Airport in Gombe has been neglected. The Gombe Airport is however fully functional and well-equipped by the Dankwambo administration with regular flight schedules by Arik Air and Azman. Jibrin lies on the Gombe International Hotel are also cheap. The Gombe International Hotel is truly a sight to behold.

Jibrin alleged that despite the Paris Club refunds and bailouts engineered by the federal government, salaries and pensions are not paid in Gombe. It is on record that Governor Dankwambo Talban Gombe has been recognised as the best labour-friendly governor for paying workers as at when due and prompt payment of pensions. The honour by NLC speaks volumes.

Gombe, an agrarian state, has been transformed within the past few years through the procurement of 225 tractor units; markets were constructed to encourage cotton farm and many other developmental projects. This government has trained over 320 youths in six different trades in skills acquisition centre, trained 330 supervisors at Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Jos, and recruited 1500 youths as traffic, environmental and security marshals.

It is worthy of note that the political blackmail on Governor Dankwambo has only made the governor more popular by the day. It is pleasing that the governor is smart and wise enough to fight this political war with his progressive and developmental work in Gombe State. Salisu Umar, Publicity Secretary, Gombe Youth Development Foundation