Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has approved the sum of 25 million naira for the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN towards the actualisation of the proposed upgrade of the CAN centre.
The Governor said the approval was to support the project it deemed necessary at the centre, in addition to the 10 million naira he gave the association for New Year.
He also pledged to continually provide good leadership to everyone in the state, irrespective of tribal, religious or political affiliations.
The Governor made the pledge when he hosted the Christian community, under the auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Gombe State Chapter on a Christmas/New Year homage at the Government House.
He said the visit was significant as a Thanksgiving Session, which usually affords the Christian community in the State opportunity to identify and support the government in its effort to take the people of the State to greater heights.
Governor Yahaya thanked the Christian community for the prayers and the support since his election campaign days, the role he said contributed immensely to the success of his administration.
He said he was doing his best to actualize the oath he took in 2019 during his innauguration, when he swore by the Quran to lead the people with fairness, justice and equity.
That is why we take development to all the nooks and crannies of Gombe State. When you talk of roads we said we shall put up one hundred kilometres of roads in each of the 11 Local Government Area of the State, under our Network Eleven Hundred concept, and we are on course to deliver,” Governor Yahaya said.
He said by the grace of God, his administration would ensure the actualisation of the road project in Balanga, one of the most difficult terrains in the state.
The road is expected to link up the southern and northern parts of Balanga Local Government Area ad make it easier for those in the southern part to access their headquarters without having to pass through Kaltungo, Billiri, Akko, Gombe and Yamaltu Deba.
The Governor said his administration would continue to put up good roads, Schools, health facilities and other social amenities for the benefit of the people.
He gave the people of the state the assuraces that in spite of the economic hardship occasioned by the Coronavirus Pandamic and other leadership challenges, his administration would continue to remain focused and deliver on its mandate.
Governor Yahaya also called for more support across board for his administration to succeed, saying poverty, disease and hunger have no eyes as they can catch up with anyone irrespective of tribe or religion.
The Governor who emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence, said without peace no development can be achieved, praising the people of the State for embracing and maintaining peace.
“There has never been any religious war in Gombe State, there has never been any serious division that is not reconciliable if you compare to what is happening in other states. So, I will like to urge our people to please guard this peace jealously and make sure that we progress because Gombe State is always making a difference,” the Gombe State Governor said.
He urged the Christian community to continue to pray for the sustenance of peace and harmony in the State so that his administration could take the people out of bondage to the next level.
The Governor equally assured the Christian community that the Board for the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board would soon be constituted, disclosing that his administration had also approved 70 seats for this year’s Pilgrimage to Israel.
He said his administration would continue to do its best to ensure that religious bodies practice their faith without hindrance.
The Gombe State Caretaker Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Sunday Congo, represented by the Caretaker Secretary, Apostle John Adetiba, commended the Governor for correcting the financial abnormalities inherent in the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, for which to no fault of his, Christians in the State missed the last year’s Pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
The clergy commended the Governor’s flagship project, the Gombe Goes Green, saying it will help to reclaim the environment in the face of climate change and global warming.
Earlier in his remarks, the North East CAN chairman, Rev. Abare Kallah, said the Christian Community would support Governor Yahaya in his developmental and administrative acumen in carrying every section of the state along, calling on him to maintain the excellent disposition.
He thanked the Governor for appointing a good number of Christians into sensitive positions of his administration.
Nnenna.O
