Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has called for continuity in governance and peaceful political transition ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging leaders and residents to place the state’s long-term development above personal and partisan interests.
Yahaya made the appeal on Wednesday during an international conference and symposium marking the 30th anniversary of Gombe State at the International Conference Centre in Gombe.
The governor, whose second term will end in 2027, said his major concern was ensuring that the foundations laid by his administration would be sustained and improved upon by future leaders.
He stressed that the state’s future should not be sacrificed for individual ambitions or party interests, calling on political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youths and other stakeholders to embrace peace, unity and responsible political engagement.
According to him, Gombe’s development over the past three decades has been the result of contributions from successive administrations, rather than the efforts of any single government.
Yahaya acknowledged the roles played by former military administrators and civilian governors, including Joseph Orji, Mohammed Inuwa Bawa, Abubakar Habu Hashidu, Danjuma Goje and Ibrahim Dankwambo.
Reflecting on his administration’s record since assuming office in 2019, the governor highlighted investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, electricity and workers’ welfare under the state’s 10-year development agenda, known as DEVAGOM.
He said his government had constructed or renovated more than 2,000 classrooms across over 400 schools, recruited 1,000 teachers and supported efforts to bring hundreds of thousands of out-of-school children into education.
In healthcare, Yahaya cited the construction and renovation of 228 primary healthcare centres across the state’s 114 political wards, alongside the expansion of the GoHealth contributory health insurance scheme.
On infrastructure, he said more than 1,000 kilometres of roads had been constructed or rehabilitated under various programmes, including the Network 11-100 initiative.
The governor also highlighted projects aimed at boosting economic activity, including the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park and the Renewed Hope Agro-Industrial Hub, which is designed to support agricultural processing, livestock trading and logistics.
Despite the achievements outlined, Yahaya acknowledged that several challenges remained and said more work was needed to meet the aspirations of Gombe residents.
He called for sustained investment in human capital, technology, strong public institutions and private-sector partnerships to support the state’s next phase of development.
The anniversary celebration also featured the unveiling of a commemorative publication titled Gombe State: Thirty Years of Promise and Progress, 1996–2026, documenting the state’s history and the contributions of successive administrations.
Gombe State was created on October 1, 1996, by the military administration of the late General Sani Abacha.
As the state approaches another political transition, Yahaya urged residents to preserve the unity that inspired its creation and ensure that future leadership builds on existing development efforts.
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