Gombe @30: 2027: Gombe Governor Urges Leaders To Prioritise Peace, Unity

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has urged political leaders to prioritise peace, unity and continuity of development over personal and partisan interests ahead of the 2027 political transition.

Yahaya made the call on Wednesday at an international conference and symposium marking the 30th anniversary of Gombe State’s creation, held at the International Conference Centre, Gombe.

“The future of Gombe State must always be greater than the ambitions of any individual or political party,” the governor said, stressing the need to sustain the collective efforts that have shaped the state since its creation on October 1, 1996.

The event brought together former state leaders, government officials, traditional rulers, scholars and representatives of other states to reflect on Gombe’s development over the past three decades and discuss its future.

Yahaya described leadership as a collective responsibility, urging successive administrations to build on the foundations laid by their predecessors.

“Leadership in a young state like ours is a relay, not a sprint. Each generation receives the baton from those who came before it, carries it as far as circumstances and resources permit, and passes it on with the expectation that those who follow will advance the journey,” he said.

The governor acknowledged the contributions of successive administrations, including those of the state’s pioneer military administrator, Group Captain Joseph Orji; the late Colonel Mohammed Inuwa Bawa; former governor Abubakar Habu Hashidu; former governor and senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje; and former governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.

Speaking at the event, Orji said Gombe had recorded considerable infrastructural and socioeconomic changes since its creation. He particularly commended development projects undertaken under Yahaya’s administration.

The Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Idi Barde Gubana, who spoke on behalf of visiting deputy governors from Bauchi, Plateau and Yobe states, congratulated the government and people of Gombe on the anniversary.

The symposium also featured presentations by Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali and James Saliba, who examined the state’s history, governance and development prospects.

The Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, said successive administrations had contributed to Gombe’s development while highlighting the role of the current government.

The event also featured the unveiling of a commemorative book, Gombe State: Thirty Years of Promise and Progress, 1996–2026. The publication documents the state’s history since its creation and was reviewed by Sani Abba Aliyu of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.