Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has enjoined the people of Gombe State to continue to play their role in deepening democracy by actively participating in the electoral process.
The Governor made the appeal in a goodwill message marking the 2022 Democracy Day, in a statement by Ismail Misili, Director General Press Government House, and made available to newsmen in Gombe on Sunday.
He noted that democracy had come to stay in the country, and called on the people of the state to get involved and remain steadfast as major stakeholders in the process of governance.
He commended the successful conduct of party congresses and primaries, calling on the people of the state to exhibit same maturity as the 2023 electioneering begins soon.
He urged the citizenry to take advantage of the opportunity of the continuous voters’ registration, especially those who just attained voting age or those that had not registered previously, to obtain their PVCs.
The governor said the 23 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria had ushered in sustainable development in Gombe State, which helped in improving the lives of the people.
“For us in Gombe State, there is no denying the fact that democracy has ushered in a period of sustainable development for our dear state.
“ The three successive civilian administrations have come and gone, paving the way for our own administration.”
“Let me use this opportunity to pay tribute to our past and present leaders, who have contributed in deepening our democratic experience and strengthening our political culture.
“ I therefore, call on us to rededicate ourselves to nation-building, remain united and frontally confront our problems with total commitment and prayers.
“ We must always remember that the task of nation-building is a collective responsibility,” he said.
He urged the citizens to appreciate the state’s diversity through understanding and recognising the interests of various ethnic and religious groups as well as promoting brotherhood and respect for one another.
The governor also reassured the people of his administration’s commitment to continually prioritise their well-being through the provision of socio-economic infrastructure, ensuring peace and security, law and justice as well as providing equal opportunities for all.
“To this end, we shall continue to engage all stakeholders, to give our people a sense of belonging.
“ We will also remain focused to ensure the full actualisation of our vision for the creation of Gombe State, which is to build a prosperous, peaceful and all-inclusive state for all its people.
“Our objective is to build a broad developmental consensus for our dear state, on a foundation of shared ownership and collective responsibility.
“ In this regard, we are meticulously implementing our novel 10-year Development Plan as a road map for the transformation of the state that aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as set by the United Nations,” he said.
He added that “as a government that rode to the power on tremendous public goodwill, the verdict is clear- that we have been able to touch positively on the lives of our people”. (NAN)