Former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Tax Fund (TETFUND), Professor Suleman Bogoro, has stated that the Nigerian Constitution has given governors all that they need to emancipate Nigerians and make a difference.
He stated this in his remarks at a reception organised for Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State in Abuja on Saturday.
He said the governor had performed far beyond the expectations of the people of Bauchi State in the last five years, citing the massive roads and other infrastructure he provided across the state.
Prof. Bogoro added, “I listened to Mr President about two weeks ago speaking to Arewa Consultative Forum and he focused on the role of governors in emancipating the people of the North. It was in the Newspapers. It couldn’t have been otherwise.
“The governors are supported by the Constitution of this country to make a difference. And when a governor does not stop at the state Capital and go to all local government headquarters beyond that, some of the remotest part of the state with his transformation. What else do we say?
“Today, he is being honoured among 36, just about seven. Am I right? And this is being put up by the federal government of Nigeria that belongs to another party. I think it is an exceptional feat. It is for this reason that we are very proud to be associated with our governor. In fact, it is being said that, the standard that he is setting, other governors are envious, perhaps”.
In a goodwill message, the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, said their governors have always made them proud by giving their best to make the lives of Nigerians in their states better.
He said, “Today, it is another milestone for us in the PDP family. I am very proud to say anywhere I go as a leader of this party, Nigeria has never had it best like when we were in charge. And this is another milestone, despite this government is not a PDP government, it finds him worthy to recognize one of us and the others, that means we have not relented, we’ve always given the best services wherever we are.To the people of Bauchi, today I will say congratulations!”.
In his address earlier, Governor Bala Mohammed stated that, the state was put on development pedestal by its first civilian governor, Late Abubakar Ali, and some of his predecessors like Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu.
“i sleep and wake up with work in my mind, because I know all the nooks and crannies of Bauchi and every part of it, I have an intricate connection with. I have brothers and friends far away from my ancestral home of Duguri where people feel passionately for me.
“So, I don’t have the luxury of excluding any section of the state. And I borrow from my late elder brother and father, Alhaji Tatari Ali, who really put us on this path of growth and development.
“Remember, of all the secondary schools that were great and viable in Bauchi before we came were done by him. All the roads in Bauchi, Misau, Azare and even in Gombe were done by him with small resources. All the general hospitals. And he had very little money.
“And he had a Deputy that is working very well, late Ajiyan Bauchi. And of course I remember what Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu did too in his own way, developing roads in all the rural areas, local government headquarters, he built five Kilometers in each local government headquarters. That was the beginning of transforming our rural areas to urban centers.
“Yes, we don’t have water in our local government headquarters. Very few have and this is a big challenge. Even Katagum has no water. And I believe it is a big challenge that I will conquer by the grace of Allah.
“Other projects and programs are being unfolded by the Special Duties ministry, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education and so on and so forth. And we have the support of the world Bank and the federal government. We must acknowledge one thing that the present administration said, this is time for governance.
“On behalf of Bauchi State people and the opposition, we thank the federal government for doing that and they should do more, because that will really put poverty away, put food on the table. We are not to politicize when we are doing governance and that is what we are always learning.”