Northeast Governors meeting: Full text of Speech delivered by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State,Hon. Mai Mala Buni during the Occasion of 6th meeting of the North-East Governor’s Forum today.
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WELCOME ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MAI MALA BUNI, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF YOBE STATE ON THE OCCASION OF 6TH MEETING OF THE NORTH EAST GOVERNORS’ FORUM HELD ON TUESDAY, 14TH DECEMBER, 2021 AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, DAMATURU.
Your Excellency, Prof. Engr. Babagan Umar Zulum mni, the Executive Governor of Borno State who is the Chairman of North-East Governors’ Forum,
Your Excellency, Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, the Executive Governor of Gombe State,
Your Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri,
the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, ably represented by His Excellency, ………………………….., the Deputy Governor,
Your Excellency, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, ably represented by His Excellency, ………………………….., the Deputy Governor,
Your Excellency, Arc. Darius Dickon Ishaku, the Executive Governor of Taraba States, ably represented by His Excellency, ………………………….., the Deputy Governor,
Your Excellency, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana,
the Deputy Governors of Yobe State,
The Honourable Speakers, Houses of Assembly,
Honourable Members, Yobe State House of Assembly, here present,
Honourable Commissioners,
The State Chairman APC,
The Secretary to the State Governments of Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States,
The Head of Service,
The Chief of Staff,
The Director General, North East Governors Forum,
Special Advisers, Liaison Officers and Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants,
Permanent Secretaries,
Chief Executives of Boards and Parastatals and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments,
Executive Chairmen Local Government Council here present,
Your Royal Highnesses, Emirs and Mais,
Distinguished Invited Guests,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Assalamu Alaikum
On behalf of the Government and good people of Yobe State, I am highly delighted to welcome my dear brothers and colleagues, their Excellencies, the Executive Governors of Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi Gombe and Taraba States, stakeholders and other distinguished invited guests to the 6th Meeting of the North East Governors’ Forum taking place today here in Damaturu. Such periodic meetings have continuously proven to be vital in our quest for full return of peace and prosperity of the sub-region.
2.From the outset, I wish to express my happiness on the commitment of our respective State Governments to all meetings of the forum from inception to date. This common enthusiasm of the meeting amongst us has clearly underscored our commitment to free the Northeast sub-region from the clutches of poverty and other emerging challenges of development in the aftermath of over one decade of insurgency that has devastated many communities in this area.
3.As we are all aware, prior to the advent of Boko Haram insurgency, the Northeast has to contend with desertification and desert encroachment, low rainfall rate and drought among other natural factors such as flooding that continued to affect agricultural productivity being the major subsistence and economic activity of our people. Furthermore, like most parts of the Country, the region is faced with the challenge of dearth of functional public and private companies to absorb the ever-growing number of skilled and unskilled labour in the area. Obviously, it could not be an understatement to pronounce that the task before all our respective State Governments is so enormous that requires a collective and holistic approach, if we are to bequeath to the upcoming and future generations a stable and prospective society.
4.It is therefore, a matter of pride for all our States that having realized the magnitude of our common challenge, we have evolved a stronger fraternity upon which we would continue to build a solid bond of brotherhood for socio-economic advancement not only among our leaders but also our peoples. Throughout the insurgency period, our people have demonstrated resilience in spite of losing their relatives, shelter and means of livelihood.
5.With the return of normalcy, I would like to appreciate the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the able leadership of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for creating the North East Development Commission and for the supply of various relief materials and empowerment packages for the victims of insurgency and all people in this area. Similarly, I would like to also commend the humanitarian activities of our development partners, International Non-Governmental Organizations, philanthropists and other stakeholders for bringing succour to the victims of insurgency during the most trying period and donation of various items for the restoration of livelihood in the affected areas.
6.In a meeting of this magnitude, we must also continue to appreciate the commitment of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the fight against insurgency and other related crimes threatening the corporate existence of the Country. In the same vein, I would like to reiterate my commendation to our gallant troops who are diligently performing their statutory duties of defending our fatherland against all internal and external threats. I also commend the complementary efforts of the vigilante groups in combat against insurgency and other crimes to make our country more secure. Despite all the efforts, the fight against insurgency and banditry is not yet over and therefore, requires restrategization.
7.As we are coming through insurgency, there is the need for each State to intensify its efforts with regards to recovery and putting the people on the right track of meaningful development. This meeting has therefore, provided another golden opportunity for us to share ideas on laying a solid foundation for a brighter future for our States. There is no gainsaying the fact that we need to evolve proactive measures for creating a peaceful, stable, just and egalitarian society. We should strive to create the right atmosphere for equal opportunities to all members of our citizenry regardless of political, tribal, religious, class or any other subjective factor with a view to avoiding recurrence of insurgency and other menaces.
8.The present administration of Yobe State has identified revitalization of education as one of the key areas for post-insurgency socio-economic rejuvenation. We have remained focused on our objective from declaration of state of emergency at the inception of our administrations to the current education revitalization appeal fund in which we have been able to raise funds above the set targets in most of the Local Government Areas. Simultaneously, we are gearing our efforts towards revamping agriculture to serve as an instrument for attainment of food security, income and employment generation as well as self-reliance. In order to enhance trading activities in our major commercial centers, we would soon complete construction of the Damaturu International Cargo Airport and commission Modern Markets in Damaturu, Gashua, Nguru and Potiskum towns and also Trailer Park in Potiskum. In addition, we have a plan to assist Small and Medium Scale enterprises and encourage the formation of clusters to enable eligible people access loans to boost their occupations.
9.This august gathering may be pleased to also note that in this year, we have created the Ministry for Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Generation chiefly to arrest youth restiveness and unemployment by providing grants to communities in the form of empowerment materials for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons in host communities, farmers, fishermen, herdsmen, persons with disabilities, women and other vulnerable groups. The Ministry is also charged with the responsibility of uncovering our potentialities in solid minerals and other areas for internal revenue generation for the Government and employment opportunity for the people.
10.With all these efforts, I believe that for a speedy socio-economic development of the North East to be achieved, we need maximum cooperation and support of the Federal Government for resuscitation of Lake Chad, implementation of the Great Green Wall and actualization of the Mambila Hydro Power Project among other major issues.
11.On this note, I would like to once again welcome my dear brothers and colleagues, their Excellencies, the Executive Governors of Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States to Damaturu for the 6th meeting of North East Governors’ Forum. I wish all of us fruitful deliberations and happy stay in Yobe State.
Thank you and Allah bless.
More photos below.
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