When a dog which usually wags its tail joyfully suddenly starts barking ferociously, something is definitely amiss. Gombe State which has enjoyed a relative and enviable peace in Northeast Nigeria is about to be orchestrated into a theatre of chaos. The only bride of investors and a choice investment destination is beginning to witness an avoidable political shenanigan that signposts nothing but gloom.
What played out in Gombe state penultimate Friday is nothing but a grandiose act of grandstanding by a habitual Machiavellian trying to return to the trenches he has mastered over time. No one should be fooled.
It is very instructive to note that nothing meaningful happens outside a unity of purpose. It is a time to unite. It is also a time to join hands and move the Jewel of the Savannah upwards. This is why reasoning and sagely wisdom should be the engaging ingredients deployed on the matters at hand. Anarchy, if allowed, will narrow the developmental equilibrium presently enjoyed in Gombe State made possible by the catalytic economic policies of Governor Inuwa Yahaya. The current embers of political flame being ignited by the fifth columnists can fester into an open conflagration which may consume this promising state.
Gombe State has been peaceful and has recorded an incremental curve in all development indices since the assumption of leadership by Inuwa Yahaya and had been adjudged as the best state in Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria. It is perhaps one of the best states in the country in the management of diversity issues. The Yoruba residents have had almost 200 years of peaceful cohabitation, while the Igbos are already recording a third generation of settlers in the state. The governor, Inuwa Yahaya is a Muslim, his deputy Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau is a Christian; such is the sweet rhythm of conviviality flowing out of the Jewel State. Gombe prides itself as a safe haven in the whole of Northeast and the incumbent governor has done a lot to safeguard this status.
Internally Generated Revenue is rising incrementally. Many are coming daily to do businesses with the state because of the peaceful and encouraging hospitality of its people.
But alas! The calm narratives of the Jewel in the Savannah is about to be altered negatively unless some drastic steps are taken, more so when all sorts of security challenges are confronting virtually all states of Nigeria. Any state that enjoys a comparative peace should guard it jealously, albeit vehemently.
Already some persons have been declared dead and the dreaded Yankalare Boys are beginning to bare their fangs in a state where the Muslims and Christians enjoy equanimity uncommon in most states in the Northern Nigeria. What is amiss? Perhaps one may not be too fastidious in enquiring?
Although two diametric reports are in the courtyards of the media, the public should not be misguided by the narratives being bandied by people who were not fully privy to the condition precedence to the sad episode that climaxed out in the present Danjuma Goje saga.
During the last Eid- el-Kabir Sallah celebration, some thugs said to enjoy the support of Senator Danjuma Goje threw caution into the wind and went on the rampage, leading to the loss of two lives. Should the sitting governor look away while the peace of the state he presides over is being eroded by some ‘above the law citizens’?
Before Senator Goje’s arrival into town that day, there were already intelligence reports of a heavy mobilization of the individuals to accompany him in as he was wont to do. Thugs from various LGAs armed to their teeth under the pretext of accompanying him from the airport were already handy, hence the last minute intervention to limit the rowdiness of ‘thuggery’ to the periphery of the state capital. But it was too late.
Read Also: Five killed as suspected political thugs attack Goje in Gombe
As an elder statesman,.Danjuma Goje, is well respected and spoken of in glowing tributes in Gombe State’s political turf. The relationship between Inuwa Yahaya and Goje had been healthy and cordial.
What has changed suddenly? Could it be a matter of political supremacy? Or is it a plain calculation ahead of the 2023 elections? The issue of who leads the party has been laid to rest. As in other states, the sitting governor is the natural and automatic leader of the party in the state just as it is in several other states where the controversy has been laid to rest.
While we continue to ponder on what truly happened, we must not gloss over the implications of reintroducing thugs who are mostly the ‘Kalare Boys’ into the Gombe State’s political equation. These same Kalare Boys who were seen escorting Senator Goje around during the last Sallah celebrations, not too long ago, during the governor’s visit to his senatorial zone reportedly attempted to disrupt Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s speech but were called to their senses by elders and security agencies at the event.
These were boys who changed from hunting group to political thugs in Gombe metropolis had a reign of terror during the Goje’s governorship era. They had been the nightmare of many police commissioners that have served in the state. Their reappearance is indeed ominous.
‘Yan Kalare’ is synonymous with every act of political violence, threat to lives and properties, and other indecent activities. It was reported that at least 115 people have been killed and scores more injured as a result of Kalare violence in Gombe State.
If one may ask, could it be true that a serving Senator Danjuma Goje, who had served his two full terms as the governor of Gombe State, who also had his daughter and son in-law as cabinet members in this administration, can go backwards 360-degrees to the trenches against the incumbent? The senator has been in the political equation of Gombe for almost 22 years of the 25 years political history of the state. The scenario is befuddling. It is better now to ask the distinguished Senator Goje whatever he wants now before an unending mayhem is loosed upon the state that is already flowing with oil of greatness.
Let the All Progressives’ Congress party give sanctions and caution if needs be. Let the emirs and chiefs come together on this matter. Let all that love Gombe arise now and lay to rest whatsoever may threaten the balance of enviable socio-economic successes recorded so far by the government of Inuwa Yahaya.
The All Progressives Congress in the state has spoken with one voice in demanding a public apology from Senator Goje for the wanton display of violence and destruction of properties by his supporters who were visibly seen shouting ‘Sai Goje’ as they paraded the streets of Gombe on that fateful day. It is now left for Danjuma Goje to tow a path of honour like his former colleagues in Zamfara and Kebbi States have done, quitting the political scenes when their honours are still intact.
- Alao writes from Abuja.
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