The chairman of the forum and Gombe state governor, Inuwa Yahaya, who gave the kudos, speaking in Hausa language, on behalf of the body on Thursday, also thanked the President for providing support to survivors and victims of various crises.

Governor Yahaya, who gave the kudos while speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after a meeting with President Tinubu, also appealed against interactions tending to create divisions among communities and neighbours, blaming the bloody clashes and needless killings on these divisions.

“In my capacity as the chainman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, I praise the steps taken by the President in order 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.”

Speaking specifically about the Plateau crisis, the governor said it is not a new thing, but there is a need for a review of the immediate and remote causes in order to find a lasting solution.

“Despite the fact that this matter has been there for a long, it is time for stakeholders to have a round table and tell each other the truth, and then take deliberate steps toward 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 doing is to understand ourselves and know that we have leaders at all levels whom we can lodge our complaints with. 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.

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 in order to boost their production.

“The way it is now, people have to understand that we must modernise. There is a need for machine tools; there is 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 work in tandem, and work with the federal government, we shall easily reach the desired destination for Nigeria,” he added.

Governor Yahaya also sought more collaboration between the federal and state governments in Nigeria, saying doing so would help a lot in achieving development in all sectors, thus bettering the lot of citizens.

“There were several engagements between us towards the end of 2023, particularly pertaining to 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.

“Collaboration of the states and the federal government—in fact, 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,” he said.

The governor told journalists that he was in the State House to inform the Nigerian leader of the achievements the state has made under his leadership as governor.

He said the state government is ready to put more words into action in order to bring about faster development in the state known as the Jewel in the Savannah.

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The forum described the attacks as reprehensible and heinous.

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, chairman of the forum expressed the disgust on behalf of the 19 governors in the northern parts of Nigeria.

He expressed the forum’s deepest condolences to the affected families and communities as well as the government and people of Plateau.

“It is disheartening to hear of the loss of more than 100 lives and the destruction of property that occurred during these attacks, especially when people were preparing to celebrate Christmas.

“Such acts of violence are not only cowardly, but also run counter to the spirit of unity and coexistence that our region upholds.

“We must all prioritise peace and harmonious living in our communities. Now, more than ever, we must reaffirm our commitment to peaceful coexistence and solidarity regardless of our differences.

“We must unite in our commitment to peace and security, and stand firm against all forms of violence and divisions, the chairman said in a statement issued in Gombe by his media aide, Ismaila Uba-Misilli.

Yahaya commended Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau for his leadership in handling the situation in the aftermath of the attacks.

He assured Mutfwang that the Northern governors stand united in solidarity with him in the face of adversity and would work together to ensure lasting peace in Plateau.

Yahaya also commended security agencies operating in the area and implored them to redouble efforts in safeguarding lives and property of the people through increased vigilance and swift actions.

“It is imperative that those responsible for the heinous acts are swiftly apprehended and made to face the full weight of justice,’’ Gov. Yahaya stressed.

He urged communities in Gombe State to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious activities to security agencies for immediate intervention.

Gunmen attacked 15 communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau on Christmas Eve; killed 96 persons and destroyed 221 houses.

The assailants also destroyed eight vehicles and 27 motorcycles.

Three communities were attacked in Barkin-Ladi where 17 persons were killed.

Communities attacked in Bokkos Local Government Area were Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat and Butura Kampani.

In Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area, the assialants unleashed mayhem on NTV, Hurum and Darawat.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on March 18 announced Governor Inuwa Yahaya of the APC as the winner of the guber poll with 342,821 votes.

NewMailNG reports the lower court had dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate Mohammed Barde against the victory of the state governor Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The tribunal presided over by Justice S.B. Belgore struck out the case over lack of merit.

Barde alleged in the petition that the election that returned Governor Inuwa as the winner was marred by many irregularities including vote buying.

However, the tribunal ruled that the allegation was baseless and that the petitioners failed to prove the alleged election malpractices and therefore struck out the petition.

