When Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya recently flagged off his gubernatorial campaign at the Pantami township stadium, it was as if no one was left out from reaching the mainbowl of the stadium. On that day, the crowd was incredibly massive, with security men and other volunteer forces having a hectic day controlling the mammoth crowd, nay APC supporters, who defied the scorching sun to catch a glimpse of the man of the moment and pay their respect and solidarity to a political colossus they fondly view as a bulldozer of purposeful development.
Speakers after speakers at the event, including the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, took sizeable chunk of their submissions to eulogise the sterling performance of Governor Inuwa who they likened to a quintessential crusader of democratic values embedded in transparency, accountability and good governance.
However, on the 12th of December when the Gombe governor began his ward to ward campaign, the last was yet to be heard of the crowd, ecstasy and the abiding faith that usually greeted the governor’s campaign rallies.
So far, the governor has successfully traversed over 40 political wards scattered across the five local government areas of Balanga, Kaltungo, Kwami, Shongom and Billiri. The astonishing sights and sounds of the campaign rallies of the governor leave one in total bewilderment as to the magic wand Inuwa deployed to command such avalanche of love and affection.
From the political wards of Balanga to those in the mountainous areas of Kaltungo, Shongom and Billiri as well the wards in the savannah plains of Kwami, the sheer display, support and solidarity to the reelection bid of Inuwa Yahaya in particular and the APC in general was way beyond the confines of human comprehension.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya who is campaigning on the heels of incredible performance as attested to by some reputable national and international organisations told the people that providing democracy dividends remains the major preoccupation of his administration, hence his penchant for work and more work.
Despite the plethora of completed and ongoing projects across the state, the governor seems to be showing no sign of slowing down the pace of governance even in the heat of the ongoing electioneering campaigns. A case in point was the recent approval of over N3 billion for the rehabilitation of some roads within the state by the state executive council. And even while on the campaign trail, Governor Inuwa did not stop making mouth-watering promises such as the reconstruction of the Nyuwar road and extension of that of Jessu to Heme in Balanga as well as the construction of Gada Uku- Sansani Road in Billiri local government area, among so many others.
This workaholic spirit of the Gombe State governor was acknowledged by speakers at the various campaign grounds, who equally appealed to voters to remain true to the All Progressives Congress from top to bottom.
The second phase of the governor’s campaign has now commenced after the Christmas break with the usual conventional ward to ward tour, beginning with Akko in Gombe Central. Like Gombe South. Political analysts are projecting an avalanche of political enthusiasm from the two other senatorial districts.
The goodwill so far enjoyed by Governor Inuwa Yahaya points to his ecclesiastical approach to governance and purposeful leadership. His response to developmental issues affecting the people through the strategy of inclusive governance is not only heartwarming but commendable.
The massive achievements in sectors like health, education, Agriculture, infrastructure, industry, civil service reforms, human capital development, among others have made the chances of the APC in the state even brighter.