Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state has reiterated the need for peace, unity and religious tolerance, warning that no meaningful development can take place without sustained harmony among communities.
The governor made the remarks at the Government House in Gombe when members of the Christian community paid him a Christmas homage as part of activities marking the 2025 Christmas celebration.
He congratulated Christians in the state and across Nigeria, stressing that Gombe State has no place for religious or ethnic division. He urged residents to resist attempts by individuals or groups seeking to destabilise the state.
Governor Yahaya noted that societies affected by conflict often lose not only development opportunities, but also basic freedoms, including the right to practice religion.
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He gave the Christian community the assurances that his administration would continue to prioritise peace and harmony, calling on religious leaders to keep preaching tolerance and unity for the overall development of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the Christian community, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Gombe State, Rev. Father Joseph Alphonsus Shinga, praised the governor’s inclusive leadership, saying it has strengthened peace and mutual understanding among the state’s diverse population.
Rev. Father Shinga added that the governor’s approach reflected the core message of Christmas, peace and reconciliation.
During the event, the governor also announced financial and material support to Christian communities across the state, including food and non-food items, for distribution across the state’s 11 local government areas to support vulnerable members of the Christian community during the festive period.