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The party was challenging the election of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, and his deputy, Manassah Jatau, of the All Progressives Congress.

Yahaya and Jatau were declared winners by the Independent National Electoral Commission as validly elected.

ADC had challenged the declaration and return of Yahaya based on alleged multiplicity and variations in the arrangement of names on the certificates of his deputy.

The three-man Justices struck the case, saying that “it first a pre-election matter, the deputy has met the minimum certificate requirement to run.”

The tribunal also struck out ADC’s allegations of corrupt practices and vote buying for lack of proof.

In the suit challenging the uploading of the results, the court upheld that there is no provision for INEC to do so.

Our correspondent reports that other judgments are underway one of which was instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate Jibrin Barde, with demand for fresh election in about four Local Government Areas.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hospital was constructed in Tula village of Kaltungo Local Government Area of the State by a charity organisation, known as ‘Jennifer Etuh Foundation.

The Chairman of the foundation, Thomas Etuh, said the facility was constructed by the foundation to give the people of the village access to healthcare services.

He noted that the foundation was established in 2020 in memory of his late wife, Jennifer Etuh, adding that her vision is to provide available, accessible and affordable world-class healthcare services to women and children.

According to him, this informed their decision to build and donate the medical centre to the village that is ‘a hard-to-reach’ area.

Etih said the foundation had constructed similar medical centres in Odu, Kogi, for the North Central; in Kagoro, Kaduna State, for the Northwest, and another at Ifewara, Osun State, for the Southwest, respectively.

He stated that the foundation had equally built skills acquisition centres across the six geopolitical zones of the country and offered free medical outreaches.

“We are deeply indebted to God for his countless mercies and favours in our lives. My darling wife will have been celebrating her 49th birthday today. But God knows best. Nevertheless, we are here to commemorate her legacy.

“Before her passing, she gave very explicit and precise instructions of this vision, which over the past two years have continuously become a reality,” the chairman said.

In his goodwill message, Alhaji Abubakar Atare, the Paramount ruler of Tula, said the ultra-modern health centre has been longed for by the community.

Atare said the facility would serve the community and its environs.

”This health facility is the only one of its kind in the North East sub-region and the people of Tula will remain indebted to your show of love,” he said.

He said the facility would go a long way in improving the health of the people of the community and beyond.

Yahaya of commended the foundation for the gesture, adding that it will complement the efforts of the state government in delivering healthcare services.

The governor called on wealthy individuals and organisations to emulate the foundation to make life better for the teeming population.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation has organised five days medical outreach as well as empowered over 1,000 widows with wrappers, toiletries and N1,000 cssh gift each.

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The committee said the invitation was for the past administration to account for property it disposed of illegaly.

The Chairman of the committee, retired Group Capt. Peter Bilal, who made the call while briefing newsmen on Saturday in Gombe, said if they failed to appear, the committee would resort to legal actions to recover the state assets that were disposed of without due process.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that Gov. Inuwa Yahaya set up the committee following his inauguration to recover alleged government property improperly disposed of by the immediate past administration of Dankwambo.

He alleged that a lot of government property worth billions of naira were improperly disposed of during Dankwambo’s tenure.

“We call on Dankwambo, his former Commissioner of Finance and appointees, including his Aide Decamp, Principal Permanent Secretary (PPS) Chief of Staff. to respond to the directive.

“Also, the former security adviser is to appear before the committee and surrender government property in their possession with immediate effect,” he stated.

Bilal also called on any persons in possession of government property to return them as soon as possible.

He alleged that all efforts to get Dankwambo and his aides to account for how the state government property were disposed of and some cash withdrawn from government coffers at the twilight of his administration had failed.

According to him, the committee has recovered some and some beneficiaries voluntarily surrendered theirs. “So far the committee recovered some property including lands, vehicles among other things,” he said.

NAN correspondent who visited scene of the recovered property reports that no fewer than 20 vehicles, 35 tricycles and other property were seen

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